Businesses still face financing difficulties - OECD: Albania slightly improves score, but remains below the regional average
Access to finance for small and medium-sized businesses in Albania has improved slightly, but the country remains below the Western Balkans average. This is one of the key findings of the OECD's SME Policy Index report.
In the 2026 assessment, Albania received 3.13 points for the access to finance dimension, up from 3.05 in the previous assessment. However, the score remains below the regional average of 3.21 points.
The report notes that the country has made progress in developing financing alternatives, particularly through the expansion of leasing, factoring and the microfinance sector. A new financial education strategy has also been adopted, which aims to increase citizens' and businesses' knowledge of financial products.
But despite these developments, bank lending remains one of the weakest points. The OECD notes that businesses face difficulties in obtaining credit due to problems with collateral registration and the lack of a comprehensive credit information system.
According to the report, Albania still lacks a legal framework for the establishment of a private credit bureau, while the credit registry does not include data from companies such as energy suppliers or other utilities. This limits the information that banks have on borrowers and makes them more cautious in granting loans.
Another problem is related to the registration of assets used as collateral, especially in agriculture, where ownership of livestock, machinery or greenhouses is often not fully documented. On the other hand, the report positively assesses the process of digitalization of the cadastral register, which is expected to be completed this year.
The OECD also notes that the suspension of temporary sovereign guarantee schemes, created during the pandemic, has reduced support for business lending. However, an important development is the adoption of the law on the Albanian Development Bank, which is expected to create a permanent mechanism for long-term financing of small and medium-sized enterprises.
According to the report, strengthening credit guarantee schemes and improving collateral registration remain two of the main priorities to facilitate Albanian businesses' access to financing.
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