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  • EBRD, EU and Raiffeisen Bank expand support for businesses and households in Bosnia and Herzegovina

    EBRD, EU and Raiffeisen Bank expand support for businesses and households in Bosnia and Herzegovina

    • EBRD unfunded portfolio guarantee of up to €25 million to Raiffeisen Bank in support of local SMEs
    • €3 million to be on-lent to households for green investments
    • Investments supported by the European Union in the form of technical cooperation, guarantees and incentive grants

    The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU), in partnership with Raiffeisen Bank Bosnia and Herzegovina, are boosting access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and households across the country.

    The EBRD is providing Raiffeisen with a €25 million unfunded risk-sharing guarantee, enabling €50 million in new lending to SMEs under the EBRD’s portfolio risk sharing (PRS) product. The guarantee will cover up to 50 per cent of the credit risk on new SME loans issued by Raiffeisen Bank. Backed by technical assistance and first-loss counter-guarantee from the EU’s European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) Growth for All programme, the initiative targets underserved businesses – including those led by women and young people – and SMEs operating in tourism, agriculture and rural areas. This transaction is the first PRS facility supported by the EFSD+ in the Western Balkans, ahead of a regional roll-out.

    By sharing part of the risk with Raiffeisen Bank, the EBRD and EU are helping the bank strengthen its resilience and expand lending to more SMEs using the bank’s own funds. The PRS broadens the spectrum of EBRD products in the market, with an innovative solution designed to reduce risk for the EBRD’s partner financial institutions and to address financing gaps for MSMEs.

    In addition, a €3 million EBRD loan will be on-lent to households for energy-saving upgrades in homes. Eligible borrowers can receive up to 20 per cent cashback from the EU on successful completion of their project. Technical assistance, funded by Japan and the EU, will support effective implementation.

    This financing is part of the EBRD’s Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF) for the Western Balkans, which has already helped over 22,000 households improve their energy efficiency. The programme also supports housing associations and construction firms developing high-performance residential buildings.

    Stela Melnic, EBRD Head of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said: “This partnership with Raiffeisen Bank, supported by the European Union, marks a significant milestone in our efforts to expand access to finance for underserved businesses in Bosnia and Herzegovina. By sharing risk and combining innovative financial instruments with targeted technical assistance, we are enabling more SMEs and households to invest in their future, whether through business growth or energy-efficient home upgrades. This is the kind of inclusive and green financing the EBRD is proud to champion across the Western Balkans.”

    Luigi Soreca, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and European Union Special Representative, said: “The signing of these two agreements is yet another example of the European Union’s commitment to providing new opportunities for SMEs across Bosnia and Herzegovina and improving the lives of its citizens. By improving access to finance, especially for businesses outside big cities, and supporting households in making their homes more energy-efficient, we are helping businesses grow and compete, and citizens live better. These initiatives also play an important role in the EU Growth Plan for the Western Balkans by driving green and digital transformation and strengthening the resilience of the private sector. Together, we are laying the foundation for a more sustainable and prosperous future for all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”.

    Rainer Schnabl, CEO of Raiffeisen Bank Bosnia and Herzegovina, said: “We are proud to be the first bank in Bosnia and Herzegovina to join the EBRD’s portfolio risk sharing programme. This cooperation enables us to expand lending to small and medium-sized enterprises, especially those led by young people and women, and to reach regions beyond the main urban centres. At the same time, through the Green Economy Financing Facility, we are supporting households that invest in energy-efficient solutions, helping to lower costs and contribute to a more sustainable future. As Raiffeisen Bank marks 25 years of being a good neighbour in Bosnia and Herzegovina, this initiative reflects our longstanding commitment to fostering entrepreneurship, competitiveness and the green transition of country’s economy.”

    The EBRD has invested more than €3.4 billion in 252 projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina since it began operating there in 1996. The Bank’s strategic priorities in the country are to promote the green economy, support the competitive development of the private sector and foster regional integration.

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  • Some Indian refiners to move away from Russian oil, sources say – Reuters

    1. Some Indian refiners to move away from Russian oil, sources say  Reuters
    2. Trump says Modi has agreed to stop buying Russian oil  BBC
    3. India says priority is consumers after Trump comments on stopping Russian oil  Dawn
    4. Ukraine war briefing: ‘Bit of a…

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  • Tanvi Sharma, Unnati Hooda march into quarter-finals

    Tanvi Sharma, Unnati Hooda march into quarter-finals

    India’s Tanvi Sharma and Unnati Hooda continued their run in the BWF World Junior Championships 2025 badminton tournament in Guwahati on Thursday by progressing to the quarter-finals of the girls’ singles event.

    Meanwhile, Gnana Dattu TT, the…

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  • ​4 foods to combine with fenugreek seeds to regulate blood sugar​

    ​4 foods to combine with fenugreek seeds to regulate blood sugar​

    As per experts, curcumin in turmeric reduces inflammation and improves insulin action. According to a study titled Curcumin and Diabetes: A Systematic Review, curcumin could favorably affect most of the leading aspects of diabetes, including…

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  • Dylan Sprouse wins hearts for raising endometriosis awareness for Barbara Palvin

    Dylan Sprouse wins hearts for raising endometriosis awareness for Barbara Palvin

    Dylan Sprouse earns praise for raising endometriosis awareness for Barbara Palvin on Victoria’s Secret red carpet

    Dylan Sprouse has been praised for…

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  • Scientists Tune In to the Ocean’s Sound Waves

    Scientists Tune In to the Ocean’s Sound Waves

    “It’s a good thing we can’t hear it with our ears. Otherwise, we’d just have this constant din from the oceans.”

    The steady thrumming of crashing waves is the ocean’s soundtrack. But behind that calming rhythm is a host of…

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  • Why is the Northern Hemisphere darkening faster than the South? – Euronews.com

    1. Why is the Northern Hemisphere darkening faster than the South?  Euronews.com
    2. 24 Years Of NASA Satellite Data Suggest The World Is Getting Darker, And It’s Happening Faster In The North  IFLScience
    3. Earth is reflecting less and less sunlight back…

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  • 5,000 years ago, Stone Age people in China crafted their ancestors’ bones into cups and masks

    5,000 years ago, Stone Age people in China crafted their ancestors’ bones into cups and masks

    Skull cups and skeleton masks have been discovered among a pile of 5,000-year-old discarded human bones in China, according to a new study.

    The sculpted skulls were found jumbled up with pottery and animal remains, but the purpose of the macabre…

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  • On World Food Day, Israel continues to restrict aid into Gaza | Hunger News

    On World Food Day, Israel continues to restrict aid into Gaza | Hunger News

    Despite a ceasefire deal with Israel, Palestinians across the devastated Gaza Strip continue to go hungry as food supplies remain critically low and aid fails to reach those who need it most.

    As per the ceasefire agreement, Israel was supposed to…

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  • French PM faces fraught budget talks after surviving no-confidence votes – Reuters

    1. French PM faces fraught budget talks after surviving no-confidence votes  Reuters
    2. Macron’s France now has a new Cabinet. It will face an uphill battle to end the political crisis  AP News
    3. France Steps Back From the Brink as Parliament Spares the…

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