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Bosnia: from EIB 25 million to support for SMEs

(ANSA) - BELGRADE, OCT. 19 - The European Investment Bank (EIB) has decided to grant a 25m loan to the Raiffeisen Leasing bank in Bosnia-Herzegovina, with the aim of favouring loans to SMEs) in the Balkan country. EIB reported in a statement that Raiffeisen Leasing will use the loan to finance investment projects of companies operating in the fields of industry, tourism, agriculture and services, encouraging especially investment to support youth employment within the European Youth Employment and Training programme for the Western Balkans (Eyet). Local authorities will also be eligible for loans to finance investments in the sectors of environmental protection, health and education. According to EIB estimates, the loan will support about 445 small and medium-sized businesses and 4,450 jobs. An agreement to provide a first tranche of funding, which is worth 15m - the EIB announced - was signed today in Sarajevo by Matteo Rivellini, head of EIB for the Western Balkans, Croatia and Slovenia, and Karlheinz Dobnigg, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank of Bosnia-Herzegovina, who both expressed great satisfaction with the loan, which has the goal to support small and medium-sized enterprises and create new jobs in Bosnia and Herzegovina. (ANSA).