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Modern agricultural machinery for farmers – investments in the future

Loan amount€ 69,690
Grant amount€ 6,969
Invested inTractor New Holland T6070
Energy efficiency122,62 GJ/year
Carbon emission reduction8,91 tCO2/year

Ukrainian farmers across the country demonstrate resilience and courage every day. Despite the uncertainty and complex challenges of the wartime, they keep working, developing, and investing in this critical sector. Bruslenivske farm, a women-owned agricultural business in the Vinnytsia region, is one of the vivid examples. For 20 years, the company has been growing crops, including wheat, corn, sunflowers, barley, rapeseed, and soybeans.

To improve the land cultivation processes and increase crop yields, Vira investigated the best ways to modernise her agricultural equipment. Ultimately, she decided in favour of EUR 69,690 EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line financing from OTP Leasing, one of the programme’s partner financial institutions. With these funds, the company financed a new, modern New Holland T6070 tractor, which was immediately put to use, successfully performing various fieldwork. The 10% EU-funded investment incentive, which she received as part of the deal under the EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line programme, helped to lower the investment costs and redirect the saved funds to covering other pressing needs.

Working with the EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line opened an opportunity for us to work more efficiently, faster, and to higher quality, while preserving soil fertility and increasing farm productivity”, Vira highlights. “In addition, the new tractor helps us to reduce fuel costs and harmful emissions and allows us to provide high-quality land cultivation services to neighbouring farms.”

The EBRD and EU support is an effective tool to bring about changes for Ukrainian farmers, as these favourable loans with a grant component enhance innovations, modernisation effort, job creation, market expansion beyond the borders of Ukraine while strengthening food security in the country.

From Small Town to Big Standards: How One Georgian Bakery is Redefining Success

From a local café to a new standard-setter in Georgian confectionery

In the southern Georgian town of Akhaltsikhe, the aroma of freshly baked cakes and pastries has long been part of everyday life. Behind this success stands LTD SL Company+, a women-led confectionery business founded in 2021 by Lali Samsonidze-Melikidze, which in just a few years has grown from a small café-restaurant into a rapidly expanding food producer.

Now, with the support of the EBRD and the EU, the company has taken a decisive step forward by transforming its operations into a modern, energy-efficient and EU-aligned production facility.

Growth based on European standards

With its production of biscuits, dry cakes, pastries, bread and confectionery, LTD SL Company+ supplies both local consumers and the HORECA sector. The company currently employs 57 people and, following the investment, this number increased to over 80, while new branches are planned in Tbilisi, Gori, Rustavi, Borjomi and Akhalkalaki.

The project was completed in June 2023 and focused on installing modern confectionery production and cold-chain equipment, all in line with EU requirements. The new machinery improves occupational health and safety by reducing physical strain, noise and vibration for employees. At the same time, it enhances environmental performance by lowering energy consumption, reducing waste and using ecological refrigerants. Product quality and food safety have also been strengthened through the application of HACCP principles and the ongoing process of obtaining ISO 22000 certification for the new facility.

“We are building a future, not just a factory”

For the founder, Lali Samsonidze-Melikidze, the investment represents a deeply personal milestone:

“When I started this business, I dreamed of creating something that would last, something my team could be proud of. With EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line’s support, we are not just buying equipment – we are building a future. A future where our people work safely, our products meet European standards, and our company grows in a way that respects the environment and our community.”

A model for Georgian SMEs

With the EU and the EBRD support LTD SL Company+ is now positioned as a modern, competitive and sustainable food producer, demonstrating how regional Georgian SMEs can grow while aligning with EU best practices.

The Story was originally published in Forbes Georgia: https://forbes.ge/patara-qalaqidan-evropul-standartebamde-rogor-tsvlis-erthi-qarthuli-satskhobi-tsarmatebis-gagebas/

Where Wine Tradition Shapes a Sustainable Hospitality Experience

Located in Georgia’s renowned wine region of Kakheti, in the village of Shalauri, LTD Qvevri represents a new generation of hospitality businesses that seamlessly blend cultural heritage with modern, sustainable tourism. Inspired by the traditional qvevri — the ancient vessel at the heart of Georgian winemaking — the company has created a distinctive hotel concept that celebrates local identity while offering contemporary comfort and high-quality service.

From the outset, sustainability was central to LTD Qvevri’s vision. As the project grew in scale and ambition, the company took a forward-looking approach to construction and operations, prioritizing energy efficiency, environmental responsibility, and guest safety. This transformation was made possible through financial and technical support from the EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line, which supports Georgian SMEs in aligning their operations with European standards through targeted investments and expert guidance.

