The head of the Albanian government, Edi Rama, spoke about the new initiative of credit support for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Present at the signing of the new partnership between the state, the banking system and Albanian entrepreneurship for the National Small and Medium Enterprise Financing Program "Double Your Entrepreneurship", Rama said that the loan interest for these businesses will be 2 and 3%.
"An agreement to finance small and medium-sized enterprises that are the engine of our economy. They are realities with potential. I have been able to see a number of small enterprises, which based on the experience of Albanians and Albanians returned from emigration, based on the will to do something significant in the community, to employ families and people around them, have been of extraordinary help. With reasonable financial support, those realities can grow and can bring profits. Today, these people are ready to take another step. The problem has been accessible and reasonable financing in the inability to obtain normal, commercial loans. That is how this project was born, which was initially a project dedicated to agriculture, from which we learned our lessons together. Today, it is a project that has become a support program of the Albanian government for small and medium-sized enterprises. Within a short time after the signing of the agreement, a program will be introduced that opens a door for them to double their entrepreneurship. It is a moment to underline, 5 years previously, credit in Albania was around 5 billion euros. In the last two years alone, new credit has touched 5 billion. It is one more reason to take a courageous step thanks to total cooperation to support economic growth. For small and medium-sized enterprises, we will make available a credit line with a minimum interest of 2% and a maximum of 3%. Here we ask for full cooperation and solidarity on your part, accompanied by a sovereign guarantee from the government, reducing the risk for banks. From 60-70% for risk assessment. Banks should be a little more courageous with the agricultural sector, where the risk is high," he said.
