Capfish-Capture, a project organized by the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), is giving technical and financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Cambodia’s fishing industry to promote compliance with international food safety standards, allow SMEs to upgrade their machinery, connect SMEs with microfinance and venture capital, and increase academic research into post-harvest food technology. As of 2023, 28
Tag: EU
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: EIB Lends Credo Bank $10m for MSMEs in Georgia
The EU’s European Investment Bank (EIB) recently agreed to loan Credo Bank, a commercial bank in Georgia, GEL 28.8 million (USD 10 million) to expand its financing of micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). The floating-rate loan is synthetic, meaning it is denominated in euros but
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: LAGreen, UNEP-FI Promoting Green Bonds with Training in 8 Countries in Latin America, Caribbean
The Latin American Green Bond Fund (LAGreen), a Luxembourg-based investor in projects deemed sustainable, and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Finance Initiative, a public-private partnership, recently delivered a training series for banks in the Dominican Republic and Latin America to encourage them to invest in bonds that fund impact-oriented projects. Examples of efforts LAGreen has funded in the past include
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: BBVA Global Financial Education Plan Seeks to Reach 50m People
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), a global financial services group based in Spain, recently updated its Global Financial Education Plan, seeking to engage 1 million additional people in training sessions and provide related online material to a further 50 million people over the course of three years. The content aligns with
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: AEB Onlending $5.7m from EBRD, EU to SMEs in Armenia, Mostly for “Green” Investments
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), a UK-based development finance institution, recently agreed to lend EUR 5 million (USD 5.7 million) to Armeconombank (AEB), an Armenian bank. The purpose is to finance small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in acquiring technology that will upgrade employees’ working conditions, boost competitiveness and increase exports – including by reaching EU standards. AEB has agreed to direct at least 70 percent of the loan proceeds to
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Agricover Credit IFN Borrows $18m from EIB to Expand Financial Access for Small, Medium-sized Farms in Romania
Recently, Agricover Credit IFN, a non-banking financial institution that specializes in financing agribusinesses in Romania, received a loan of EUR 7.5 million (USD 8.9 million) from the European Investment Bank (EIB), an entity of the EU. The agreement is designed to
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: EIB Lending Banca Intesa Beograd of Serbia $47m for SMEs, Mid-Caps Adjusting to COVID-19 Pandemic
Recently, the European Investment Bank (EIB), an entity of the EU, extended a credit line of EUR 40 million (USD 47 million) to Banca Intesa Beograd (BIB) in an effort to boost the Serbian economy in response to the downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds are for on-lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-caps to support operations, job retention and
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: EIB Lending Jordan Kuwait Bank $119m for SMEs Adjusting to COVID-19 Pandemic
Recently, the European Investment Bank (EIB), an entity of the EU, extended a credit line of EUR 100 million (USD 119 million) to Jordan Kuwait Bank in an effort to boost the Jordanian economy in response to the downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds are to be used for
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: EIB Lending CIH Bank of Morocco $73m to Support SMEs, Mid-caps in Adjusting to COVID-19 Pandemic
The European Investment Bank (EIB), an entity of the EU, recently agreed to loan EUR 60 million (USD 73 million) to Crédit Immobilier et Hôtelier (CIH) Bank, which is controlled by the
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: EBRD Lends $1.2m to Erste Group’s Sparkasse Leasing Doo Skopje to Support Small, Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in North Macedonia
The UK-based European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) recently lent Sparkasse Leasing Doo Skopje, a unit of Sparkasse Bank of Macedonia, EUR 1 million (USD 1.2 million) to fund equipment to be leased by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in North Macedonia. The leased equipment is meant to boost the SMEs’ usage of renewable energy and
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: EBRD’s “Trade Ready” Program to Bring Finance, Business Advice to SMEs in Serbia
With funding from the EU and the government Luxembourg, the UK-based European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is launching Trade Ready, a program intended to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Serbia become