TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 24. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is proud to announce the signing of two new loans in Uzbekistan, aimed at fostering growth in the country's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) while promoting sustainability, Managing Director of SME Finance and Development at EBRD Zsuzsanna Hargitai wrote on LinkedIn, Trend reports.
These loans are made possible through the bank’s risk-sharing agreement (RSF) with JSCB Hamkorbank.
The first loan, valued at $1.1 million, will support Dolores Travel Group in expanding its tourist fleet. In addition to the loan, the financing includes an outcome-linked grant that is tied to sustainability performance indicators (KPIs), encouraging the company to integrate sustainable practices into its operations.
The second initiative focuses on strengthening the agribusiness sector, with a 200,000-euro grant provided to Ermak, a BlueRibbon company, as part of the EBRD's Agrifood Nexus Programme funded by Germany. This grant complements a 1.9 million euros RSF loan provided to Ermak earlier this year, which supports the company's investment in energy-efficient technology for processing nuts, seeds, fruit products, and dairy.
Meanwhile, the loan portfolio of the EBRD projects in Uzbekistan has totaled 3 billion euros as of November 30, 2024.
