Sitemap

EFSE Meeting 2019 gathers international financiers to support SMEs in SEE Region

CorD Recommends

Belgrade’s Hotel Jugoslavija Sold, Sparks Redevelopment Controversy

Belgrade's iconic Hotel Jugoslavija, located in Serbia's...

Gold Prices Reach Record Highs Amid Central Bank Acquisition Spree

Gold prices have soared to all-time highs,...

AstraZeneca Celebrates Inauguration of New Office in Belgrade and 25th Anniversary Milestone

AstraZeneca, a global leader in healthcare innovation,...

CEB Grants €1.3 Billion Loans to Boost Social Sectors in 11 Countries

The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) has sanctioned loans totaling €1.3 billion for 11 member countries, including Serbia...

Serbia Advances in Renewable Energy with Pupin Wind Park Financing

In a significant stride towards renewable energy adoption, Serbia has finalized the financial arrangements for the Pupin Wind Park,...

Đedović Handanović: Nuclear Energy in Serbia by 2039 at the Earliest

Nuclear energy in Serbia could become a reality by 2039 at the earliest, should work on the project commence...

Sagrada Familia Completion Set for 2026

The Sagrada Familia, Barcelona's most iconic church, is slated for completion in 2026, over 140 years since its foundations...

Belgrade’s Hotel Jugoslavija Sold, Sparks Redevelopment Controversy

Belgrade's iconic Hotel Jugoslavija, located in Serbia's capital, has been sold for approximately €27 million to MV Investment, affiliated...

Nearly 300 representatives of international and regional financial institutions, investors, central banks, and major European donors have gathered in Belgrade, Serbia, today for the biannual conference of the European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE).

Under the banner of “Cultivating Entrepreneurship”, the EFSE Meeting 2019 addresses how the financial ecosystem can advance and innovate to close gaps in financial inclusion and expand access to crucial resources for micro and small enterprises.

Elvira Lefting
Elvira Lefting, Managing Director, Finance in Motion, Germany

The conference seeks to present and exchange concrete solutions for the challenges faced by this key sector of the economy in Southeast Europe and the European Eastern Neighbourhood Region.

Panellists from banks and microfinance providers will share best practices for offering responsible financing suited to the needs of entrepreneurs looking to scale their businesses and discuss the alternative financial and non-financial solutions driving innovation in the market.

Volker J. Oel, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Volker J. Oel, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Special focus is also placed on financing for agricultural businesses, as well as on leveraging the advantages offered by financial technologies in keeping both institutions and entrepreneurs successful and competitive in the long term.

Joining the gathering of fund investors, sector regulators, financial service providers, and business support organizations are entrepreneurs themselves financed by EFSE’s partners. Their participation in panels and discussions aims to provide direct insights into the needs of local businesses for development that creates employment opportunities and income generation.

Dragana Stanić, Vice Governor, National Bank of Serbia
Dragana Stanić, Vice Governor, National Bank of Serbia

An “Entrepreneurship Fair” to be held during EFSE Board Chairperson Christoph Tiskens remarked: “Micro and small enterprises are the mainstay of the economy in EFSE’s regions. By bringing together the key stakeholders who can support entrepreneurs’ development and give them access to opportunities, we help nourish economic growth from the roots up.”

EFSE was established in 2005 by German development bank KfW with the support of the European Union, the German Federal Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation, and other public and private investors.

In the years since, the impact investment fund has mobilized nearly EUR 3 billion for responsible investments in 16 countries, unleashing close to 1 million sub-loans totalling EUR 7 billion for micro and small enterprises and private households.

KfW Serbia Welcomes Christoph Tiskens, KfW’s Director for SE Europe and Turkey

KfW Serbia welcomed Christoph Tiskens who is visiting Belgrade for the biannual conference of the European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE). 

Related Articles

Bosnia and Herzegovina Kickstarts EU Membership Talks

Bosnia and Herzegovina has initiated accession negotiations with the European Union, a development hailed as a pivotal advancement for the Balkan country. This move,...

New ENEF II Fund to Propel Growth in Western Balkans

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced the introduction of the Enterprise Expansion Fund II (ENEF II), aimed at fostering the...

European Parliament Passes Groundbreaking AI Law

The European Parliament has adopted the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, aiming to safeguard fundamental rights, democracy, the rule of law, and ecological sustainability in...

Mariya Gabriel Endorses Horizon Europe’s Widening Measures to Bridge Research Gap Ahead of Bulgarian Premiership

Mariya Gabriel, set to ascend to Bulgaria's prime ministerial role in March, champions Horizon Europe's Widening measures as a key strategy to address Europe's...

European Parliament Members Endorse Western Balkan Reform and Growth Instrument

Members of the European Parliament's committees on foreign affairs and budget have officially adopted a stance on the Western Balkan Reform and Growth Instrument,...

European Banking Titans Surpass €100 Billion Profit Milestone Amid Rising Interest Rates

For the first time in history, Europe's banking behemoths have collectively breached the €100 billion profit ceiling, fueled by a significant uptick in interest...

Western Balkans Eye EU Membership by 2028

At the esteemed Munich Security Conference, a cornerstone event in global security discourse, leaders from North Macedonia, Albania, and Montenegro have passionately renewed their...

EIB Global Channels Record €1.2 Billion into Western Balkans

EIB Global, the European Investment Bank's arm for non-EU activities, has made a landmark investment of €1.2 billion in the Western Balkans for 2023,...