(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 15 - SIMEST, one of the two companies that along with SACE is the internationalization hub of the CDP Group, has grown a lot in the last 12 months. In 2019 the loans given to almost 700 companies, mainly SMEs, rose to 275 million euros (up 13% compared to 2018). Regarding the destinations of the projects, Italian companies have focused both on neighboring countries - such as Albania, Tunisia, Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina - and on Brazil, Australia, China, South Africa, Russia, and Nigeria. Finally, concerning the type of financing requested, the most "popular" tool was the medium-long loan, followed by a loan that covers the costs for opening a first commercial hub abroad and the expenses for Fairs and Missions. (ANSA).