EBRD provides $35 mln to support women-led businesses in KazakhstanThe European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing $35 million to Kazakhstan’s micro lender KMF, the EBRD said in a press release on Thursday.“The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is helping Kazakhstan’s women-led micro, small and medium-sized businesses by extending a new long-term loan to the country’s leading micro lender KMF,” the press release says.The Bank’s funds of up to US$ 35 million will be provided in two tranches and will help promote women’s entrepreneurship and business activity by assisting with access to finance, know-how and technical advice, according to the press release.It is expected that at least 10% of the loans from KMF will promote the reduction of energy consumption, encourage greater use of renewable energy sources and help these local businesses adopt environmentally friendly practices, the EBRD said.KMF, the Bank’s client since 2005 and which provides nearly a quarter of micro loans in the country each year, will receive technical assistance under the green lending facility, GEFF Kazakhstan II, recently launched by the EBRD, as well as under the new Kazakhstan Women in Business Program II.To date, the EBRD has invested more than €10 billion invested in Kazakhstan through 304 projects. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX