The Green for Growth Fund (GGF) has provided a USD 25 million loan to Bank of Georgia Group PLC (the Bank of Georgia Group or the Group) with a view to supporting the Group in diversifying and growing its EE and RE lending portfolio for large companies and SMEs as well as public entities. The loan would be distributed to the customers through the Group’s dominant subsidiary, the Bank of Georgia. The impact of the loan will be enhanced by capacity building activities of the GGF Technical Assistance Facility, enabling the Bank of Georgia to better estimate energy savings from potential investments.
The subsidiary, Bank of Georgia has been a partner of the GGF since 2014. This extended facility will be utilized by the Bank of Georgia Group to diversify their green lending portfolio into the commercial sectors including industries like manufacturing, construction and agriculture as well as RE projects. Being the second largest commercial banking group in Georgia with a diversified lending portfolio, they continue to provide GGF with opportunities to promote energy efficiency from the grassroot level up by creating awareness and stimulating demand, as well as for helping steer Georgia’s energy mix, which consists of 85% hydropower, toward diversification of RE sources.
GGF Chairman Olaf Zymelka stated: “Given Bank of Georgia’s proven on-lending track record, GGF is glad to be strengthening our partnership with the Group. We are confident that this extended facility will be instrumental in promoting opportunities for running businesses in an energy-efficient way across different sectors in Georgia and will stimulate demand for sustainable energy sources.”
Kaha Kiknavelidze, the CEO of Bank of Georgia Group commented: “I am pleased that we have once again joined efforts with GGF to create a range of products for our clients that will be directed at financing energy-efficient projects in Georgia. This is our second co-operation with GGF, which will significantly contribute to further improvement of our environmental footprint. I would like to thank our partner for their contribution in supporting the development of Georgian enterprises.”
The Green for Growth Fund invests in measures designed to cut energy use and CO2 emissions and improve resource efficiency in 19 markets across Southeast Europe, the Caucasus, Ukraine, Moldova, the Middle East and North Africa. The fund provides financing to local partners that on-lend to enterprises and private households, and it invests directly, primarily through the contribution of senior debt, in renewable energy projects. The GGF’s Technical Assistance Facility maximizes the fund’s investment impact through support for capacity building at local financial institutions and partners.
