PRESS RELEASE
Ministry of Finance, Bank of Albania, and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Hold Discussion Meeting on “Sovereign Guarantee Schemes for the Agricultural Sector – Reviewing Progress and Future Perspectives”

On 10 February 2026, the Ministry of Finance convened an expanded institutional meeting on “Sovereign Guarantee Schemes for the Agricultural Sector – Reviewing the Progress and Future Perspectives.” The meeting was held within the framework of the ongoing inter-institutional dialogue on the implementation of the Albanian Government’s Sovereign Guarantee Scheme and the Financing Programme for Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs), aimed at supporting the agricultural sector and other priority sectors of the economy.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of Finance, Mr Petrit Malaj; the Governor of the Bank of Albania, Mr Gent Sejko; the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Andis Salla; as well as senior representatives of commercial banks operating in Albania and the Albanian Association of Banks (AAB).

Discussions focused on assessing the progress achieved to date in the implementation of financing instruments, identifying factors affecting the effective transmission of lending to the real economy, and addressing challenges encountered by the banking sector and beneficiary entities. Participants also explored concrete measures to enhance access to finance for farmers, agricultural enterprises, and micro, small and medium-sized businesses, while ensuring adherence to prudent risk management principles and safeguarding financial stability.

Minister of Finance Mr Petrit Malaj underlined that the agricultural sector remains a strategic priority for the Government of Albania. He emphasized that, as Albania advances in its integration into the European common market, it is essential for domestic businesses to enhance productivity and increase value added across the entire production chain. In this context, the Minister stressed that the Sovereign Guarantee Scheme should be regarded as an important instrument to accelerate this vital and immediate process.

The Minister further noted that the Government will continue to support the agricultural sector through additional channels, with the objective of attracting further investment and strengthening the long-term profitability and sustainability of the sector, including from the perspective of the banking system. Through the National Agricultural Support Scheme, the fiscal package in place, and the restart of the IPARD III programme, the agricultural sector will remain at the core of government policies throughout the mandate.

In his remarks, the Governor of the Bank of Albania, Mr Gent Sejko, highlighted the Bank’s engagement within the framework of the Agreement on the implementation of the Sovereign Guarantee Scheme. He emphasized the institution’s role in supporting this initiative in line with broader financial sector policies and the country’s economic development objectives. The Governor noted that the Scheme is designed as a complementary instrument aimed at improving the transmission of lending to the real economy, while at the same time safeguarding prudent risk management standards and maintaining financial stability.

he Governor also shared observations regarding the implementation of the Scheme, acknowledging the progress achieved to date while highlighting the need to address certain operational issues in order to further enhance its effectiveness and absorption capacity. In this context, he emphasized the importance of continued coordination among public authorities, the banking sector, and other relevant institutions to ensure that the Scheme remains aligned with strategic financial policy objectives and contributes to sustainable and comprehensive growth in lending to the economy.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Andis Salla, stated that the Sovereign Guarantee Scheme has begun to yield its first tangible results, following an initial period during which farmers and agro-processing businesses became acquainted with the instrument. The growing interest and increasing number of applications from farmers and agro-processing enterprises reflect both the sector’s need for financing and the long-term potential recognized by entrepreneurs.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, together with its subordinate agencies, will continue to work closely with farmers by providing information and technical assistance throughout the application process. The strengthening of this tripartite cooperation among public institutions, the banking sector and farmers is creating new opportunities to better identify and unlock the sector’s development potential.

Senior executives from the banking sector shared their assessments of the performance of both schemes They concurred that, following an initial familiarization period for entrepreneurs and financial institutions, recent months have demonstrated a clear rebound in the uptake of the schemes. According to domestic data presented at the meeting, banks confirmed that a sizeable number of applications are currently under assessment.

Representatives of the banking sector also outlined a range of potential future interventions aimed at further enhancing the effectiveness and utilization of the schemes. The Ministers and Governors engaged in a thorough assessment of the views expressed and agreed to continue the discussion at forthcoming meetings.

Participants called on banks to intensify their efforts in guiding farmers toward the untapped financing and investment opportunities available within the agricultural sector. In this context, public authorities called on businesses and farmers to make full use of available financing opportunities under existing programmes and schemes, with a view to expanding their activities and contributing to Albania’s sustainable economic growth.

Participating institutions reaffirmed their commitment to close cooperation aimed at increasing access to finance, strengthening investment, and supporting overall economic development, with particular emphasis on the agricultural sector and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).