The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting the green economy in Egypt as it announced a new loan worth $100 million loan to Banque Misr for on-lending to local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Heike Harmgart, EBRD’s managing director for SEMED region
“The EBRD is committed to promoting green investments in the economies where it invests and greening the financial system. This new partnership with Banque Misr builds on our successful cooperation and is in line with our country strategy to promote a green, competitive and inclusive economy.” EBRD Managing Director for SEMED, Heike Harmgart, said.
The loan follows the success of the Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF) in Egypt, an EBRD statement read. It will support an expansion of green lending in Egypt to under-served regions for investments in climate change mitigation and adaptation technologies and services.
Mohamed El-Etreby – chairman of Egypt’s second-largest state lender, Banque Misr
“A technical assistance programme of €2.3 million ($2.335 million) funded by the Bank and the Netherlands through the High Impact Partnership on Climate Action (also supported by Austria, Finland, Switzerland, TaiwanICDF and the United Kingdom) will also be provided to Banque Misr and as sub-borrowers to support implementation of the programme, as well as enhance awareness of green financing, particularly among female entrepreneurs.” EBRD said.
Banque Misr has been a partner of the EBRD since 2017 when it signed its first small business loan followed by a trade finance facility in 2018 and a $200 million financing package for trade and on-lending to SMEs.
“Conceding with Egypt’s preparation to host COP 27, our partnership with EBRD is no coincidence, it is the incarnation of our belief that Green Finance and SMEs funds are instrumental to more inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Egypt and community wellbeing.” Banque Misr chairman, Mohamed El-Etreby, said.
“We extended our partnership with the EBRD to channel liquidity to SMEs, promote the adoption of renewable energy, and accelerate the adaptation of technologies on energy and resource efficiencies across a wide range of sectors,” El-Etreby added.
