EIB lends EUR 100 million to Serbia for SMEs

Officials of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and two Serbian financial institutions signed Monday in Belgrade loan contracts worth EUR 100 million that will be used to support small and medium-sized companies and infrastructure projects promoted by the local authorities, Tanjug news agency has reported.

The loans should help speed up Serbia's EU integration, the EIB stated.

The loans signed with two local banks will improve access to long-term sources of funding for small and medium-sized companies, EIB Vice President for the Western Balkans Dario Scannapieco said.

He is pleased with the cooperation with Serbian authorities and financial institutions, adding that the new loans represent an extension of a very successful cooperation between the EIB, Raiffeisen Bank and Erste Bank.

The EIB delegation earlier met with Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and said the EIB was interested in infrastructure, agricultural and energy projects in Serbia.