New support for small and medium-sized enterprises is one its way through ProCredit Bank and the EBRD

ProCredit Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development offer EUR 30 million in loans to SMEs, earmarked for the recovery of this sector from the consequences of pandemic. 

The approved proceeds will facilitate SME access to financing and will serve to support the recovery of these entities in the period following the pandemic. These funds will also allow for investment in new equipment, facilities and the further expansion of SME businesses. Approximately 20% of the total amount of the credit line has been allocated toward investments in energy efficiency improvement or investments in renewable sources of energy.
 

ProCredit Bank, which is part of the ProCredit Group headquartered in Frankfurt, has been operating in Serbia for two decades already, and for some time now has participated in projects invested in by the EBRD. The latest credit line is just one of many resulting from long-term collaboration between the two banks.

“Strategic partnership with the EBRD allows us to continue to provide on-going support to small and medium-sized enterprises, a sector that we have invested in for two decades now. This newest credit line gives our SME clients the opportunity to improve their operations and upgrade equipment, in that, new machinery can be installed with energy efficient technologies,” explained Igor Anić, Chairperson of the Executive Board of ProCredit Bank. Over the past years, the bank has focused on securing proceeds earmarked to strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of local SMEs, as well as on providing funds to private individuals for investing in energy efficiency.
 

On the other hand, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is a leading institutional investor in Serbia and to date this bank has invested over EUR 7.2 billion in our country. The EBRD is oriented toward supporting the development of the private sector, the improvement of public utilities and the overall transition to a green economy. 

Matteo Colangeli, Regional Director for the Western Balkans Region and Head of Serbia for the European Bank for Reconstruction said: “We are pleased to be collaborating once again with ProCredit Bank in support of small and medium-sized enterprises in Serbia, allowing them access to the funds they need to grow their businesses and increase competitiveness. The is especially important after the disruption caused by the pandemic and in light of the current interruptions in global trade. We hope that this new financial line will enable numerous entities to recover and improve their operations.”