The investment enabled the development of a fully energy-efficient hotel complex, including a main building and 20 iconic qvevri-shaped guest rooms. The project introduced advanced thermal insulation, modern heating, cooling and ventilation systems with heat recovery, energy-efficient windows, fire-safe interiors, and inclusive design solutions. Together, these upgrades significantly reduced energy consumption while enhancing comfort, safety, and service quality for guests.

Following the successful completion and verification of the project, LTD Qvevri received 15% of the loan amount as an investment incentive funded by the European Union, rewarding the company’s full compliance with EU environmental, energy efficiency, health and safety, and legal standards.

Thanks to the support of the EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line, LTD Qvevri has reduced its environmental footprint, improved energy efficiency, strengthened its competitiveness in Georgia’s growing tourism sector, and contributed to sustainable regional development — all while showcasing Georgian wine culture to visitors from around the world.

Now the investment fully complies with EU directives on energy performance of buildings, eco-design and energy labelling, waste management, occupational health and safety, fire safety, and product quality standards.

EBRD and European Union scale up small business support in Armenia

Ukrainian farmers across the country demonstrate resilience and courage every day. Despite the uncertainty and complex challenges of the wartime, they keep working, developing, and investing in this critical sector. Bruslenivske farm, a women-owned agricultural business in the Vinnytsia region, is one of the vivid examples. For 20 years, the company has been growing crops, including wheat, corn, sunflowers, barley, rapeseed, and soybeans.

To improve the land cultivation processes and increase crop yields, Vira investigated the best ways to modernise her agricultural equipment. Ultimately, she decided in favour of EUR 69,690 EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line financing from OTP Leasing, one of the programme’s partner financial institutions. With these funds, the company financed a new, modern New Holland T6070 tractor, which was immediately put to use, successfully performing various fieldwork. The 10% EU-funded investment incentive, which she received as part of the deal under the EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line programme, helped to lower the investment costs and redirect the saved funds to covering other pressing needs.

Working with the EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line opened an opportunity for us to work more efficiently, faster, and to higher quality, while preserving soil fertility and increasing farm productivity”, Vira highlights. “In addition, the new tractor helps us to reduce fuel costs and harmful emissions and allows us to provide high-quality land cultivation services to neighbouring farms.”

The EBRD and EU support is an effective tool to bring about changes for Ukrainian farmers, as these favourable loans with a grant component enhance innovations, modernisation effort, job creation, market expansion beyond the borders of Ukraine while strengthening food security in the country.

Ukrainian farmers modernise equipment with the EU and EBRD support

Loan amount€ 201,728
Grant amount€ 20,173
Invested inWheeled tractor Case IH Magnum 400
Energy efficiency351.54 GJ/year
Carbon emission reduction26.15 tCO2/year

The agricultural sector has suffered significant losses due to intensive military operations, occupation of agricultural lands, personnel shortages and problems with logistics. Despite all the difficulties, Ukrainian farmers keep doing their important work, providing millions of people in Ukraine and abroad with agricultural products.

The farm YUR-AGRO 2014 was founded 12 years ago by two brothers – Ruslan and Yuriy Pashynski – in the Khmelnytskyi region. It focuses on growing grains, legumes and oilseeds, in particular wheat, malting barley, corn, soybeans, rapeseed and sunflowers. Recently, vegetables were also added to this list. The company is constantly expanding and today cultivates 1,050 hectares of land. It has a granary with a 5,000 tons storage capacity and a fleet of agricultural machinery operated by 12 employees.

In 2024, the farm owners planned to extend the land bank, so it was necessary to acquire new highly efficient agricultural machinery. Mr. Yuriy Pashynskyi, the director of YUR-AGRO 2014, decided to attract investments through the EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line, which helps Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises recover and develop during the war. Under the program, they received a loan of EUR 201,728 through the partner bank “Bank L’viv”, and purchased a modern wheeled tractor Case IH Magnum 400. After the project was successfully implemented, the farm received a 10% EU-funded investment incentive on the loan amount, amounting to EUR 20,173.

As highlighted by the director of YUR-AGRO 2014, the new tractor is more efficient, consumes less fuel and is much more convenient and safer in its operation. “We are very satisfied with our participation in the EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line program. In the future, we plan to enter European markets, and the purchased machinery will help us cultivate more land, grow more grain and optimize work processes. In addition, it will save 351.54 GJ of energy and reduce CO2 emissions by 26.15 tons annually, and overall increase the company’s productivity and competitiveness,” Mr. Yuriy emphasized.

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