EBRD lends €72m to Big CEE for extension of retail footpring

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is lending up to €72 mln to Dutch-registered company Big CEE to boost sustainable retail growth in Serbia and the wider Western Balkans region. 

This loan, part of a larger €100 mln financing package, will support Big CEE's construction, renovation, and purchase of modern retail spaces like shopping centres and retail parks.
The loan aligns with EBRD's green and inclusive real estate strategy.
Vlaho Kojakovic, EBRD head of Real Estate, said: “We are delighted to support Big CEE's expansion in Serbia and the Western Balkans, a move that aligns seamlessly with the EBRD's Real Estate Sector Strategy 2025-29. This strategy emphasises investing in the green transition, strengthening the resilience of human capital and addressing housing and affordability challenges.”
Alon Bargiora, CFO at Big CEE Serbia, added: “We are pleased to continue and expand our cooperation with the EBRD in financing four projects in Serbia. This investment includes existing retail centres in Pančevo and Rakovica as well as the construction of new retail parks in Čačak, Šabac and Bor, which we expect to open in 2025.”
Big CEE operates 16 properties in the Western Balkans retail market, primarily in Serbia. Their Serbian portfolio includes 10 retail parks, three Big Fashion shopping centres (including the recently acquired Promenada Novi Sad), and Big Fashion Outlet Inđija, Serbia's sole designer outlet. Big CEE also owns Montenegro's largest shopping centre, Big Fashion Podgorica, and the mixed-use Capital Plaza development.