ENGIE, Brazil\u2019s largest private-sector energy company, active in electric energy generation, trading and transmission, gas transportation, and energy solutions, and present in Rio de Janeiro for over 25 years, joins other major companies mindful of small businesspersons\u2019 difficult situation in the city and becomes a donor to the Est\u00edmulo 2020 credit platform, now available in Rio de Janeiro.<\/p>\n

Est\u00edmulo 2020 is Brazil\u2019s first 100% private-sector fund in support of small businesses affected by the COVID-19 crisis, offering credit under beneficial terms. The initiative is already available in S\u00e3o Paulo and Minas Gerais. With donations from companies like Vale, Dasa and ENGIE, among others, the initiative was released in Rio with BRL 10 million in funding to financially assist businesses in the state. <\/p>\n

\u201cOur support to this initiat5ive is consistent with the actions we have been carrying out since the pandemic began. We believe that we will all come out stronger from this if we help and support the most vulnerable businesses, which employ many and are connected with several value chains,\u201d said Baur\u00edcio Bahr, CEO of ENGIE Brasil.<\/p>\n

Est\u00edmulo 2020 provides working capital in an amount equivalent to up to one month of a firm\u2019s (pre-pandemic) sales, charging 6.5% annual interest, a 3-month grace period and payment in up to 15 installments. Approval criteria take account of applicant businesses\u2019 operational indicators and background. The movement continues to raise donations and attract new partners from the market. To gain access to financial support and other benefits, businesses must register at www.estimulo2020.org.
\nENGIE\u2019s CEO emphasized that credit supply under special terms and conditions is crucial at this point to keep small businesses from failing. This contributes to economic recovery and saves jobs. \u201cThe pandemic showed us that Brazilian society has evolved a lot and become more sensitive and solidary. These are values that we share, embracing actions that encourage our employees volunteer,\u201d he stated.
\nGK Ventures\u2019s Eduardo Mufarej, who first devised the project, underscores Est\u00edmulo 2020\u2019s potential for expansion. \u201cAfter the massive success in S\u00e3o Paulo and Minas Gerais, Est\u00edmulo comes to Rio. As Brazil\u2019s first relief fund, the idea behind Est\u00edmulo 2020 has always been this: to gather together all of those who realized that our economy lies on these firms, which generate jobs and income for the population. I am very glad that we were the pioneers for this type of initiative, which several partners in S\u00e3o Paulo and Minas Gerais and Rio have embraced.\u201d
\nENGIE actions in support of measure to face Covid-19
\nIn line with the Group\u2019s global strategy, ENGIE Brasil has promoted social actions, volunteer works and, now, support to small businesses as a means to help face the pandemic\u2019s impacts. Courting the new partnership, the company has so far donated approximately BRL 7 million on several fronts and in various Brazilian regions.
\nActions include a BRL 1.5 million donation to the Funda\u00e7\u00e3o Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz) emergency fund, intended to increase production of Covid-19 test kits. In addition, Transportadora Associada de G\u00e1s (TAG), an ENGIE-controlled company, executed an agreement with Fiocruz and injected BRL 1 million for implementation of the institute\u2019s new Covid-19 test processing center in Bahia. TAG also donated BRL 250 thousand for the purchase and distribution of basic staples to communities in need in the Amazon, where the gas transportation company owns and operates 800 kilometers of pipelines between Urucu and Manaus.
\nThe ENGIE Foundation donated EUR 100 thousand (approximately BRL 600 thousand) to renovations of the Fund\u00e3o University Hospital, in Rio de Janeiro, providing the funding for expansions and the preparation of 60 permanent ICU beds to be allocated at first to treatment of Covid-19 patients.
\nENGIE also joined the Brazilian Energy Traders Association \u2013 Abraceel initiative for the creation of the Abraceel ICU Wing of the Albert Einstein Hospital, in S\u00e3o Paulo, with 20 new beds. The Company\u2019 donated BRL 150 thousand.
\nAnother initiat5ive has been an injection of approximately BRL 840 thousand to institutions in areas surrounding the Company\u2019s power plants, making funding available principally to City Halls, hospitals and municipal health bureaus to purchase Personal Protection Equipment \u2013 PPE, hand sanitizer and respirators. The initiative reinforces the ties between the plants and neighboring communities in over 80 municipalities.
\nThe Company also partnered with L\u2019Or\u00e9al Brasil, donating all of the electric energy required for production, by L\u00b4Or\u00e9al, of 250 thousand personal hygiene kits and 500 thousand bottles of hand sanitizer at the cosmetics manufacturer\u2019s units.
\nTogether with the Rio Grande do Sul Federal University, ENGIE acquired testing equipment for Covid-19 diagnosis and test inputs. The donation was in the amount of BRL 500 thousand.
\nVolunteering
\nTo engage its employees ENGIE developed a nationwide campaign to encourage volunteering, match8ing BRL1 or BRL 2 for every BRL 1 donated by employees. An approximately BRL 1 million was raised, with the participation of 2,000 employees. The funds were used to assist approximately 70 institutions with the purchase of staples baskets and cleaning materials for vulnerable families, in addition to PPE for hospitals and healthcare outposts. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Est\u00edmulo 2020, Brazil\u2019s first 100% private-sector fund in support of small businesses affected by the Covid-19 crisis, expands to Rio de Janeiro and gains support from ENGIE<\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-26983","imprensa","type-imprensa","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","tipo-release-holding-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n