EBRD, Attijari Bank back Tunisian SMEs by TND 20 m

03 / 02 / 2021

By Marwa Nassar - -

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) teamed up with Attijari Bank of Tunisia to support the Tunisian micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) by up to TND 20 million.

The Bank is providing Attijari Bank of Tunisia with an unfunded risk-sharing guarantee of 50 percent on a loan to Enda Tamweel, the leading microfinance institution in the country.

Under the EBRD’s Risk Sharing Framework (RSF), Attijari Bank of Tunisia is extending a loan of up to TND 20 million to Enda Tamweel for on-lending to local MSMEs which are its core customers and need financial support to cover their liquidity shortages due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Covid-19 crisis is affecting Tunisian companies of all sizes, especially those that generate the majority of their revenues from the tourism, hospitality, services, transport and other heavily affected sectors.

Support for small business in the country is a priority for the EBRD in its work to strengthen the Tunisian economy. The Bank’s investments aim to support Tunisia’s competitiveness by opening markets and strengthening governance, promote economic inclusion for women, young people and those living in remote areas, strengthen the financial sector’s resilience and support Tunisia’s green economy transition.