The European Microfinance Day Campaign 2024

MFC and its members joined co-partnered the European Microfinance Day Campaign, led by the European Microfinance Network, showcased the social and economic impact of the microfinance sector across Europe, and culminated on 5th December in Brussels.

Microfinance Centre was represented by two council members, Martina Grigorova and Elma Zukic, along with Network and Partnership Manager, Pavol Kapsdorfer.

Martina Grigorova was invited by EMN Managing Director Jorgos Papadakis to contribute to the event’s opening. Her speech covered topics such as:

  • Student loans 
  • Green transition 
  • Women’s empowerment 
  • Support for Ukraine 
  • The Social Economy Action Plan 
  • Investments outside the EU 
  • EU Taxonomy 
  • Affordable housing initiatives

The importance of the event was emphasized by the presence of Mario Nava, Director-General of DG EMPL, who delivered the keynote speech and confirmed the European Commission’s continuing support for underserved entrepreneurs.

The subsequent panel “Microfinance in Local Communities: From Inclusive Entrepreneurship to Affordable Housing – Trends and Challenges” addressed the current situation of various existing programs and projects supporting microfinance and social enterprise finance. The panel included important policy and financial sector stakeholders, represented by:

  • Agnese Papadia (European Commission, DG EMPL)
  • Cristina Dumitrescu (EIF)
  • Eduardo Sierra Martín (EIB)
  • Kristina Maslauskaite (CEB)
  • Panagiotis Tournavitis (Cooperative Bank of Karditsa)
  • Florian Ott (Erste Bank)

MFC members represented during the event: 

  • Association of Microfinance Institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina  AMFI, Bosnia and Herzegovina 
  • SIS Credit, Bulgaria 

MFC members actively participated in the campaign:  

  • Patria Credit, Romania (TV interviews, social media & offline promotion campaign, press releases, special offer for small businesses)
  • Noa, Albania (online campaign & 4 in-person events) 
  • SIS Credit, Bulgaria 
  •  Association of Microfinance Institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina  AMFI, Bosnia and Herzegovina- Albania