SME Bank to begin loan issuance next week

The SME Bank – established by the State to enable financial facilities for small and medium enterprises – will begin loan issuance next week, says President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Establishment of a bank to enable credit facilities for small and medium enterprises which’s shares are owned by the three Maldivian cities was one of Solih’s electoral pledges.

City councils of Male’ City, Addu City and Fuvahmulah City each own 5 percent of shares at the SME Bank.

Solih travelled to V. Keyodhoo this Thursday morning for an appearance at MDP’s campaign tour of V. Atoll.

Speaking at a gathering in Keyodhoo, Solih said that self-sustainability was the key to development of individual islands.

“As such, the SME Bank will be opened and loans issued to medium enterprises in this coming week. In Sha Allah,” said Solih.

Solih stressed that decentralization was essential to the development of Maldives.

“As such, we are working on submitting revisions to the Decentralization Act to bring about great changes to the system of decentralization in order to allow councils legal autonomy, financial autonomy, and ensure services for development of islands are provided by residents of the islands,” said Solih.

He highlighted MDP’s legislative agenda, Agenda 19, and urged residents to vote for government-aligned candidates in order to fulfil the legislative agenda.