Ohridska Banka AD Skopje : Loans and advisory services for development of women’s entrepreneurship

Microsoft Word - Press release 18 12 2015 FINAL

PRESS RELEASE

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Ohridska Banka AD Skopje, Member of Société Générale Group, present

Women in Business programme

EBRD Women in Business programme launched in Skopje Loans and advisory services for development of women's entrepreneurship

Skopje, December 18, 2015. -The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Ohridska Banka AD Skopje launched today the Women in Business Programme in Skopje.The programme, which is part of a regional initiative covering six countries of the Western Balkans, promotes women's entrepreneurship and supports women-led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Ohridska Banka AD Skopje has become the first financial institution to join the Programme in FYR Macedonia, with a €3 million loan provided by the EBRD that will be used to provide financing to women-led SMEs.

The Women in Business Programme assists women-led SMEs to access finance and know-how to grow their businesses. The Women in Business Programme will combine the technical assistance to partner financial institutions with support to women entrepreneurs through training, advisory projects, mentoring and other business development activities. The programme in the Western Balkans is supported by donor funding from the governments of Italy, Luxembourg and Sweden, and the EBRD Shareholder Special Fund.

Mr Vladimir Peshevski, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia, said: "Promoting women's entrepreneurship and the development of the SME sector are key priorities for the Macedonian Government. Economic empowerment of women is no longer just an issue of gender equality, but rather a key precondition of social progress and sustainable economic growth. This is why it is an important task of the state and the private sector to create an environment that will encourage the development of female entrepreneurship."

Anca Ionescu, EBRD Head of Office, Skopje, said: "We believe that encouraging women's entrepreneurship is an important part of seeing Macedonia and the Western Balkans fulfil its economic potential. This is a comprehensive programme that seeks to address gaps is the provision of finance and advisory to women-led SMEs from both the demand and supply sides. And we are very pleased to have Ohridska Banka as a partner in this in Macedonia."

Ohridska Banka AD Skopje will use the €3 million EBRD loan for on-lending to eligible SMEs led by women to promote women's participation in the economy.Ohridska Banka AD Skopje

has also partnered with the EBRD on initiatives related to energy efficiency and small business competitiveness.

Nina Nedanoska, Director of Corporate and Investment Banking Division of Ohridska Banka, said:

"A few decades ago there were many gender stereotypes which had strong negative influence on ambitious women: Women are nurses, not doctors; Women are flight attendants, not pilots; Women are secretaries, not CEO's. Thanks to many brave and persistent women throughout the years, we proved that those stereotypes are only myths and misperceptions.

With this Programme we want to encourage women to work hard, to dream big, and never doubt their abilities and potential!"

The Women in Business programme launched with an event in Skopje. The event was attended by over 150 local business representatives and dignitaries. Speakers included Mr Vladimir Peshevski, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia, Ms Nina Nedanoska, Director of Corporate and Investment Banking Division of Ohridska Banka and Ms Biljana Dzartova-Petrovska from the Embassy of Sweden in Macedonia.

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Ohridska Banka, Société Générale Group (OBSG) is a universal banking institution that ranks 4th in the Macedonian market. Since 2007, OBSG belongs to one of the largest financial institutions worldwide - Société Générale Group. With more than 148,000 employees, based in 76 countries, Société Générale Group has been at the side of 30 million clients throughout the world for more than 150 years.