The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is strengthening support for green finance in North Macedonia with a new €8 million loan to Sparkasse Bank Skopje under the Green Finance Facility, the EBRD announced. The funds will enable Sparkasse Bank to lend to local small and medium-sized enterprises for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, supporting the country’s shift toward a greener and more competitive economy.
The Green Finance Facility is financed by the Joint SDG Fund, the government of North Macedonia, the EBRD, and local partner financial institutions, and is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme, the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the EBRD, and the North Macedonian government, with support from the UN Resident Coordinator. The initiative aims to provide affordable green finance to SMEs and underserved groups for investments that cut greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, in line with North Macedonia’s climate goals and the EBRD’s Green Economy Transition approach. The project is fully aligned with the Paris Agreement and will be supported by technical assistance and investment incentives funded by the Joint SDG Fund, the North Macedonian government, and the EBRD.
“This new loan demonstrates our commitment to empowering SMEs to adopt renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies,” said Fatih Turkmenoglu, EBRD Head of North Macedonia. “With this facility extension, the EBRD will have allocated €37 million to support SMEs and their investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency through the GFF. By enabling access to sustainable finance, we aim to drive the green transition and support businesses in growing responsibly while contributing to the fight against climate change.”
Nina Nedanoska, Deputy President of Sparkasse Bank Skopje’s Management Board, said: “With the new Green Finance Facility credit line, we once again confirm our role as a reliable and long-term partner of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises – the backbone of North Macedonia’s economy. As a bank that stands shoulder to shoulder with businesses at every stage of their development, we remain focused on providing financial solutions that create long-term value – for our clients, for the economy, and for the community as a whole.”
Sparkasse Bank Skopje is the fifth largest bank in North Macedonia, committed to supporting the competitiveness and sustainability of SMEs across the country. The EBRD is a major institutional investor in North Macedonia, with over €3 billion invested in more than 200 projects to date.
