Serbia: with CDP, to support business development in Western Balkans
Banca Intesa Beograd (BIB), Intesa Sanpaolo Group’s subsidiary in Serbia, welcomes at its headquarters in Belgrade the new Cassa e Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) offices for Western Balkans, thus further strengthening the partnership in favor of:
- Development of economic relations between Italy and Serbia
- Increased cooperation opportunities and synergies in the Balkan area for both Groups, with main focus on SMEs.
Furthermore, BIB and CDP have entered a long-term loan agreement - through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) - to support the growth of Serbian SMEs active in areas with high ESG impact such as:
- green sectors
- social entrepreneurship
- sustainable agriculture
- circular economy
- eco-tourism
CDP resources will be able to cover up to a maximum of 50% of the loan and the remaining part will be granted directly by Banca Intesa Beograd.
The partnership with CDP in Serbia opens a new chapter in offering services to local SME clients as well as to Italian companies interested in doing business in the region, also with a view to supporting international supply chains.
"The agreement signed today – part of a programme divided into several tranches that will involve other countries where Intesa Sanpaolo is present – is a further sign of the strengthening of the already solid relationship that Intesa Sanpaolo has developed over the past year in Serbia with Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, leveraging common objectives, involving the development of economic relations between Italy and Serbia.
"The long-term financing contract of €10 million – the subject of the agreement signed by our bank Intesa Beograd, leader in the Serbian market – aims to support Serbian small and medium-sized enterprises that intend to take advantage of the many opportunities offered by the green economy, social entrepreneurship, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and ecotourism.
"Thanks to the agreement with CDP, we intend to further enrich our range of services for SMEs. The business initiative carried out by Banca Intesa Beograd – under the guidance and coordination of the International Subsidiary Banks Division – attests to the Intesa Sanpaolo Group's commitment and dedication to supporting the Serbian economy, along with Italian companies interested in the many opportunities that the country has to offer.
"I am honoured to have taken part in this morning's inauguration of the Cassa Depositi e Prestiti offices in Belgrade, following on the opening of Simest's offices last June. Both offices are located at the headquarters of Banca Intesa Beograd, and I am certain that this will foster further opportunities for cooperation and synergies with the Intesa Sanpaolo Group."
Belgrade, 1 February 2024
Banca Intesa Beograd is leader in Serbia
Banca Intesa Beograd (BIB), subsidiary of the Intesa Sanpaolo Group in Serbia, is the leading bank on the domestic market: with 147 branches and more than 3,100 employees, it serves around 1.4 million clients, natural and legal persons, has total assets of €7.5 billion and a market share of 15% (as of November 2023).
Moreover, BIB plays a key role in supporting Serbian SMEs: it can rely on around 5.700 clients (out of which 60% are financed) and distinctive skills and approach, in an economy where SMEs account for 99% of all enterprises and employ more than 65% of the labor force.
Since 2005, BIB has consolidated its leading role in the country, acting as a true "economy accelerator” and devoting specific attention to ESG-related issues, thus effectively promoting the sustainable growth of the country.
Focus on the euro-mediterranean area
Intesa Sanpaolo's commitment in Serbia is a projection of its strategic focus on the Euro-Mediterranean area where the Group supports the internationalization of Italian companies.
The area is assuming growing importance in the current phase of regional remodulation of the dynamics of globalization.
In this respect, the International Subsidiary Banks Division plays a central role: with assets of nearly €75 billion, 900 branches, more than 7 million customers and 21,000 people, it coordinates and oversees the Group’s strategic presence in Central and South-Eastern Europe and North Africa.
Throughout 2023, Intesa Sanpaolo Group - also through the action of the International Subsidiary Banks Division - reaffirmed its commitment to the framework of supply chains support and to the development of bilateral relationships between Serbia and Italy, with a consistently qualified participation to numerous major institutional and business events, among which:
- January 2023 - “Italy and the Western Balkans: Growth and Integration" in Trieste, organized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, where the Group reaffirmed its deep-rooted presence in the region serving as a real 'bridge to Italy', benefiting the development of local economies and the growth of Italian SMEs.
- March 2023 - “Serbia-Italy Business & Science Forum”, organized in Belgrade by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in conjunction with ICE, the Italian Embassy in Belgrade and the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, with the participation of the Chairman of Intesa Sanpaolo Board of Directors, whereby the Group reaffirmed the relevance of the country as increasingly important for Italian value chains in the current phase of regional reshaping of globalization dynamics.
- May 2023 - 90th International Agricultural Fair in Novi Sad, where BIB showcased the Group’s extensive expertise on agri-business, sustainable agriculture and food safety, with a keen focus on the development of a Euro-Mediterranean agricultural supply chain, by leveraging also on synergies with Banca dei Territori.
- November 2023 - “Wine Vision by Open Balkan”, where BIB -in cooperation with Banca dei Territori - was the official partner of this prestigious international wine fair and the sole banking sector’s representative at the event.
- December 2023 - “Italy-Serbia Innovation Forum – Matchmaking for the Innovation”, an event (organized by Embassy of Italy to Serbia) dedicated to connecting key players from the Italian and Serbian innovation ecosystems, with the participation of the Intesa Sanpaolo Innovation Center’s senior representatives.
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Last updated 1 February 2024 at 16:21:22