In the last quarter of 1996, the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Union's financial institution financed projects in Africa Caribbean and Pacific Countries (ACP), under the Lomé IV Convention, with a total ECU 218.7 million as follows:

• In Malawi the EIB provided ECU 15 million, for the expansion and upgrading of the Lilongwe water supply system.
• In Namibia, ECU 8 million, through the Namibian Central Bank, in support of Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SME's).
• In Swaziland, ECU 3 million to the Swazi Sugar Association, for the expansion of sugar industry storage and conditioning facilities.
• In Kenya, through development and commercial banks, ECU 45 million to finance small and medium-scale investments in the private sector.
• In Ethiopia, ECU 9 million for the upgrading of the Bahr Dar textile factory.
• Also in Ethiopia ECU 10 million to the Development Bank of Ethiopia, for the financing of private sector SME's.
• In the Côte d'Ivoire, ECU 4 million through two local banks in support of private sector SME's.
• In Guinea-Bissau ECU 0.18 million for GEMSA, a private sector industry, specialised in production of wood frames and doors.
• In Mali, ECU 1 million to OMNIUM MALI S.A to finance a new electric battery production line.
• In West Africa, ECU 0.4 million for CAURIS INVESTISSEMENT S.A, to finance private sector SME's.
• In Madagascar, ECU 1 million, through the Banque Malgache de l'Océan Indien (BMOI), in favour of SME's.
• ECU 680 000 to the Union Commercial Bank, Madagascar, to finance small and medium-sized ventures in mining, industry, agro-industry, tourism and transport.
• In Gabon, ECU 10.5 million to the Republic of Gabon, for improving the air traffic control system.
• In Bahamas, ECU 20 million to Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC II Project) for expanding power generation and transmission on New Providence Island.
• In Barbados, ECU 20 million for the reinforcement of the Barbadian power sector, through Barbados Power and Light Company Ltd.
• In the Dominican Republic, ECU 8 million to Banco Intercontinental, to support SME's investment.
• In Grenada, ECU 4 million to Grenada Electricity Services Ltd, for the financing of power generation expansion.
• In the Netherlands Antilles, ECU 6 million in favour of a modern air navigation system on Curaçao Island.
• In St Lucia, ECU 8 million, to St.Lucia Electricity Services Ltd for the expansion of the power generation capacity.
• In Trinidad & Tobago, ECU 45 million to the National Gas Company of Trinidad & Tobago Ltd for financing a new gas pipeline, from the main production fields off the East Coast to Point Lisa industrial estate in the West country.

Conversion rates used by the EIB for statistical purposes during the current quarter are those obtaining on 30/12/1996, when 1 ECU = 0.74 GBP, 6.56 FRF , 656.193CFA.