EIB, tangible impact of loans on investment in Balkans

(ANSA) - BRUSSELS, 18 DIC - European Investment Bank (EIB) loans to businesses in the Western Balkans show a tangible impact on employment and investment. This is according to an EIB study assessing the impact of the financial institution's loans to SMEs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Northern Macedonia between 2009 and 2023. Specifically, SMEs that have received financing report 15 more jobs per million euros of EIB-guaranteed loans and higher investment, with a 20 percent increase in total assets and 35 percent increase in fixed assets compared to similar firms that have not benefited.
    The impact on employment is stronger for firms that had not previously accessed financing, suggesting the importance of the favorable market conditions offered by EIB loans. Since 2008, the EIB has financed loans on favorable terms to 28,400 SMEs in the Western Balkans. "This study demonstrates the positive effects of EIB financing in empowering firms to invest, expand and contribute to the long-term development of the region," stressed EIB Chief Economist Debora Revoltella, who said the report "highlights the Bank's crucial role in promoting financial inclusion by enabling SMEs to access bank financing for the first time." (ANSA).