The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Union (EU) have launched a new €5 million financial package to help business owners in North Macedonia. The funding was agreed with ProCredit Bank AD Skopje on 4 May 2026. The package is divided into two parts, with €2.5 million dedicated to the Women in Business (WiB) programme and another €2.5 million allocated to the Youth in Business (YiB) initiative.
This agreement marks the second time ProCredit Bank has participated in these specific programmes. The EU is supporting the project through technical assistance and guarantees via the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus. All of the funds will be lent to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) that are either led by women or managed by individuals under the age of 35. This effort is designed to help these groups access long-term credit, which can often be difficult due to existing barriers in the financial sector.
Fatih Türkmenoğlu, EBRD Head of North Macedonia, said: “Supporting women and young people in business is central to building more inclusive, resilient and competitive economies. Through this €5 million package with ProCredit Bank, we are reinforcing our long term partnership and helping ensure that women and youth led enterprises across North Macedonia have access to the finance they need to invest, grow and create jobs.”
The Women in Business portion of the loan focuses on increasing economic participation for female entrepreneurs across the whole country. Meanwhile, the Youth in Business loan is aimed at helping younger managers build sustainable firms. Stevce Kuzmanovski, a Member of the Management Board at ProCredit, noted that previous cycles of this funding saw high levels of interest.
He said: “We are proud to continue and further strengthen our partnership with the EBRD through the Women in Business and Youth in Business programmes. This cooperation reflects our shared commitment to fostering a more inclusive and dynamic business environment in North Macedonia. By supporting women and young entrepreneurs, we aim to enable more success stories in 2026, drive sustainable growth and contribute to the overall development of the economy. Following the strong interest in previous WiB and YiB financing cycles, we expect equally high demand, reaffirming that we are a truly entrepreneurial nation, rich in ideas and well prepared to face future business challenges.”
The EU Ambassador to North Macedonia, Michalis Rokas, added: “Expanding access to finance for women and young entrepreneurs is key to unlocking North Macedonia’s economic potential. By supporting their businesses, we help create jobs, strengthen local communities and open up real opportunities for those who need them most. This is how we drive more inclusive growth, reduce poverty and ensure that economic progress is felt across society.”
