The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is lending €25 million to PBZ Leasing in Croatia, aiming to help local small businesses and encourage greener investments. At least 30% of the loan will go toward leasing energy-saving equipment and technology.
This funding should make it easier for Croatian micro, small, and medium-sized businesses to get the tools they need to grow. By focusing on green leasing, the project hopes to get more companies to try cleaner, more efficient tech. The EBRD says this will help local businesses cut costs and lower their environmental impact.
PBZ Leasing’s leaders, Nikolina Žganec and Bogdan Drakulić, signed the deal with EBRD’s Miljan Ždrale. Drakulić said the partnership will help Croatian businesses compete and move toward more sustainable ways of working. Ždrale added that small businesses drive Croatia’s economy, but many still struggle to get financing for new equipment. The EBRD wants to change that by offering more options and support.
The EBRD has put close to €5 billion into Croatia since it started working there, backing over 260 projects. The bank’s main goals in the country are to help with reforms, support the benefits of EU membership, and help public companies become more efficient and business-focused.
