The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) are stepping up their support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in Serbia. A new €10 million credit line to Intesa Leasing will support these companies during and after the coronavirus pandemic.

It will help SMEs in Serbia to invest in upgrading their equipment and production processes to EU standards, in particular for product quality and safety, environmental protection, as well as workers’ health and safety. This support comes at a crucial time, as access to finance is limited and local businesses are particularly vulnerable in the current circumstances.

The loan is part of a wider EBRD/EU programme to boost SME competitiveness across the Western Balkans. While the EBRD and its financial partners help businesses to finance more modern production processes, the EU is providing funds to identify the most suitable equipment and processes as well as for incentive payments for successfully finished projects. In Serbia the programme is implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of the Economy.