The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved a loan of up to €2 million to Addiko Bank Podgorica to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Montenegro, according to a press release. The financing is the first in the country under the EBRD’s “Go Digital in the Western Balkans” programme, co-funded by the European Union, and is designed to help local businesses invest in digitalisation and green technologies.
Small businesses receiving funds through Addiko Bank can also access grant incentives worth 10% of their sub-loans to encourage investment in automation and digital tools. A technical assistance package, funded by the EU through the Western Balkans Investment Framework, will support both the bank and its business clients in making the most of the programme. The initiative also sets out to ensure women-led businesses have fair access to the financing on offer.
EBRD Head of Montenegro Remon Zakaria said the loan will help SMEs “adopt digital and green technologies, boost their competitiveness and move closer to EU standards.” Addiko Bank President Christoph Schoen added that digital and green investments are essential for sustainable growth, particularly for SMEs that form the backbone of Montenegro’s economy, and that the programme gives businesses the tools they need to modernise and build long-term resilience.
The EBRD has been a key investor in Montenegro for years, committing more than €1 billion across over 100 projects in infrastructure, the private sector and sustainable development.
