The EU is providing grants and technical assistance for small businesses in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a supplement to the €5 million loan provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) through UniCredit Bank a.d. Banja Luka to improve access to finance for local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The loan is being provided under the Bank’s SME Competitiveness Programme, through which local SMEs can access well-structured finance. Incentive grants are available for up to 15% of their loan amount.

UniCredit Bank a.d. Banja Luka will lend the funds to SMEs for investment purposes, so that they can upgrade their production facilities to make them compatible with EU standards in areas such as environmental protection, worker safety and product quality. At least 60% of the loans will go to investments that support green transition.

The financing will increase the competitiveness of local businesses and give them greater opportunities to succeed in domestic, regional and international markets.