In April 2025, OeEB signed a USD 25 million bilateral credit line with the microfinance organization KMF Kazakhstan. The funds will be used to finance women-owned micro and small businesses. OeEB had already provided an initial USD 15 million credit line in August 2019. In January 2021, a further USD 5 million credit line was provided to strengthen KMF's liquidity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Project name

KMF Kazakhstan

Region

Central Asia

Sector

Financial sector / Microfinance / SME

Service

Investment Finance

Project country

Kazakhstan

OeEB project volume

USD 25 million

International climate finance according to UNFCCC     No
Additionality Financial Additionality
Project partner(s) KazMicroFinance (KMF)

In Kazakhstan, the largest economy in Central Asia, more than one third of the working population is employed in local small and medium-sized enterprises. SMEs are therefore an extremely important part of the local economy. Among other things, the KMF – the country's largest microfinance institution – has set itself the goal to improve access to financing and financial services for women entrepreneurs.

The credit line provided by OeEB will be dedicated to women-owned businesses and this way not only contribute to strengthening the local private sector and job creation but also to addressing the imbalance between men and women – two core goals of OeEB.