"Under the new Western Balkans Private Sector Support Facility (WBPSSF), the EBRD will provide credit lines to local banks for on-lending to the private sector. The new framework includes a Sustainable Energy Financing Facility and a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Competitiveness Support Facility," reads the statement issued on the EBRD web site.
"The funding will be used to finance investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy by enterprises and households and to support SMEs" investments necessary to comply with EU health and safety, environment, and product safety and quality standards."
The facility is supported by grant funds totalling EUR 22.5 million provided by the EU as part of the 2009 Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance Crisis Response Package, which includes a comprehensive technical assistance programme to assist sub-borrowers to identify and structure these much needed investments.