The European Fund for Southeast Europe supports JSC «CREDITWEST BANK» in the development of SME and agricultural financing in Ukraine
The European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE) has provided CreditWest Bank, Ukraine, with a financing package of EUR 6 million, including the equivalent of EUR 3 million in local currency, which will allow the bank to expand into small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) financing with particular focus on agricultural businesses.
Having started as a corporate bank, The European Fund for Southeast Europe supports JSC «CREDITWEST BANK» in the development of SME and agricultural financing in Ukraine is diversifying into the SME segment to increase its outreach as well as local businesses’ access to financing by offering dedicated financial solutions. The bank has already demonstrated its commitment to fostering business and economic development in the country – an endeavor that resonates with EFSE’s own mission of supporting sustainable economic growth in the region.
EFSE Board Chairman Christoph Tiskens said: “We are excited at this opportunity to work with CreditWest Bank in tailoring credit solutions that meet customers’ needs and business capacities. This new partnership is another step in EFSE’s commitment to investing in the economic development and prosperity of Ukraine.”
“Partnering with EFSE is an important step for our bank in pursuing the development strategy in Ukraine, which is largely founded on servicing small and medium enterprises. We trust that with the funding support of EFSE, we will be better positioned to cater to the needs of SMEs and agricultural businesses in a tailored manner, supporting their productivity, competitiveness and viability,” commented Chairman of the Management Board of JSC «CREDITWEST BANK» Igor Tykhonov.
About the European Fund for Southeast Europe
The European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE) was initiated by KfW Development Bank (KfW) with the financial support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Commission. It aims to foster economic development and prosperity in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine and Turkey. As access to finance is a key success factor in developing the micro, small and medium enterprise segments, the EFSE focuses on assisting local financial sectors in strengthening their ability to ensure adequate and sustainable financing.