REI Grup: InvestALIM Funds 12 Projects Worth Over €300M

A total of 12 companies, with 12 distinct projects, and a total investment value of about RON 1.5 billion (over EUR 300M) are on the short list of companies that will receive non-reimbursable support this year through the “InvestALIM” program, 2023 edition, according to REI, a group of companies specialized in attracting European funds and state aid.

Five projects out of the total 12 that received the 2025 Agreement have been successfully prepared by the REI team, with investments amounting to around RON 700M.

The total value of the state aid requested by the 12 companies amounts to more than RON 860M (more than EUR 170M), with an average grant of around 60% of the total value of the projects submitted and accepted for funding.

Eligible applicants[1] which have submitted projects through the “InvestALIM” program include Dorostol Trade S.R.L., Global Grain International S.R.L., Aaylex One S.A., Nertrans Cargo S.R.L., Fabrica de Zahăr Premium Luduș S.A., Aldis S.R.L , Derpan S.R.L., Tinervis Group S.R.L., Olifdacom S.R.L., Expertarom Food & Ingredients S.R.L., Oltina Impex Prod Com S.R.L. and Octavian Deb Company S.R.L., important names in the food industry, active in sectors such as bakery production, meat processing, milk, beverages or sugar cane.

„We are pleased that we have been able to submit five of the 12 projects accepted for financing, which will bring more prosperity to the communities where these investments are carried out. Investment creates progress and that is exactly what we want to see – with every investment made with REI support – a country with a much more competitive economy, more in line with Western requirements. Non-reimbursable funds have been, are and will remain an important pillar of the country’s development”, Roxana Mircea, managing partner at REI Grup stated.

One of the applicants, a company with which the REI Grup team has successfully submitted a project for the 2023 session, has filed an appeal for which a favorable resolution is expected in the next period.

„We have a project submitted on the InvestALIM session for which an appeal has been filed and for which we are awaiting a – hopefully favorable – resolution, which could bring the REI result to six projects, thus 50% of the total number of projects funded this year”, Roxana Mircea added.

The national program for the development and support of the food industry “InvestALIM” 2023 – 2026 aims to support regional development for the establishment or development of production capacities in the food industry, by granting state aid aimed at stimulating investments with major impact on the economy.

During September last year, AFIR had published[2] the updated list of eligible applicants, where a total of 37 companies applied for funding.

Running between 27 October – 27 December 2023, the first session of the “InvestALIM” funding program initially made available to potential beneficiaries about 150 million euro for investment, where companies specialized in the food sector could apply for non-reimbursable support in carrying out the planned investments.

According to REI estimates, all 12 companies have already secured financing agreements and have six months to present the source of co-financing and start the investment.

Over EUR 750M for agri-food companies in 2025. What other financing solutions are available to companies?

Companies operating in the agricultural sector have a number of financing programs with generous allocations available for investments in sectors such as bakery, the potato industry or green energy.

According to a REI Grup analysis, the total value of allocations for agri-food companies in the next months amounts to over EUR 750M.

Which funding programs are available:

1. Modernization Fund – EUR 150M for investments in new renewable electricity generation capacity for self-consumption in agriculture and processing of agricultural products

➡️ Contracting authority: Ministry of Agriculture

➡️ Eligible beneficiaries: micro-enterprises, SMEs, large agricultural and food industry enterprises, including self-employed, IEs or FEs

➡️ Eligible NACE codes:

• NACE 01 – Agriculture, hunting and related services
• NACE 10 – Food industry
• NACE 11 – Beverage production

➡️ Financing:

For wind energy:

• 700,000 Euro/MW – for installed capacities below 1 MW, inclusive;
• 700,000 Euro/MW – for installed capacities above 1 MW;

For solar energy:

• 650,000 Euro/MW – for installed capacities below 1 MW, inclusive;
• 550,000 Euro/MW – for installed capacities above 1 MW;

The maximum amount of funding is EUR 20 million / project.

➡️ Allocation:  EUR 150 mln. (2025)

➡️ Status: open until 30.04.2025.

2. RD 16 –  Investments in the vegetable and/or potato sector

• Call status: estimated session – April 2025
• Allocation: EUR 150M
• Financing: max. EUR 2M / project
• Eligible applicants: farmers, excluding individuals, etc.

3. DR 23 – Investments in bakery, agricultural products, processing

• Call status: being republished guide under consultation
• session – September 2025
• Allocation: EUR 150M
• Financing: max. EUR 10M / factory construction project / EUR 0-3M expansion/diversification of existing factory
• Eligible applicants: SMEs, large enterprises

4. DR 24 –  Purchase of agricultural machinery for forestry sector  

• Call status: opening soon, estimated session: April – May 2025
• Session: starting on April 7, 2025
• Allocation: EUR 40M
• Financing: up to EUR 10M / project
• Eligible applicants: SMEs, large enterprises

5. Just Transition (2025)

• Call status: in preparation
• Allocation: EUR 180M
• Financing: EUR 300.000 EUR – 90% non-reimbursable funding
• Eligible applicants: micro located in Hunedoara, Gorj, Dolj, Prahova, Galați or Mureș counties

6. South East Regional Program (SE RP) – Investments for innovation and increased competitiveness of SMEs

• Call status: estimated launch April-May
• Allocation: EUR 86M
• Eligible applicants:

[1] https://www.afir.ro/rapoarte/rapoarte-feadr/evaluare/

[2] https://www.afir.ro/info-la-zi/liste-rectificate-solicitanti-eligibili-si-neeligibili-investalim