ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank together with NABU announced launch of  "Development of Organic Agriculture" for 2019-2020 free program 

ArmInfo. ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank together with the German Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union) (NABU) announced the launch of the "Development of Organic Agriculture" for 2019-2020 free program, the press service of the  bank told ArmInfo

According to the source, within the framework of the program,  organizations recognized as winners, farmers and agriculture will  have the opportunity, through co-financing from the Bank and NABU, to  undergo free certification for the production of organic products and  to increase export production possibilities several times.

Interested in participating in the program, the subjects can download  the corresponding application from the official website of the bank  until April 20 (https://www.acba.am/uploaded/Nabu-Organic-filling-  form4stage.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0ivTqGLOYENkOBeHxCeTXdJagsvIDr3KmCK7G5l9I  sbwjTW217FQvmFBk), to fill it in and send it to [email protected].

The report notes that in 2015-2018, ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank and the  NABU Union were able to certify 27 organizations, the overwhelming  majority of whose production is already represented in foreign  markets.

To note, the first free program of ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank together  with NABU was launched in 2015 with the aim of developing organic  agriculture and assisting producers of the sector. Today, business  entities certified in the framework of cooperation successfully sell  their production abroad. Companies participating in this program  receive a free organic certificate from NABU and ACBA-Credit Agricole  Bank. German specialists annually conduct retraining courses for  beneficiaries of the program.

According to the Financial Rating of Banks of Armenia as of December  31, 2018, prepared by ArmInfo IC, the volume of agricultural loans as  of January 1, 2019 reached 169.4 billion drams or $ 350.2 million,  with a y-o-y growth of 5.7%. ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank is the  undisputed leader in agricultural lending, covering 49.4% of the  total volume (or about 84 billion drams - more than $ 173 million).   In the loan portfolio of ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank, the share of  agro-loans accounts for 33.2%, with ay-o-y growth of the absolute  value of 10.1%.  To recall, ACBA-Credit Agricole Bank CJSC has been  operating in Armenia since 1995. The majority shareholders of the  bank as of January 1, 2019 are: Joint-Stock Company SJSC "Sacam  International" (member of Credit Agricole S.A) - 6.48%, "ACBA  Federation" CJSC - 93.52%.  To note, Naturschutzbund Deutschland  (NABU) is the oldest and largest environmental NGO in Germany,  bringing together about half a million members. NABU works in many  countries of the world, implementing various projects aimed at  protecting nature and developing specially protected natural areas.   NABU is the most popular non-governmental environmental organization  in Germany - there are more than 450 thousand members in its ranks.   NABU is particularly interested in the Caucasus. NABU has been  operating for more than 100 years.