BSTDB and Fondi BESA Expand Partnership to Support Small Businesses in Albania
New €7 million facility to enhance MSME competitiveness and growth
The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) has signed a €7 million MSME loan facility with Fondi BESA, the largest non-bank micro-finance institution in Albania, to support lending to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
The facility will help expand access to credit for small businesses across urban, semi-urban and rural areas, supporting business growth, generating income and creating jobs, particularly in regions where financing gaps persist.
This marks the sixth consecutive MSME facility extended by BSTDB to Fondi BESA since the start of cooperation in 2014, reaffirming a long-standing and successful partnership. To date, BSTDB has provided over €34 million through Fondi BESA, supporting thousands of entrepreneurs across Albania.
“Supporting small businesses is central to BSTDB’s mandate, as they are key drivers of economic resilience and job creation,” said Dr. Serhat Köksal, President of BSTDB. “Our continued partnership with Fondi BESA reflects our commitment to enhancing access to finance for entrepreneurs across Albania, including women- and youth-led enterprises, and to fostering inclusive and sustainable growth in the country.”
Prof. Assoc. Dr. Bajram Muçaj, Executive Director of Fondi BESA, stated: “We are pleased to further strengthen our long-standing partnership with Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) through this new facility. It will enable us to expand access to finance for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises across Albania, particularly in areas where financing remains limited. By supporting small businesses—key drivers of employment and economic resilience—we aim to contribute to job creation, income generation, and more inclusive and sustainable growth across the country.”
Established in 1994, Fondi BESA Sh.A is the market leader of Albanian microfinance institutions and has consolidated its activity and presence through a network of 66 offices all over the country. With approximately 30,000 active clients and with a loan portfolio of over EUR 160 million, Fondi BESA ranks among the top 50 employers for several years. Its mission is to help the economic growth and poverty reduction in urban and semi-urban areas of Albania by promoting micro, small and medium sized enterprises through the creation of a self-sustainable private micro-financial Albanian fund. For more info: www.fondibesa.com
The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) is an international financial institution established by Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Türkiye, and Ukraine. The BSTDB headquarters are in Thessaloniki, Greece. BSTDB supports economic development and regional cooperation by providing loans, credit lines, equity and guarantees for projects and trade financing in the public and private sectors in its member countries. The authorized capital of the Bank is EUR 3.45 billion. For information on BSTDB, visit www.bstdb.org.
Contact: External Relations and Communications Department
