Albania's 'Double Your Entrepreneurship': 400 SMEs in Pipeline

Albania has approved 32 loans worth a combined 5 million euros under its "Double Your Entrepreneurship" program, with around 400 small and medium-sized businesses now moving through the application process, Prime Minister Edi Rama announced on October 7, 2026.

Rama laid out the scheme's terms at an event dedicated to the program, which Tirana created to support SMEs with soft loans. The loans carry an interest rate of up to 2%, backed by a state guarantee of up to 70%.

The financing ceiling reaches 2 million euros per business, with a repayment term of 10 years.

What did Rama say about the program's purpose?

Rama framed the scheme as targeted support for businesses that have proven their viability but lack the capital to scale.

"The Double Your Entrepreneurship program came about as a need to closely support small and medium-sized enterprises that have managed to shape and survive the challenges of their creation in an open market, to cope with the difficulties that every business has and today have accumulated knowledge, clarity on how they can grow, but do not have the financial means to grow because in the conditions of a banking sector where interests are not very favorable, but also because of the size of these businesses, they need a hand, a support," Rama said.

"For this reason, we have created this scheme, which offers a loan with an interest rate of up to 2%, practically very soft and with a state guarantee of up to 70%."

How fast is the program growing?

The approval pace has accelerated sharply month over month, according to the prime minister's figures:

• 5 loans approved in August
• 20 loans approved in September
• 7 approved so far in October, as of the 5th
• About 400 businesses currently in the process overall

"The financing goes up to 2 million euros with a term of 10 years. It is a very favorable framework, made especially for small and medium-sized businesses, that is, all those who have an idea in their head and a plan on how to grow, but need financing," Rama said.

"We see an increase in interest. Today we have about 400 businesses that are in the process, as of the 5th, we have 32 loans approved for a value of 5 million euros and what we are happy to see is the accelerated pace. In August, 5, in September 20 and now 7. There is room for much more, so we are talking to you to encourage others as well."

What does the scheme mean for Albanian SMEs?

The program addresses a structural constraint Rama identified directly: SMEs with workable growth plans face borrowing costs in a banking sector he described as offering unfavorable terms, compounded by the small size of the businesses themselves.

With 400 firms in the pipeline against 32 approvals so far, the government is betting that the 2% rate, the 70% state guarantee and the 10-year horizon will convert applications into disbursed credit at a faster clip — and Rama's public pitch signals an open push to widen the pool of applicants.