Between 16-20.06.2025, Sofia again was hosting the Green Transition Forum - a key regional event for green innovation and sustainability in CEE. At the invitation of the organizers Dir.bg and 3E News, Alexander Georgiev, CEO and Chairman of the Board of FMFIB, took part in a panel discussion on the third day of the Forum.
In this Programme Period, we are managing twice as many resources - EUR 1 billion, and our portfolio has been expanded, including a tool in the area of circular economy, said Alexander Georgiev during his participation in the panel Accelerating the Circular Economy - Pathways and Best practices for Sustainability.
In the discussion, he said that the funds under the Circular Economy Instrument under the Competitiveness and Innovation in Enterprises Programme (CIP) 2021-2027, co-funded by the European Union, amount to €273.6 million, which is more than ¼ of the total public resources of the FMFIB for the current PP. The Financial Instrument to be implemented as a Portfolio Guarantee with a loss cap, and there will be the possibility of combining it with grant funding in a single operation. More than 80% of the resource is earmarked for the implementation of projects from less developed regions of the country, i.e. outside the South West region.
The support comes in two portfolios - Energy Efficiency and Resource Efficiency, while the grant will be available in the form of Technical Support (to cover the cost of an energy efficiency audit/conceptual/technical design up to BGN 20 thousand) or Capital Rebate (upon successful completion of the activities supported by the debt financing and achievement of a redefined outcome, which may be up to 15% of the total eligible financing).
Alexander Georgiev said that the Instrument will support energy efficiency measures based on recommendations from energy audits, incentives for renewable energy production for self-consumption, energy management systems, recycling, more optimal use of resources, etc. The Fund of Funds is currently in the process of selecting partner banks to implement the instrument.
A major part of the funding will be directed to projects outside Southwest Bulgaria, aiming at a better convergence between Sofia and the rest of the country.
