MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), European Union to Provide Technical Assistance to Small, Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Tunisia

The Small Business Support (SBS) team of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), a UK-based financial institution, recently began operations in Tunisia, with plans to provide small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with technical tools and management skills in order to help them innovate, increase efficiency and boost productivity.

To fund its operations in Tunisia, SBS will have EUR 1.1 million (USD 1.5 million) from the European Union as well as an unspecified amount of funds from the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean (SEMED) Multi-donor Account, an EBRD facility that includes donations from countries such as Australia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

There are two programs under the SBS facility: the Enterprise Growth Program and the Business Advisory Services Program. The former focuses on structural and managerial change whilst the latter supports short-term projects such as environmental impact assessment, implementation of computerized manufacturing systems and quality certification. In 2013, EBRD invested EUR 8.5 billion (USD 11.4 billion) in 392 projects across 34 countries in Central Asia, Eastern Europe and North Africa.

By Tejas Jain, Research Associate

About European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is a multilateral institution headquartered in London, England. The bank began operations in 1991 upon the agreement of 40 countries, and it is owned by 61 countries as well as the European Investment Bank and the European Union as of 2012. It aims to finance operations that are both commercially viable and assist development in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and North Africa. It does this by providing loans, debt securities, equity investments, guarantees and technical assistance to micro- and small businesses via commercial banks and non-bank microfinance institutions (MFIs). In 2013, EBRD invested EUR 8.5 billion (USD 11.4 billion) in 392 projects across 34 countries.

Sources and Additional Resources:

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, “EBRD and European Union step up support for small businesses in Tunisia,”
http://www.ebrd.com/pages/news/press/2014/140327f.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development website, “Working with us,”
http://www.ebrd.com/pages/workingwithus/sbs/how.shtml

MicroCapital Story, March 25, 2014, “European Union, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Support 100 Small, Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Egypt,”
https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-european-union-european-bank-for-reconstruction-and-development-ebrd-support-100-small-medium-sized-enterprises-smes-in-egypt/

MicroCapital Story, March 23, 2014, “European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to Loan $7m to Enda Inter-Arabe for On-Lending to Micro-, Small Enterprises (MSEs) in Tunisia,”
https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-european-bank-for-reconstruction-and-development-ebrd-to-loan-7m-to-enda-inter-arabe-for-on-lending-to-micro-small-enterprises-mses-in-tunisia/

MicroCapital Story, March 17, 2014, “European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Considers $21m Loan to Compagnie Internationale de Leasing (CIL) for Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in Tunisia,”
https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-european-bank-for-reconstruction-and-development-ebrd-considers-21m-loan-to-compagnie-internationale-de-leasing-cil-for-micro-small-and-medium-sized-enterprises-msmes-in-t/

MicroCapital Story, March 14, 2014,”European Bank For Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Brings “Small Business Support” Facility to Jordan, Delivering Technical Assistance to Small, Medium-Sized Firms,”
https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-european-bank-for-reconstruction-and-development-ebrd-brings-small-business-support-facility-to-jordan-bringing-technical-assistance-to-small-medium-sized-firms/

MicroCapital Story, February 13, 2014, “responsAbility Loans $20m to Microlender Enda Inter-Arabe of Tunisia,”
https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-responsability-loans-20m-to-microlender-enda-inter-arabe-of-tunisia/

MicroCapital Story, July 24, 2013, “Sanad Fund for MSME Loans $6m to Enda Inter-Arabe of Tunisia for Young Entrepreneurs, Micro, Small, Medium-sized Enterprises in Rural Areas,”
https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-sanad-fund-for-msme-loans-6m-to-enda-inter-arabe-of-tunisia-for-young-entrepreneurs-micro-small-medium-sized-enterprises-in-rural-areas/

MicroCapital Universe Profile: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=European+Bank+for+Reconstruction+and+Development+%28EBRD%29

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