The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting the expansion of Abris Distribution-Kazakhstan, a major distributor of IT products and services across Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Under an agreement, the EBRD will provide the company with a loan of up to $11 million to meet its working capital needs, according to the EBRD.

The financing will support Abris’ expansion in its core markets and targeted Eastern European countries while accelerating the company’s digital transformation.

Founded in 1995, Abris Distribution operates in 10 countries and represents around 60 global technology vendors, including Cisco, HP, IBM and Lenovo.

The company combines international technology solutions with local market expertise, technical capabilities and channel development across Central Asia and the Caucasus.

The EBRD loan will allow Abris to increase investment in technology equipment and strengthen arrangements for vendor financing.

The financing comes as businesses across Kazakhstan, Central Asia and neighboring markets increasingly invest in technology to modernize operations and improve efficiency. Areas such as cybersecurity, data governance and regulatory compliance are also becoming increasingly important for companies in the region.

The latest financing adds to the EBRD’s long-term investment activity in Kazakhstan.

The bank has invested almost $13.5 billion (€11.7 billion) in the country through 359 projects, making Kazakhstan the EBRD’s largest and longest-running investment destination in Central Asia.