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- EBRD providing three loans totalling €4 million to Intesa Sanpaolo Banka Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Loans will improve access to green finance and support youth- and women-led businesses
- Package of loans will promote inclusive and sustainable growth
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing three loans totalling €4 million to Intesa Sanpaolo Banka Bosnia and Herzegovina to encourage green investments in the residential sector, boost youth entrepreneurship and support women-led businesses in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This package of loans comprises the following:
- A €2 million loan under the Western Balkans Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF)*: This loan will be lent on to the residential sector, supporting access to finance for energy-saving investments. Beneficiaries will include individual residents, housing collectives, housing management companies, service providers, producers and vendors of green technologies and materials, construction companies and the public sector. Eligible sub-borrowers will be able to receive incentive grants totalling up to 20 per cent of their sub-loans from the European Union (EU) on successful completion of their projects, with technical assistance funded by Japan and the EU supporting effective implementation.
- A €1 million loan under the Western Balkans Youth in Business programme: This loan will be lent on to eligible youth-led or -owned micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). This transaction aims to facilitate financial inclusion for young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, improving access to finance for MSMEs owned or led by young people, which often face barriers on account of factors such as insufficient collateral, limited credit history or lack of business experience.
- A €1 million loan under Phase II of the Western Balkans Women in Business programme: This loan will be lent on to eligible women-led MSMEs, seeking to foster women’s entrepreneurship and encourage broader participation in business by enhancing women-led MSMEs’ access to finance and know-how.
In addition to providing finance, the Women in Business and Youth in Business programmes also engage with young business owners and managers, giving them access to tailored advisory services that help them develop new skills, improve the performance of their businesses and unlock new growth opportunities. This advisory support is backed by the EU and the governments of Sweden (through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency), Luxembourg and Italy (through the Central European Initiative).
The loan agreements were signed by Stela Melnic, the EBRD’s Director of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Michele Castoro, President of the Management Board of Intesa Sanpaolo Banka, and Minja Filipović, a member of the Management Board.
Stela Melnic said: “We are proud to be expanding our support for inclusive and green finance in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These loans to Intesa Sanpaolo Banka underline our commitment to empowering women and young entrepreneurs, while accelerating the green transition and fostering sustainable growth across the country.”
Michele Castoro added: “This partnership with the EBRD represents another important step in strengthening our role as a driver of positive change in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through these new loan facilities, we can further support investments in energy efficiency, as well as young and women-led businesses that are shaping the future of our economy. We value the continued trust placed in our bank and remain committed to delivering sustainable impact and meaningful opportunities for our clients and communities.”
Intesa Sanpaolo Banka Bosnia and Herzegovina is the fifth largest bank in Bosnia and Herzegovina. With headquarters in Sarajevo, it services the entirety of the country through electronic channels and a network of 43 branches.
The EBRD’s Women in Business and Youth in Business programmes are supported by the EU, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance and bilateral donors to the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) and are implemented in partnership with the Energy Community Secretariat.
The EBRD has invested €3.4 billion across 254 projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina since it began operating there in 1996. The Bank’s strategic priorities in the country are to promote the green economy, support the competitive development of the private sector and foster regional integration.