Go Digital in Bosnia and Herzegovina

What is it?

Financial product supporting digital transformation plans

What can it help you achieve?

• Improve business competitiveness, productivity, operations and supply chain digitalisation
• ESG: digital skills and inclusion objectives
• ESG: Sustainability/green objective

Who is it for?

• Micro, small and medium businesses
• All EBRD sectors of operation

Where is it available?

Bosnia and Herzegovina

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Union (EU) and Germany’s Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) have teamed up to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) better understand the opportunities offered by digitalisation and benefit from investing in it.

With co-financing from the EU, the EBRD is extending up to €50 million to local partner banks in Bosnia and Herzegovina for on-lending to SMEs to support their investments in digital transformation.

Borrowers can also benefit from an investment grant equal to 15 per cent of the loan amount, funded by the EU.

How to apply

SMEs can apply for a loan at one of the local partner banks. Applicant SMEs will receive free technical assistance to optimize their investment.

The steps involved are as follows:

• Take your investment plan to one of the programme’s partner banks, complete the loan application form and submit both to the bank.
• The partner bank will assess your overall creditworthiness and pass on your investment plan to the programme’s project consultants.
• The consulting team, consisting of international and local experts, will review your plan and, if appropriate, help to optimize your plan.
• The partner bank will extend a loan based on the final investment plan.
• After full project implementation, the investment project will be verified by the programme’s verification consultant.
• On successful verification, the EU grant will be paid into your account.

Why should SMEs consider going digital?

Digital processes can improve productivity, cut costs and improve energy efficiency while decreasing default rates and subsequent wastage. Increasing the level of automation and digitalisation can help SMEs to better meet EU standards on environmental protection, occupational health and safety, and product quality and safety.

Which investment projects are eligible for a loan and a 15 per cent grant under this programme?

Digitalization encompasses a wide range of technologies and investment solutions. Some examples include:

• transporting systems
• machine tending
• cutting machines
• automated process tasks
• dispensing
• finishing
• automated assembly
• automated sorting systems
• packaging and palletising
• automated storage systems
• milking systems
• automatic feed distribution systems
• technologies to improve business efficiency, productivity and flexibility over the production cycle
• 3D printers connected to digital development software
• augmented reality technology to support production
• simulation between interconnected machines to optimize processes

Which local banks participate in Go Digital in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The EBRD and EU financing is channelled through local partner banks. At the moment, Go Digital in Bosnia and Herzegovina financing is available at the following banks (but check regularly for updates): ProCredit Bank | Raiffeisen Bank | UniCredit Bank d.d. Mostar | Banca Intesa Sanpaolo | Sparkasse Bank

Loan terms and conditions are set by the partner banks and decisions on whether extend financing to applicant companies are made solely by the partner banks. The EBRD and EU have no influence over these decisions.

Digital innovation hubs

The programme will be complemented by activities from the GIZ to help to build an ecosystem for digitalisation, automation and innovation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, including digital innovation hubs, in line with EU best practice.