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EBRD lends $1m to microbusiness in Armenia

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  • EBRD lends $1m to microbusiness in Armenia

    Harold Doan and Associates (press release), CA
    June 7 2005

    EBRD lends $1m to microbusiness in Armenia


    Press Release - European Bank For Reconstruction And Development

    The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is lending $1
    million to Armenia's InecoBank to help it provide finance for local
    entrepreneurs planning to develop small businesses.

    Mike Davey, the EBRD's country director for the Caucasus, Moldova and
    Belarus, said: `The EBRD is delighted to be able to provide this loan
    to InecoBank. The loan will help Armenian entrepreneurs get
    much-needed access to finance to grow their businesses, and also
    contribute to the strengthening of the Armenian financial sector.'

    Fast-growing InecoBank, founded in 1992 to provide financial services
    to micro- and small enterprises (MSE), is the fourth bank in Armenia
    to benefit from a loan from the EBRD under the $10 million Armenia
    Multi-Bank Framework Facility. This loan replicates previous
    successful small business initiatives, now operating in 19 of the
    Bank's 27 countries of operation from Central Europe to Central Asia.


    InecoBank will provide micro loans of up to $10,000 (or the
    equivalent in Armenian dram) with a maturity of up to two years and
    small loans of up to $60,000 (or the equivalent in Armenian dram)
    with a maturity of up to three years.

    Avetis Baloyan, chairman of InecoBank, said: `InecoBank is committed
    to servicing the dynamic MSE sector in Armenia, and we look forward
    to providing finance to this niche market with the help of the EBRD.
    The EBRD loan will increase InecoBank's funding for MSE lending and
    trigger further growth in the loan portfolio as well as increase
    access to finance for micro and small entrepreneurs'. Michael
    Weinstein, recently appointed head of the EBRD's Resident Office in
    Yerevan, said that micro and small businesses were a very important
    driver of economic development in Armenia and welcomed InecoBank's
    contribution as a provider of finance to MSEs.

    InecoBank is one of the most profitable banks in Armenia. ShoreCap
    International, a US-based investor with a focus on SME finance,
    recently took a 15 per cent stake in the bank. InecoBank also has
    access to EBRD's Trade Facilitation Programme, which enables the bank
    to service its existing client base and attract new clients by
    offering guarantees without cash backing.
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