In 2017 WB EDIF published its first collection of stories from the Region. This booklet also gives a concise overview of the WB EDIF platform and main targets.
Important messages were delivered, highlighting the significant progress the Western Balkans economies have made and forward-looking commitments were taken to address the remaining challenges, continue with the structural reforms and increase the competitiveness.
In 2016 the EIB commissioned a study to assesses the financing needs of the SMEs in the Western Balkans countries and the market failures that are constraining the development of the SME sector.
The European Investment Fund (EIF) and three ProCredit group subsidiaries have signed guarantee agreements to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Serbia, Kosovo and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. This was made possible via the Western Balkans Guarantee Facility, funded by the European Union under the Western Balkans Enterprise Development and Innovation Facility. Read more
Following the Guarantee Facility signature with ProCredit Macedonia, EIF and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia marked the first deployment of this instrument in the country with a press event, led by Deputy PM Vladimir Pesevski. Read more
Following the good results of the first round of financing of the WBEDIF Guarantee Facility, and with the endorsement of the Platform Adivisory Group (PAG), the instrument has been replenished with additional European Union funding. On 18 March 2016 the corresponding Call for Expression of Interest went live and the EIF shall begin receiving applications and selecting Financial Intermediaries to allocate funding to. Read more
EIF and the Government of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, held a press conference in Skopje to mark the launch of the Enterprise Innovation Fund (ENIF) and the local Government’s contribution of EUR 300k. Read more