Entrepreneurs in the Republic of Moldova will have faster and easier access to financing. The Organization for the Development of Entrepreneurship (ODA), through the Credit Guarantee Fund (FGC), is officially launching the credit portfolio guarantee mechanism. This innovative tool accelerates granting guaranteed loans by eliminating the need for individual approvals for each case.
Maib is the first commercial bank to apply this mechanism, benefiting from a ceiling of 400 million lei in guaranteed loans. Now, maib can grant loans to SMEs without going through the standard process of guarantee analysis by ODA, which means less bureaucracy and time saved for entrepreneurs.
Vadim Codreanu, Director of ODA:
“The new mechanism automatically applies the guarantee to eligible loans in the bank’s portfolio. There is no longer a need for ODA to approve each case individually. This significantly reduces processing time and gives SMEs accurate and rapid financing access. As a result, entrepreneurs can move forward with their plans without bureaucratic delays.”
This mechanism is financially supported by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), part of the World Bank Group. The first tranche of financing, worth 9.5 million euros, is already active, with a second tranche of 4.3 million euros set to be available in 2026. The mechanism can guarantee up to 2 billion lei in loans over the next two years.
Doina Nistor, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development and Digitalization:
“Quick access to capital is essential for the development of local businesses. Through this mechanism, we eliminate bureaucratic obstacles and provide real solutions for entrepreneurs who need financing now, not months from now. It is a practical, results-oriented measure that supports the development of a healthy and dynamic economic environment.”
Andrii Glevatskyi, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of maib, in charge of Business Banking:
“This portfolio guarantee significantly simplifies the lending process, allowing for faster disbursement of loans to small and medium-sized enterprises. We are proud to be the first bank in Moldova to implement this important mechanism. The maib team is continuously working to make financing more accessible and efficient for Moldovan entrepreneurs, and this partnership with the Credit Guarantee Fund, managed by ODA, allows us to achieve exactly that. We thank all the parties involved for their trust and collaboration and remain fully committed to supporting business development and contributing to the country's economic growth.”
The credit portfolio guarantee mechanism was developed by the Organization for the Development of Entrepreneurship (ODA) in partnership with the World Bank and the national banking system, based on the Loan Agreement signed in June 2022 between the Republic of Moldova and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), part of the World Bank Group. The agreement supports the implementation of the SME Competitiveness Project, through which ODA benefits from a total financing of 13.8 million euros for the capitalization of the Credit Guarantee Fund.
The financing is provided in the form of a repayable credit from the state budget, and ODA is responsible for developing and operationalizing the portfolio guarantee mechanism.
In 2024, the Credit Guarantee Fund issued nearly 900 guarantees, facilitating the granting of loans totalling over 1.8 billion MDL, which generated investments of over 2.4 billion MDL into the economy. With the launch of the new mechanism, the impact of these guarantees is expected to grow exponentially, thanks to the much faster and simplified process.
