Garanti BBVA Romania has announced a new €40 million financing agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. The five-year senior unsecured loan is specifically intended to support women-owned and women-led businesses in Romania, reinforcing both institutions’ commitment to inclusive economic development.
The initiative highlights Garanti BBVA Romania’s continued focus on empowering women entrepreneurs with targeted financial tools and resources. Mustafa Tiftikcioğlu, CEO of Garanti BBVA Romania, stated, “Supporting women-owned businesses is a strategic priority for Garanti BBVA Romania. We are honored to continue our strong collaboration with IFC and to contribute, through this new agreement, to the sustainable development of Romania’s business environment. Women entrepreneurs play an increasingly vital role in the economy, and our mission is to stand by them with dedicated financial solutions and trusted partnerships.”
This latest loan marks IFC’s first investment in Romania exclusively dedicated to businesses owned or led by women. Marcelo Castellanos, IFC’s Senior Country Manager for Southeastern Europe, remarked, “Advancing financial inclusion for women is one of key pillars of IFC’s work in Romania. This project builds on our longstanding partnership with Garanti BBVA and represents our first investment in the country fully dedicated to women-owned and women-led businesses.”
Over the past few years, Garanti BBVA has secured nearly €105 million in international financing with a focus on women entrepreneurs. Of that amount, €82.5 million came from IFC, underlining a shared commitment to advancing gender-inclusive growth in Romania’s economy.
According to the National Trade Register Office (ONRC), women currently make up a significant portion of Romania’s business landscape. Around 620,000 women are shareholders or partners in active companies, representing over 36% of ownership structures. Additionally, nearly 187,000 women are sole proprietors or members of individual or family-run enterprises, accounting for 40% of all such business entities.
This financing agreement is expected to create broader opportunities for female entrepreneurs, enabling greater access to capital and contributing to Romania’s long-term economic resilience.
