The Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development sign a Memorandum of Understanding regarding access to finance for women

The Central Bank of the Republic of Kosovo (CBK) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding the support of access to finance for women entrepreneurs “WE finance Code”, during the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB), that are being held in Washington D.C.

This Agreement represents the dedication and commitment of the CBK to support and contribute to the necessary initiatives and developments in the financial sector, which enable increased access to finance for women in small and medium-sized businesses, in order to increase financial inclusion, consumer protection and financial education, which is in line with the CBK Strategic Plan.

Governor Ismaili, during the signing of this Agreement with the Vice-President of the EBRD, Mr. Mark Bowman, emphasized that this is an important step which will contribute to increasing financial inclusion in Kosovo by ensuring equal access to financial resources, especially for women entrepreneurs.

“The Memorandum of Understanding with the EBRD represents a special occasion, offering opportunities to work towards financial inclusion and access to finance equally for everyone, while simultaneously contributing to financial stability and economic prosperity in Kosovo,” Governor Ismaili emphasized.

The initiative “WE Finance Code” was launched last year by the World Bank at the annual meetings in Marrakesh (Morocco), where the CBK was also a participant of this initiative. Its signature at the annual meetings, joining about 30 central banks and regulatory institutions so far, represents a special symbolism of the systematic commitment based on the CBK’s strategic plan.

In the end, the parties agreed to work together with concrete activities that enable the implementation of this Agreement, including joint organizations that contribute to the achievement of the goal, in cooperation with the financial sector and interest groups.