The OPEC Fund for International Development has approved a €15 million loan to Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo to strengthen access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises across the country. The operation aims to address long-standing credit constraints faced by local businesses, particularly smaller firms and women-owned enterprises, and marks the OPEC Fund’s first private sector financing initiative in Kosovo.
Small and medium-sized enterprises play a central role in Kosovo’s economy, yet many struggle to secure affordable, long-term financing needed to grow and create jobs. Through this partnership, the OPEC Fund seeks to expand the availability of credit to businesses that have traditionally been underserved by the financial system, helping to unlock investment and stimulate inclusive economic growth.
The financing will enable Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo, the country’s largest commercial bank, to offer longer-tenor loans to local companies. These loans are expected to support business expansion, productivity improvements, and employment generation, contributing to broader economic resilience and private sector development in Kosovo.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment by the OPEC Fund and Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo to support entrepreneurship and strengthen the local business environment. It also builds on the OPEC Fund’s broader cooperation with Raiffeisen Bank International, deepening engagement with a leading European financial group headquartered in Austria, the host country of the OPEC Fund.
The loan aligns with the OPEC Fund’s strategic priorities of promoting financial inclusion, supporting entrepreneurship, and expanding opportunities for women-led businesses. It also contributes to global development objectives by advancing decent work, economic growth, innovation, and sustainable infrastructure, reinforcing the role of private sector finance in driving long-term development outcomes.
