OREANDA-NEWS. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) signed an agreement with Belarus’ Belgazprombank to open a USD 10 million credit facility to financing micro, small and medium enterprises, Belgazprombank’s press centre said in a release.

This will be the EBRD’s second credit facility for Belgazprombank since early this year.

Small business support will remain a priority in Belgazprombank’s business profile, Belgazprombank’s vice CEO Sergey Shaban said.

Belgazprombank has been an EBRD partner bank since 1996, with a total of seven credit facilities drawn to the tune of USD 130 million.

Belgazprombank has been an EBRD partner in the framework of the Belarus Sustainable Energy Finance Facility (BelSEFF) to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

OAO Belgazprombank was founded in 1990 and is the authorized bank of Gazprom’s group in Belarus. Russian Gazprom and Gazprombank control 49.02% each in Belgazprombank. OAO Beltransgaz controls 1.43% in Belgazprombank and the Energy Ministry of Belarus has a 0.53% stake.