EBRD to be supporting Ukraine until crisis ends within 1.5 bln euros per year

MOSCOW. May 29 (Interfax) - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has assigned 4 billion euros for projects in all Ukrainian economic sectors since the beginning of the crisis and will continue supporting Ukraine until the crisis is over, while the financing will grow afterwards to help restorations, EBRD Associate Director, Senior Banker for Agribusiness Development Anna Lebedinets said.

"Since the beginning of the crisis, we have financed projects worth 4 billion euros in all economic sectors. There is a vision that we should support the economy at approximately the same level during the crisis until the situation changes. Approximately 1.5 billion euros per year," Ukrainian media quoted Lebedinets as saying at the Grain Storage Forum in Kiev on Tuesday.

The development of crop cultivation, livestock farming and bioenergy are the topics of the most frequent applications of the bank's agribusiness clients, she said.

"Companies are really thinking about and making calculations for the development of biogas and bioethanol. We already have examples of supported projects in Ukraine. In addition, many are thinking about how to process more and create added value in Ukraine," Lebedinets said. She noted that applications for the development of flourmills have recently become more frequent.

There is an increasing number of applications for the development of business in Western Ukraine and the opening of branches abroad, Lebedinets said.