The Bank of Albania published an update on an expanded institutional meeting convened by the Ministry of Finance to review progress and next steps for the Albanian Government’s Sovereign Guarantee Scheme and the Financing Programme for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), with a focus on agriculture. Participants assessed implementation to date, factors affecting the transmission of lending to the real economy, and practical measures to improve access to finance while maintaining prudent risk management and financial stability. The meeting brought together the Minister of Finance, the Governor of the Bank of Albania, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, and representatives of commercial banks and the Albanian Association of Banks. The Bank of Albania highlighted its role under the implementation agreement for the Sovereign Guarantee Scheme and pointed to operational issues that need to be addressed to improve effectiveness and absorption capacity, alongside continued coordination among public authorities and the banking sector. Banks reported a rebound in uptake after an initial familiarisation period, with domestic data indicating a sizeable number of applications under assessment, while the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development pointed to early tangible results and committed to ongoing information and technical assistance for applicants. The institutions agreed to continue the discussion in forthcoming meetings, and participants called on banks to intensify efforts to guide farmers towards available financing and investment opportunities under existing programmes and schemes.

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