Local businesses to strengthen HR and ESG practices, and improve sustainability
By Anton Usov
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is actively rolling out its risk-sharing framework (RSF) in Central Asia and Mongolia. Under the RSF, the EBRD commits to sharing half of the risk on loans extended by partner financial institutions, helping to unlock critical development opportunities for local businesses.
In 2025, the EBRD signed 31 risk-sharing transactions worth €28.5 million(US$33.6milion) with 26 companies in Central Asia and Mongolia, an all-time regional record. The Bank supported privately owned companies, typically small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), mainly in the manufacturing, food production and agribusiness sectors, as well as the ones providing services.
Many of these transactions went beyond traditional financing, combining capital with investment grants and advisory services to help companies strengthen their capacity to handle financial and operational challenges, and boost their social, environmental and governance (ESG) practices.
Projects across the region included:
In Kazakhstan, Temirservice Astana, a privately owned railway operator, received a KZT 1.9 billion (€3.2 million) loan from Bank CenterCredit for the construction of an 11,000 m² class-A warehouse complex.• In the Kyrgyz Republic, Steelex, a leading aluminium extrusion manufacturer, received US$ 4.8 million (€ 4 million) from Demir Kyrgyz International Bank, to support its vertical integration and help to expand aluminium scrap recycling. The project will help with the adoption of inclusive human resources (HR) policies, introduce flexible work arrangements and launch a university internship programme. The EBRD and Kyrgyz Investment and Credit Bank also provided a joint US$ 1.1 million (€ 0.9 million) loan to HTI Group, the country’s leading plastic packaging manufacturer, to modernise its equipment and reduce energy consumption. The project will benefit from an investment grant for energy-efficient solutions.
In Mongolia, the EBRD signed its first risk-sharing transaction in the telecommunications sector. A loan of up to US$ 1.2 million (€ 1 million), extended jointly by the EBRD and Khan Bank, will provide working capital to IT Zone, one of Mongolia’s top information and communications technology companies and systems integrators. The company will also receive a grant to strengthen its HR capacity and improve talent-management practices.
In Tajikistan, Fortuna Co Group received a US$ 1.2 million (€ 1 million) loan under the RSF from Investment and Credit Bank of Tajikistan to install a 218 kW solar plant, purchase electric vehicles and modernise equipment.
In Uzbekistan, Trade Novatik, a producer of ready-made meals and packaged food, received a €1.1 million loan, which will allow it to expand production. The project, signed with long-time partner Hamkorbank, will benefit from a grant for the adoption of renewable energy, enhanced waste management and digital monitoring tools. Meanwhile, Silkway Color, a printing services provider, obtained a US$ 2.8 million (€ 2.38 million) loan to purchase energy-efficient printing equipment
The EBRD has used risk-sharing agreements since the early 2000s. Over the years, the Bank has expanded these into unfunded risk participations, first loss guarantees and co lending frameworks. The modern, scaled up version of risk sharing, especially the unfunded risk participation model widely used today in some countries, accelerated in the mid 2010s as part of the EBRD’s push to mobilise more private capital and support SMEs and green transition projects.
The EBRD is the largest institutional investor in Central Asia. To date it has financed 1,250 projects worth more than €21 billion.
