BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 16. Small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Serbia are to receive support in
digitalising and automating their operations thanks to a new loan
from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
and grant incentives from the European Union (EU), Trend reports citing
the EBRD’s latest reports.
The EBRD’s €10 million loan to NLB Komercijalna Banka AD Beograd
will be on-lent to SMEs for investments in digital and green
technologies. The package is being provided under the Go Digital in
Western Balkans programme, which is supported by the EU and aims to
drive innovation, competitiveness and sustainable growth in the
private sector.
Serbian SMEs will also benefit from EU-funded grant incentives
totalling 10 per cent of the loan amount. In addition, they will be
eligible for technical assistance – also funded by the EU – to help
them identify and structure their priority investments.
Matteo Patrone, EBRD Vice President for Banking, said:
“Investments in green and digital technologies are no longer a
matter of choice, they are a necessity for SMEs to help them thrive
in an ever-changing business landscape. This loan will help SMEs in
Serbia to harness the power of automation and digitalisation,
making them more competitive in both local and international
markets.”
SMEs will be able to apply for financing for a wide range of
technologies and investments, from simple automated and robotic
industrial equipment to complex digital decision-making tools and
data collection and analysis tools that can also contribute to
decarbonisation and resource efficiency.
The Go Digital in Western Balkans programme aims to boost the
productivity and efficiency of SMEs. Helping these companies to
leverage investments in information and communications technology
is one way to do this, as it enables them to streamline operations,
automate processes, drive sales, improve customer experience and
increase market access – all of which will raise
competitiveness.
Supported with EU funding, these investments will be in line
with EU standards for creating sustainable economies, helping
businesses implement measures that can make their operations
greener and more competitive in EU markets.
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