The SME Development Finance Corporation (SDFC) has opened applications for its new Financing Scheme for Women Entrepreneurs, designed to strengthen women’s participation in the Maldivian business landscape and provide accessible funding to both start-ups and established women-led enterprises.

The initiative offers Shariah-compliant, collateral-free financing ranging from MVR 25,000 to MVR 250,000, with a profit rate of 9.5 per cent per annum. Borrowers will benefit from a grace period of up to 12 months and a repayment tenure extending up to seven years. The scheme aims to make financing more inclusive and adaptable, catering to women at various stages of their entrepreneurial journey, from launching new ventures to scaling existing businesses.

Commenting on the launch, SDFC CEO Badhurudheen Hassan said:
“This scheme opens a pathway for Maldivian women entrepreneurs to showcase their skills and capabilities. By providing financial assistance with easy and flexible repayment terms, we aim to empower women to enter the business sector, establish their own ventures, and contribute to sustainable economic growth. We look forward to supporting more women as they pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions and achieve their business goals.”

The newly launched scheme forms part of SDFC’s broader commitment to promoting financial inclusion and supporting sustainable small business growth in the Maldives. Applications can now be submitted via the SME Portal on the SDFC website, www.sdfc.mv.

In addition to this initiative, SDFC continues to provide support under the Fashaa Madhadhu Loan scheme, introduced in 2024 in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and the Ministry of Social and Family Development. Both programmes align with national efforts to empower women entrepreneurs and strengthen the SME sector’s contribution to the Maldivian economy.