TIRANA, May 13 – A new partnership was signed on Tuesday at the Bank of Albania between the state, the banking system and Albanian businesses under the national programme “Double Your Entrepreneurship”, aimed at financing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The initiative targets business support and economic growth. It also seeks to expand opportunities for entrepreneurs.
Prime Minister Edi Rama attended the signing ceremony. At the event, participants highlighted the need for new financial instruments to support the economy and the private sector.
Meanwhile, Bank of Albania Governor Gent Sejko said credit growth in the economy increased significantly, describing it as a positive development for the financial sector.
Private sector credit reached 907 billion lek at the end of March 2026. It stood at 575 billion ALL five years earlier. He said average annual growth reached around 15% over the past two years. He also said new lending in 2025 reached about 423 billion ALL.
In addition, bank credit remains one of the largest monetary flows in the economy. It also remains the main financing channel for businesses and households.
However, SMEs continue to face limited access to financing and remain a national priority for growth.
At the same time, the Bank of Albania has implemented a dedicated SME financing programme for more than a year. The programme aims to reduce borrowing costs for this segment. In parallel, the government has approved a sovereign guarantee scheme for agriculture. The scheme reduces credit risk. Sejko said both instruments provide a strong starting point for addressing financing constraints.
Progress over the past two years remains encouraging. He urged banks to increase attention to SME and agricultural financing, saying the sector has untapped potential for banking expansion while maintaining prudential standards.
He also encouraged small and medium-sized businesses to approach banks, describing them as both financing sources and development partners, as well as financial advisers.
The initiative is expected to boost investment and productivity. It also supports sustainable economic growth in Albania.
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