The 28th Annual Conference of the Microfinance Centre (MFC), themed “Microfinance in Transition: Is the Mission at Risk?”, is taking place this year in Durrës from May 19 to 21. The event brings together around 500 representatives from financial institutions, international organizations, investors, and microfinance experts from more than 40 countries across the region, Europe, and beyond. The MFC Conference returns to Albania after 10 years, in a year that also coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Bank of Albania and the 20th anniversary of AMA (Albanian Microfinance Association).
In her welcoming remarks, the Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Albania, Ms. Natasha Ahmetaj, addressed the role of microfinance in economic and social development, alongside the challenges the sector faces in a transforming financial and technological landscape.
“The primary mission of microfinance is to be an affordable alternative and a social support system for the segments of society that most need an open door in the financial sector. Beyond the financial dimension, microfinance must contribute to creating opportunities for development, employment, and economic inclusion, while always maintaining a balance between commercial objectives and social responsibility,” she stated.
Mr. Perlat Sulaj, Executive Director of FED invest, in his capacity as an MFC Board member, and AMA representative, delivered the opening speech at the conference, hailing the event as the most significant gathering for the microfinance sector in Europe and Central Asia.
During his speech, he highlighted the historical role of microfinance in Albania since the beginning of the post-communist era, noting how it has helped thousands of individuals and micro-entrepreneurs build their economic activities. Thanks to their social and developmental mission, these institutions have contributed to the expansion and consolidation of thousands of entrepreneurs that are now financially independent.
Among other points, he emphasized that “today, this sector has evolved from a support system providing small loans to unbanked individuals into a true ecosystem of financial inclusion, where digital channels are reducing costs and deeply reaching rural areas and underserved communities with products tailored to local needs.” Mr. Sulaj added that “this vital mission in Albania and the region continues to be strongly backed with funding, guarantees, and development programs from leading international institutions such as the European Commission, the European Investment Fund, the Council of Europe Development Bank, the European Fund for Southeast Europe, and others.”
The organizers emphasized that the conference underscores a shared commitment to keeping microfinance as one of the most powerful instruments for human progress and economic inclusion.
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