10/02/2025

 

Ukreximbank Signs a Guarantee Agreement with the EIB Group to Support SMEs

State-owned Ukreximbank has signed a Guarantee agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund (EIF) to improve access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The total loan portfolio of Ukreximbank covered by the EIB guarantee amounts to EUR 34 million.

This agreement expands Ukreximbank's long-standing collaboration with the EIB Group. It will facilitate support for Ukrainian SMEs by offering favourable lending conditions, including reduced collateral requirements. The guarantee instrument will cover a range of operations, including investment loans, working capital loans, revolving credit lines, and financial leasing.

"Ukreximbank has a long-standing successful track record of linking the EIB with Ukrainian MSMEs through tailor-made programmes that support sustainable development. This financial package will enhance Ukreximbank's lending capacity, enabling the lender to provide much-needed funding to Ukrainian businesses to support them to continue their operations and safeguard livelihoods, which is crucial for fostering economic resilience and enabling Ukraine to rebuild in the aftermath of the war," said Teresa Czerwińska, Vice President of the European Investment Bank Group, who oversees the Bank's operations in Ukraine.

"Signing this agreement with the EIB and EIF will enable Ukreximbank to simplify access to financing for Ukrainian SMEs and further stimulate investment in Ukraine's economy. Today, SMEs require timely and comprehensive economic support, particularly through improved access to long-term financing via new guarantee instruments. This will provide them with the necessary resources for growth, enhance competitiveness and resilience, and create new jobs across the country," noted Viktor Ponomarenko, Chairman of Ukreximbank's Management Board.

Background

EIB in Ukraine

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. The EIB Group has been supporting Ukraine's resilience, rebuilding efforts, and economy since the very first day of russia's full-scale invasion. In 2024, the Bank supported projects aimed at securing Ukraine's energy supply, repairing damaged critical infrastructure, and ensuring the uninterrupted delivery of essential services across the country. This brings our total aid disbursed since the start of the war to over EUR 2.2 billion. In 2024, the EIB signed over EUR 250 million in new investment for projects to further enhance social infrastructure and support businesses that are the backbone of Ukraine's economy.

The European Investment Fund (EIF) is part of the EIB Group, dedicated to supporting European micro, small, and medium-sized businesses by improving their access to finance. The EIF develops growth projects, guarantees, and microfinance instruments tailored to this market segment, contributing to EU goals in innovation, research and development, entrepreneurship, and employment.