OREANDA-NEWS. January 26, 2015. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) have launched a programme aiming to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia, by providing them loans worth millions of euros.

European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn said that "small businesses are crucial for stimulating growth and creating jobs" during his visit to Tbilisi.

EBRD Director for Caucasus, Moldova and Belarus Bruno Balvanera added that "this programme will support local banks as creditors and local businesses as beneficiaries, by providing funding and expertise."

The programme includes assigning at least 69 million euros to support small and medium enterprises from Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia and is meant to facilitate the implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement.