Core Insights - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has allocated €8 million ($9.3 million) to Sparkasse Bank Skopje for the Green Finance Facility (GFF) in North Macedonia [1] - The GFF aims to provide loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency [1][2] - The initiative is part of a broader collaboration involving multiple organizations, including the United Nations Development Programme and local government agencies [2] Funding and Impact - The GFF pools resources from various entities, including the Joint SDG Fund, the North Macedonian government, EBRD, and local banks [1] - The EBRD has invested over €3 billion ($3.5 million) across more than 200 projects in North Macedonia to date [3] - The new loan marks a milestone, bringing the total allocation to €37 million to support SMEs in renewable energy and energy efficiency [4] Institutional Support - Sparkasse Bank Skopje is the fifth-largest bank in North Macedonia and will channel these funds into SME projects [4] - The bank's management emphasizes its commitment to supporting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, which are crucial to the economy [5] - EBRD is also preparing a €25 million ($29 million) unfunded risk-sharing guarantee for Crnogorska komercijalna banka to enhance lending capacity for MSMEs in Montenegro [6]

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced a €20m ($23m) financing arrangement to NLB Banka Prishtina to increase funding options for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Kosovo to support the country’s digital development initiatives. The funding is split into two parts. The first involves a senior loan of up to €15m dedicated to SMEs. This loan is the second such facility that EBRD has extended to NLB Banka Prishtina, aiming to address the financing needs of priva ...