YEREVAN, June 9. /ARKA/. The EBRD will provide $20 million (€17.1 million) to improve access to finance for refugees and young entrepreneurs in Armenia, the EU Delegation to Armenia announced on Facebook.
“The EBRD, in cooperation with the EU, is providing a $20 million loan package to ArmSwissbank. The funds are intended for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) owned or managed by refugees, as well as young entrepreneurs,” the statement reads.
The agreement was signed by Francis Malige, EBRD Executive Director for Financial Institutions, and Gevorg Machanyan, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO of ArmSwissbank, at the 2026 EBRD Annual Meeting and Business Forum in Riga.
The loan package includes two loans of $10 million (€8.59 million each). One loan is provided under the EU4Business–EBRD Credit Line program and aims to support businesses owned and managed by refugees, as well as businesses that employ displaced persons. Eligible borrowers will be eligible for EU investment grants of up to 35% of the loan amount, as well as tailored advisory services.
The second loan will be provided under the “Youth in Business” program for young entrepreneurs who struggle to secure financing due to their early stage business development and limited credit history.
