KIEV, Jan. 16 - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, jointly with Raiffeisen Bank Aval (a subsidiary of Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International) and John Deere, a leading global manufacturer of agricultural machinery, have announced the launch of a program to provide small and medium agricultural companies with John Deere agricultural machinery.

EBRD Senior Banker Oleksandr Pavlov said on Wednesday that as part of the program the three parties would undertake credit risks, which will allow small and medium Ukrainian agricultural companies to acquire John Deere machinery, using financing from Raiffeisen Bank Aval and Raiffeisen Leasing Aval. The total financing portfolio will be in the range of $50 million.