The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has agreed to provide loan of $25m to support operations of Kazakhstan-based food and beverages manufacturer RG Brands.

RG Brands is engaged in the production of a wide range of non-alcoholic beverages, including juices, soft drinks, UHT milk, tea, water, and franchised brands.

It is reported to be one of the largest private sector clients of the EBRD in Kazakhstan.

The loan will be used by the company to finance the acquisition of at least 6,800 cooling display units with reduced electricity consumption and an environmentally friendly refrigerant.

With the purchase of environmentally friendly refrigerants, the company aims to reduce almost 8,000t of CO₂ emissions per annum.

In addition, the loan will also be used by the company to support its investment programme and restructure its balance sheet.

RG Brand also intends to use the money to provide work-based learning opportunities to young people and establish new partnerships with educational institutions.

In addition to supporting operations of RG Brands, the loan will also provide opportunities for young people and promote international standards in the food processing sector.

Last August, EBRD agreed to provide a $44m loan to Egyptian dairy and juice producer International Company for Agricultural Industries Projects (Beyti).

Beyti is one of the largest producers of milk, juice and yoghurt in Egypt. It operates a fully automated facility on the Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road and employs more than 3,000 people.

The juice company intends to use the loan to expand its production and logistical capacity to cope with the growing national and regional dairy and juice sectors in the country.