An initial amount of EUR 15,5 million of the fourth credit line of the Macedonian Bank for Development Promotion is expected in the second half of July and will be disbursed to 66 companies, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski told reporters on Thursday.

This amount is actually the first tranche of EUR 100 million-credit line, granted by the European Investment Bank under favourable terms with an interest rate of 5.5 percent, Gruevski said.

Macedonia has provided three such loans during the global economic and European debt crises at amount of EUR 250, which contributed to opening of about 15.000 jobs, the PM said. These loans also enabled Macedonia to be one of the courtiers that went through the European crises with fewest consequences, he said.

The credit line is earmarked for small and medium enterprises, which intend to invest in equipment or working capital.