EIB and ADOPEM €15m package to back entrepreneurs and sargassum value chain
- Total EIB Group financing of €15 million comprises €10.5 million for small enterprises and €4.5 million for sargassum-related activities.
- An additional €1.1 million in technical assistance will help prepare projects, strengthen environmental standards and design tailored financing.
- At least half of the €15 million package is earmarked to support women entrepreneurs and businesses with fewer than 10 employees.
- The sargassum component links to the Global Gateway target to collect 660,000 tonnes by 2027, including 150,000 tonnes in the Dominican Republic.
Deal overview
The European Investment Bank Group and Banco ADOPEM agreed a €15 million financing package backed by an EU guarantee under EFSD+. The package allocates €10.5 million to small enterprises across manufacturing, transport, agriculture, health and services, and €4.5 million to activities tied to sargassum collection and processing. At least half of the €15 million will support women entrepreneurs and businesses with fewer than 10 employees. The €4.5 million and €1.1 million in technical assistance were announced on 2 October 2026 in Cancún; the €10.5 million agreement was signed on 4 November 2026 in Madrid. Both financing agreements remain subject to approval by the Superintendency of Banks of the Dominican Republic.
Sargassum value chain
The sargassum allocation targets removal, collection, transport, environmentally responsible drying and storage, and uses of the biomass—including inputs for cosmetics, fertilisers and biomass—aiming to turn an environmental challenge into local economic opportunities and jobs.
Technical assistance and support
€1.1 million in technical assistance, financed by EU Member States through the ACP Trust Fund and managed by EIB Advisory, will help ADOPEM and beneficiaries identify and prepare financially viable projects, strengthen environmental standards and develop tailored financing solutions. The TA will draw on an EIB-commissioned sargassum value chain study financed by Luxembourg and presented in June 2025.
Strategic context
The sargassum component contributes to the Global Gateway initiative "Turning the Tide," which supports a regional ambition to collect 660,000 tonnes by 2027, including 150,000 tonnes in the Dominican Republic. The operation continues the EIB–ADOPEM partnership dating back to 2006 and forms part of a Team Europe package to develop a safe, sustainable and commercially viable sargassum value chain while supporting inclusive entrepreneurship and climate resilience.
Source: EIB