EU/EBRD SME Competitiveness Support Facility in Bosnia and Herzegovina is supporting SMEs by increasing their capability to access the EU market and face competition.
This programme is expected to provide financing of €20 million through three local partner banks and is complemented by EU grant funds to cover consultancy costs and financial incentives to sub-borrowers.
One of the benefiting SMEs is Omorika – a PET packaging producer from Doboj, in the north of the country. Omorika received a relatively small loan and technical cooperation support to upgrade their health and safety, environmental protection and product quality measures – all in line with EU standards.
At Omorika they manufacture preforms and plastic packaging made from PET, a material best known as clear plastic. Then they sell their preforms and containers to various clients, who use them for bottling drinks, oils and chemical products.
Meeting EU market requirements is not the only incentive for Omorika to improve its production systems. Conservation of natural resources and the environment, reduction of plastic waste pollution and raising employment are also important to the owners.
Thanks to this joint EBRD/EU programme, not only local economy is boosted, but also the environment is preserved.
