OREANDA-NEWS. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) believes that providing opportunities to people in underdeveloped regions is a key condition for the healthy growth of any economy.

To increase access to credit for small entrepreneurs and farmers in remote areas of Kazakhstan, the EBRD is now lending the local currency equivalent of USD 10 million to KazMicroFinance (KMF), the largest non-banking microfinance institution in the country.

KMF has served over 78,000 clients, distributing over USD 87 million worth of loans throughout the country. The EBRD loan will support the company’s expansion into agricultural and rural areas of Kazakhstan.

The EBRD considers supporting SMEs as one of its priorities in the country. The Bank has also worked with over 1,000 companies over the last ten years through its Business Advisory Services Programme (BAS/SBS) helping them to prepare bankable business plans, maintain good corporate records and information systems and prepare for exports. This year, for the first time, the Kazakh government will co-finance the EBRD’s Small Business Support services in Kazakhstan.

Since the beginning of its operations in Kazakhstan 20 years ago, the EBRD has invested close to USD 6.3 billion in the country’s economy, with more than half of the projects supporting the private sector.