RESPONSIBLE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Corporate Responsibility Report 2008
40
of Foreign Trade of the Inter-American
Development Bank.
BBVA also manages an investment portfolio for
financing the procurement of equipment goods
purchased by foreign buyers of these countries, which
reached €858m in 2008. Of particular interest is the
bank’s management of the Aid Development Funds
(ADF), where BBVA acts as a brokerage agent or as
co-financer. These funds enable the financing under
special terms of projects which make a positive
contribution to society. BBVA operations in this area,
which have the licensed support of the Spanish
government, grew to €40m in 2008.
PUBLIC
INSTITUTIONS
The BBVA Group continued
as a leader in Spain in
providing services to public
and private institutions. Working with a
specialised unit, the Group takes on a double
responsibility – both as a specialised financial
organisation and as an entity committed to the
promotion and development of projects that have
a significant social impact.
BBVA also continued in its work of
implementing new financial instruments and
services, which have helped to optimise
institutional management while improving the
quality of the services rendered. Noteworthy
examples include subsidy financing and advance,
transactional operations and cash management.
2008 also saw the signing of the ICO-Turismo
line, aimed at the comprehensive modernisation of
mature tourist destinations, upon the initiative of
local governments and those governing a population
of less than 100,000 inhabitants. Assessment for
such projects puts more weight on those destinations
that are overloaded environmentally and in terms
of urban development, and which have seen little
new investment.
PRIVATE
NOT-FOR-
PROFIT
ORGANISATIONS
In 2008, BBVA continued
with its support activities
for institutions such as the
Spanish Red Cross, by
collaborating in the
management of prize payments for the annual
Sorteo de oro lottery. The bank was also involved
in a collaboration programme with UNICEF, by
selling that organisation’s cards in the branch
network. In addition, the Group continued its
work in Spain with the Servicio colabor@ on the
BBVAnet site, which allows customers to freely
make transfers to 25 not-for-profit national and
international organisations.
Similarly, BBVA continued supporting the work
of private not-for-profit organisations with its
programme of mail shots in its correspondence
with customers. The said mail shots aim at
disseminating their solidarity activities, appeals for
humanitarian emergencies or membership drives.
Finally, BBVA Soluciones launched a special
offer for Special Employment Centres, including
material related to job placement, accounting and
tax matters. Said offer has benefitted 300 companies
and organisations in the disability support sector.
ENVIRONMEN-
TAL PRODUCTS
AND SERVICES
BBVA’s main commitment to
the environment is channelled
through its funding of
projects and the development
of products and services of an environmental
nature.
In this respect, the main new developments
in 2008 were the following:
• BBVA was among the world leaders in the
financing of wind farms from 2000 to 2007
($2,588m) according to Thomson Financial data.
• BBVA Banco Continental has obtained a line of
environmental financing from the International
Finance Corporation (IFC) for $30m. The
funds will be invested in green projects, most
especially those related to energy efficiency and
natural gas conversion.
• BBVA Soluciones has launched an
environmental consulting service for SMEs.
This Plan Remedia (Remedial Plan) offers
opportunities for energy savings and the
efficient management of resources within four
areas of activity: energy efficiency,
environmental management, accessibility fitting
and corporate responsibility.
• Financing of photovoltaic panels for SMEs
(BBVA Spain): in 2008, funding was provided
for a total amount of €15.2m and a total of
3,200 kW.
• Financing of photovoltaic installations in the
Valencia and Murcia regions, including 11
operations amounting to €10m.
• Carbon trading. In 2008, the BBVA Group
traded over one million tonnes of CO 2 .
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