The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved a loan of nine million euros to Raiffeisen Bank in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with an additional grant from the European Union (EU), for lending to local small businesses.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be able to apply for funds to invest in new equipment and modernization that will help them increase their productivity, reduce operating costs and improve compliance with EU standards.
These investments can relate to a wide range of equipment and software solutions, including the areas of digital transformation and energy efficiency.
The goal is to support small and medium-sized enterprises to rise above the usual business and invest in increasing competitiveness on local and EU markets.
In addition to loans, small and medium-sized enterprises will receive incentives in the form of grants in the amount of up to 15 percent of the total loan amount. These incentives are financed by the EU.
“We are happy that in cooperation with Raiffeisen Bank, which has a strong network of small and medium-sized enterprise clients, we can offer this additional financing for local small and medium-sized enterprises. We are also glad to see the increasing interest of local companies in this type of financing that can help them modernize their businesses and become more competitive,” said Manuela Naessl, Director of the EBRD office for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
