PRISTINA (Kosovo), January 9 (SeeNews) – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said it is joining forces with the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) to provide 300 million euro ($408.3 million) of financing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the region of the Western Balkans.
For the purpose, WBIF launched a new initiative, the Enterprise Development and Innovation Facility, and EBRD’s Local Enterprise Facility (LEF) joined the programme, underscoring its commitment to forging ever closer ties with the region and its partners in the European Union, the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund, the bank said in a statement posted on its website on Wednesday.
WBIF is is a joint initiative of the EU, International Financial institutions, bilateral donors and the governments of the Western Balkans. It supports socio-economic development and EU accession across the Western Balkans through the provision of finance and technical assistance for strategic investments, particularly in infrastructure, energy efficiency and private sector development.
($=0.7347 euro)