The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has agreed a financing package of up to €60 million for Türkiye’s Şekerbank, aimed at widening access to finance for businesses led by women and young people.
Şekerbank is among the country’s main lenders to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The new package is designed to expand lending to groups that continue to face challenges in securing credit, while supporting more inclusive economic activity across Türkiye.
The total financing will be divided equally between two programmes. One half will be channelled to women-owned or women-led SMEs under the Türkiye Women in Business II (TurWiB II) programme. The remaining funds will be used to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises that are managed or majority-owned by people under the age of 35 through the Türkiye Youth in Business (TurYiB) programme.
Risk-sharing arrangements form a key part of the transaction. The financing is backed by first-loss risk cover provided by the European Union through its European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) Growth4All guarantee. Additional backing comes from a guarantee issued by the Turkish Ministry of Treasury and Finance via its Credit Guarantee Fund (KGF).
According to the EBRD, the structure is intended to help overcome long-standing barriers to finance for women- and youth-led businesses, particularly in less-served regions and among first-time borrowers. The initiative aligns with the bank’s wider strategy to increase participation in the economy and promote balanced growth.
Founded in 1953, Şekerbank operates an extensive branch network and has positioned itself around sustainable and inclusive banking practices. The bank is expected to use the new funds to scale up its lending to women and young entrepreneurs, with an anticipated impact on employment, local business development and social inclusion, especially in Anatolia.
Oksana Yavorskaya, the EBRD’s Deputy Head of Türkiye, said: “This partnership with Şekerbank demonstrates our ongoing commitment to fostering inclusive and competitive economies. By empowering women and young entrepreneurs, we are helping to unlock Türkiye’s full economic potential and drive sustainable development.”
Fatma Nur Çetinel, Executive Vice President of Treasury and Financial Institutions at Şekerbank, said: “This important source of funding will support women-led SMEs and young entrepreneurs in strengthening their investments and increasing their production and employment potential. Considering the critical role of SMEs in the Turkish economy, we believe that this financing, which will reach businesses operating particularly in Anatolia, will also make a significant contribution to regional development. With our pioneering role in sustainable and inclusive banking and the funding we have acquired from development-oriented international financial institutions, we will continue to enhance access to finance.”
