The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is extending a EUR 10 million loan to OTP Leasing Serbia doo Novi Beograd to support the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Serbia.
The European Union (EU) is also providing EUR 1.5 million in incentive grants for SMEs to make their investments more affordable.
The financing is being provided under the EBRD’s SME Competitiveness Programme, through which local companies can access well-structured finance, including incentive grants worth up to 15 percent of their loan amount. The aim of the programme is to support Serbian SMEs in upgrading their businesses to EU standards in areas such as environmental protection, worker safety and product quality.
Participating small businesses will also be offered technical assistance to help prepare and implement their investments. The grants and technical assistance are being financed by the EU through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) and in close coordination with the Ministry of Economy of Serbia.
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With its wide regional outreach and focus on SMEs, OTP Leasing Serbia has the potential to provide much-needed financing to smaller businesses and to contribute to the development of the SME sector across the country.
The EBRD is a leading institutional investor in Serbia. The Bank has invested more than EUR 7.1 billion in 303 projects in the country to date. The Bank’s focus in Serbia is on private-sector development, improving public utilities and facilitating the country’s transition to a green economy.
Source: EBRD
