Press release related to IFC financing to KRK

Kreditimi Rural i Kosoves (KRK), a micro finance institution in Kosovo, will benefit €10 million loan provided by IFC

IFC is one of the best partners of KRK. Through collaboration with IFC, KRK have enabled the financing of many underserved Women-Owned Businesses and MSME in Kosovo.

The IFC loan, will be on-lent to local Women-Owned Businesses and MSME particularly with the goal of funding investments which will increase local Women-Owned Businesses and MSME competitiveness on domestic and regional markets.

“KRK is proud to partner with IFC to expand access to finance for underserved clients across Kosovo, particularly in rural and agricultural sectors,” said Lulzim Sadrija, KRK`s CEO. “With a strong national presence and commitment to high social and environmental standards, this collaboration will help us deepen our impact and better serve communities with limited access to financial services.”

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises represent more than 90 per cent of all companies in Kosovo outside the financial sector. Better access to finance will allow Women-Owned Businesses and MSME to expand beyond the home market.

“This investment will support Kosovo in closing financing gaps for MSMEs, specifically smallholder farmers and women owned businesses,” said Visar Perani, IFC Country Officer for Kosovo. “By helping to expand access to tailored financial products we can support the country efforts to enhance the competitiveness of its financial sector and drive economic growth.”

Kreditimi Rural i Kosoves is the third largest micro finance institution in Kosovo and owned by the European Fund for South Eastern Europe (EFSE), the Dutch development bank Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingsladen (FMO), the French development company Solidarité Internationale pour le Développement et l’Investissement (SIDI) and Helenos, a company.