Baku: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is set to provide a portfolio risk-sharing guarantee of up to 75 million euros to AccessBank, aimed at enhancing financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Azerbaijan, as reported by APA-Economics.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the project is currently undergoing initial assessment and is slated for approval by the EBRD Board of Directors on June 17, 2026. The guarantee is designed to cover 50% of the credit risk for a new micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) loan portfolio that AccessBank will issue. The plan is to bolster the bank's capital, providing more resources for new loans.

The guarantee will be divided into two tranches, each worth 37.5 million euros. The first tranche will be activated upon the signing of the agreement, while the release of the second tranche will be contingent on the EBRD's decision. Each tranche is expected to have a term of up to five years.

The total financing volume for this project is estimated at 87.95 million US dollars, with the overall project cost amounting to 88.36 million US dollars. The financing will predominantly focus on businesses owned by youth and women, as well as entrepreneurs in various regions, thereby promoting inclusive regional economic growth.

The EBRD has been active in Azerbaijan since 1992, investing over 3.7 billion euros in the country. The bank's main priorities include developing the non-oil sector, strengthening local financial institutions, and supporting a transition to a green economy.