The Bank of Albania published an update on an expanded institutional meeting convened by the Ministry of Finance to review progress on Albania’s Sovereign Guarantee Scheme and the Financing Programme for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), with a focus on improving access to finance for farmers and agricultural businesses. Discussions centred on how the instruments are transmitting credit to the real economy, the operational and market factors affecting uptake, and how to address challenges while maintaining prudent risk management and financial stability. The meeting brought together the Minister of Finance Petrit Malaj, Bank of Albania Governor Gent Sejko, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Andis Salla, commercial banks and the Albanian Association of Banks (AAB). Governor Sejko highlighted the central bank’s engagement under the implementation agreement for the Sovereign Guarantee Scheme, described it as complementary to broader financial sector policies, and pointed to operational issues that need to be addressed to improve effectiveness and absorption capacity. Banks reported a rebound in uptake after an initial familiarisation period and noted that a sizeable number of applications are under assessment, while the Ministry of Agriculture cited first tangible results and committed to continued information and technical assistance to applicants. Participants agreed to continue the discussion in forthcoming meetings and called on banks to intensify guidance to farmers and businesses to make fuller use of available financing under existing programmes and schemes.

Original source View in tracker