As of December 2007, IFC’s portfolio in Serbia was more than $460 million. In addition, IFC has financed three regional projects with a focus in Southern Europe, including in Serbia. About 99 percent of IFC’s Serbian portfolio is allocated in the financial sector. Serbia is among IFC’s client countries which most benefit from IFC’s advisory services. IFC has also arranged $92 million financing through syndications.
In the financial sector, IFC has been catalyzing foreign strategic investors’ interest and establishing viable financial institutions. IFC has supported development microfinance institutions, introduction and expansion of new financial products including mortgage financing, consumer finance, energy efficiency financing and small and medium enterprise (SME) finance. IFC has helped the government with development of leasing regulation and invested in a leasing company. IFC contributed to the cleaning-up, rehabilitation and privatization of the banking sector through restructuring its claims to a few Serbian banks.
In the corporate sector, IFC supported a leading regional producer of high quality car tires through loans and equity investments. The financing was accompanied by extensive advisory services to the company and its SME suppliers implementing a “Supply Chain Management” scheme which resulted in a high development impact. Also, IFC assisted the largest Slovenian food retailer to establish new hypermarket stores and supermarkets in Southern Europe including in Serbia which is expected to stimulate competition in the sector and improve the variety, price, quality and delivery of consumer goods. More on investments in Serbia.
In July 2005, IFC opened the new facility to provide advisory services in Southern Europe. Advisory program in Serbia is divided in four business lines: valued addition to firms; business enabling environment; access to finance; and infrastructure advisory operations. More on advisory projects in Serbia…
