EBRD And EU Partner With Banca Intesa To Provide €120 Million In New Funding To Support Women-Led Businesses, Young Entrepreneurs And SMEs Across Serbia

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Union, working together with Banca Intesa, are expanding their support for women entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout Serbia. Their joint effort focuses on groups that often face challenges in securing loans, including women-led companies, young business owners, and small firms in tourism, agriculture and rural communities.

To address these financing gaps, the partners are making up to €120 million available. This funding is divided into two main components. The first is €20 million dedicated specifically to women-led businesses, provided by the EBRD through its Women in Business programme. The second component includes up to €100 million in new loans for small and medium-sized enterprises. These SME loans are made possible through an EBRD risk-sharing arrangement with Banca Intesa, under which the EBRD will take on up to 50 per cent of the credit risk for eligible loans. This structure allows the bank to approve financing for more businesses than it could under standard lending criteria.

Both financing facilities are supported by the EU through the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+). The EU is contributing technical assistance and a first-loss counter-guarantee, which means it will cover the initial portion of any potential losses. This provides additional security for the bank and encourages more lending to underserved groups. By sharing part of the financial risk, the EBRD and EU enable Banca Intesa to use more of its own capital to support small businesses. This approach strengthens the bank’s position while opening access to companies that might otherwise be excluded from traditional credit opportunities.

Aleksandra Vukosavljevic, EBRD Director for Financial Institutions for the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe, noted that the collaboration marks an important step in improving access to finance for businesses that traditionally face barriers in Serbia. She highlighted that the combination of risk-sharing, innovative financial tools and targeted technical support will help more SMEs and households move forward with plans such as business expansion or energy-efficient home improvements.

Mauro di Veroli, Head of Cooperation at the Delegation of the European Union to Serbia, explained that the EU’s guarantee and technical assistance will make it easier for women-led businesses, young entrepreneurs and rural companies to obtain loans on more favourable terms. He added that supporting these sectors encourages sustainability, helps create jobs and strengthens the overall resilience of the Serbian economy, while also contributing to the country’s broader progress toward EU standards.