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.