OPEC Fund boosts access to finance for local businesses in Kosovo with first private sector loan

January 26, 2026: The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is strengthening access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Kosovo with a €15 million loan to Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo (RBKO). The operation will help address persistent credit gaps for small businesses, including women-owned enterprises, and marks the OPEC Fund’s first private sector loan in the country.

Tareq Alnassar, OPEC Fund Vice President, Private Sector said: 

“SMEs are the backbone of Kosovo’s economy, yet many remain constrained by limited access to affordable finance. Our partnership with Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo will help channel much-needed resources to local businesses, expand economic opportunities and support more inclusive growth.”

The financing will enable RBKO, Kosovo’s largest bank, to extend longer-tenor loans to local companies, supporting investment, business expansion and job creation across the country.

Merita Gjyshinca Peja, Chief Financial Officer at Raiffeisen Bank Kosovo, said: 

“We highly value the trust of the OPEC Fund and welcome this cooperation, which reflects a shared commitment to strengthening Kosovo’s economy. This agreement marks an important step in our ongoing engagement with SMEs across the country.”

The new financing partnership builds on the OPEC Fund’s cooperation with Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI Group), deepening engagement with a leading financial institution headquartered in the OPEC Fund’s host country, Austria.

The loan is aligned with the OPEC Fund’s strategic focus on supporting entrepreneurship, strengthening financial inclusion and promoting opportunities for women-led businesses. It also contributes to Sustainable Development Goals 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).

About the OPEC Fund

The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is a globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries exclusively. The organization works in cooperation with developing country partners and the international development community to stimulate economic growth and social progress in low- and middle-income countries around the world. The OPEC Fund was established in 1976 with a distinct purpose: to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people. Our work is people-centered, focusing on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education. To date, the OPEC Fund has committed more than US$32 billion to development projects in over 125 countries with an estimated total project cost of more than US$240 billion. The OPEC Fund is rated AA+/Outlook Stable by Fitch and AA+, Outlook Stable by S&P. Our vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all.

About Raiffeisen Bank in Kosovo

Raiffeisen Bank in Kosovo is the largest commercial bank in the country. It is a subsidiary of Raiffeisen Bank International AG (RBI), which entered the Kosovo market at the end of 2002. In June 2003, the bank was officially rebranded as Raiffeisen Bank in Kosovo. Today, it serves a broad client base, ranging from private individuals and small businesses to large corporates.