EIB Global and Banco do Brasil Unlock €500 Million for Women Entrepreneurs and Sustainable Development in the Amazon Region

• €250 million EIB Global financing agreement with Banco do Brasil enables €500million in microcredit for women-led microbusinesses in Brazil’s Legal Amazon region.
• Financing aims to reach around 50,000 women entrepreneurs, boosting women’s economic empowerment and sustainable development in the Amazon.
• The initiative supports the EU-Brazil Green Deal, EU’s strategic partnership with Brazil, and Global Gateway priorities on sustainable development, gender equality, and financial inclusion in the Amazon.

The European Investment Bank Group’s EIB Global has signed a €250 million agreement with Banco do Brasil to support women entrepreneurs in the Amazon. The EIB funds will help unlock a total of €500 million in microcredit for women-led microbusinesses, promoting inclusive private sector development in one of Brazil’s key regions.

The project supports microbusinesses owned or managed by women in the Brazilian Legal Amazon, potentially benefiting around 50,000 women entrepreneurs thus strengthening women’s economic empowerment, promoting job creation, and enhancing financial inclusion in underserved areas. This partnership aims to foster inclusive and sustainable local economic development, providing EU-supported long-term funding benefits to final beneficiaries.

“This operation exemplifies how the EU’s Global Gateway can make a real impact,” said EIB Vice-President Ioannis Tsakiris. “Together with Banco do Brasil, we’re unlocking €500 million in microcredit for women-led microbusinesses in the Amazon, with €250 million from EIB Global. Supporting around 50,000 women entrepreneurs promotes inclusive economic growth and enhances the EU’s strategic partnership with Brazil.”

“Our partnership with the EIB strengthens Banco do Brasil’s role as a leader in sustainable development and international cooperation. Beyond a financing agreement, it creates a platform to channel capital toward projects that drive climate action, enhance competitiveness, foster innovation, and deliver measurable environmental and social benefits. By merging global expertise with local execution, we’re accelerating Brazil’s sustainable transition, demonstrating that economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental stewardship are interconnected. Banco do Brasil remains committed to linking financial solutions with tangible impact, generating value for clients, investors, communities, and future generations,” said Jose Ricardo Sasseron, Banco do Brasil’s Vice-President Government and Corporate Sustainability.

This transaction supports the EU-Brazil Green Deal, the strategic partnership with Brazil, and the Global Gateway Investment Agenda. It demonstrates how the EU’s Global Gateway strategy translates into high-impact operations, channeling long-term finance to empower women economically, promote financial inclusion, and provide sustainable economic opportunities. The operation also aligns with Global Gateway flagship priorities in Brazil, including Amazonia+, the Amazon Basin Team Europe Initiative, and promoting sustainable livelihoods in the Amazon.

Background information   

EIB Group  

The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group is the EU’s financing arm, owned by 27 Member States, and one of the world’s largest multilateral development banks. In 2025, the EIB Group signed €100billion in new financing and advisory services for over 870