(ANSA) - BELGRADE - A second line of credit amounting to 30 million euros (after the first of 2009) has been made available by the Italian Government to support micro, small and medium enterprises and municipal utilities in Serbia. Speaking at the launch of the line of credit, co-organized by the Italian Embassy in Belgrade, the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia, the Serbian Ministry of Economy and the National Agency for Regional Development, Italian ambassador to Serbia Joseph Manzo underlined that growth and development are very important to the Balkan country.

''The even more favourable terms of this new line of credit confirm the strong commitment of the Italian government to economic and social growth in Serbia'', the ambassador said. ''We are hoping - he added - that Serbian companies will be able to acquire and use more and more technology and machinery from Italy. This new credit line has an effective interest rate of 4.35% per annum, a warranty period for up to two years and the repayment period will be up to eight years.

Credit will be divided into two sections: 70% on the purchase of goods and services from Italy: the remaining 30% to cover local costs. The loan will be made by Bank Intesa, Cacanska Banka, Erste Bank, Eurobank, JUBMES banka, KBM Banka, Komercijalna banka Srbija Sberbank, Unicredit Bank Srbija. (ANSA).