- Double Your Enterprise is the sovereign guarantee program that facilitates bank loans for micro, small, and medium enterprises, as well as for registered farmers in Albania.
- The state guarantee covers up to 70% of the credit risk, according to the program's official website. The Prime Ministry's website gives an interval of 30% to 70%, depending on the business profile.
- The interest rate is set as indicative, 21% p.a. to 31% p.a., and the final terms are determined by the bank. Maturities range from 3, 5, 7, or 10 years.
- The loan is covered up to €2,000,000 per beneficiary, or about 200,000,000 lek.
- Expressions of interest are submitted on e-Albania and close on November 20, 2027. As of September 17, 2026, over 1,700 businesses had applied, of which 720 are under review.
Double Your Enterprise is now applied online. The “Expression of Interest for Double Your Enterprise” service has been launched on the e-Albania portal, where businesses identify themselves, enter their NIPT and investment concept, and track the status of their file without having to visit a counter.
The program is a guarantee scheme, not a grant and not a state-provided loan. The state guarantees part of the bank's risk so that the bank will agree to finance a business that would otherwise be rejected for lack of collateral. The money comes from the bank, you sign the contract with the bank, and you are responsible for repayment.
This is the distinction that gets confused most often, and that's why this guide doesn't stop at the application steps. It explains how the decision is split between the ministry and the bank, how much a business actually saves with the program's rate, what documents are required, and why a business's file—even one that reports low figures—still falls short even when the guarantee is in effect.
Read also: What does the bank look at when you apply for a business loan?
Who benefits and until when can it be applied?
Micro, small, and medium enterprises, as well as farmers, are eligible, provided they are registered in Albania and have an active NIPT. The deadline for submitting the expression of interest is November 20, 2027, so the window does not close within the year.
The program is open to all sectors, but the official website lists the priority sectors: agriculture and agribusiness, manufacturing with textiles, clothing, footwear, wood and metal, information technology and software, tourism, trade and logistics. Priority is not exclusive, so a business outside these sectors is not automatically disqualified.
Interest is real and measurable. As of September 17, 2026, according to the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, over 1,700 businesses had expressed interest and 720 of them were under review. According to the collected data, 571 TP3T are aiming to expand their operations and 211 TP3T to invest in machinery and equipment.
Read also: AIDA's campaign: free support for SMEs in 10 municipalities.
Two phases and two decision-makers. This is where the mistaken expectation falls apart.
The expression of interest on e-Albania is not an application for credit. It is the first step in a two-stage process, in which the ministry carries out the selection and provides assistance, while the bank conducts the risk assessment and sets the conditions.
| Phase of ministry | Bank phase |
|---|---|
| Expression of interest on e-Albania, with NIPT and the investment concept. | Complete loan application at a partner bank. |
| Assistance with preparing documentation, including business plan experts. | Assessment of the risk, solvency, and collateral you provide. |
| Online status tracking, no in-person visits. | The decision on the rate, maturity, and grace period. |
| Confirmation of guarantee coverage by the Guarantee Management Agency. | Signing the contract and disbursing the loan. |
So the expression of interest opens the door, it doesn't secure the financing. The final decision is made by the bank based on your file, and this is precisely where a Clear reading of financial indicators Changes the result.
How much does a business really save with the program rate?
The program's primary saving isn't the guarantee; it's the rate. The 21% to 31% guideline rate is significantly below the rates at which a small business normally finances itself, and over the long term the difference becomes substantial.
Calculated example. Loan of 10,000,000 lek for 7 years.
The figures are rounded and illustrative, not an offer. The 7% rate is used as an illustrative market rate, because the actual rate depends on the bank and the business profile.
| At a rate of 3%, according to the program. | At a rate of 7%, illustrative |
|---|---|
| Monthly installment of approximately 132,000 lek. | Monthly installment of approximately 151,000 lek. |
| Total interest approximately 1,100,000 lek. | Total interest approximately 2,680,000 lek. |
The difference is about 19,000 lekë per month and about 1,600,000 lekë over seven years. This is the figure worth comparing to the return on investment, because a cheap loan on an investment that doesn't pay off remains a cost. The real test is twofold: does it pass? return on investment the cost of the debt, and does the installment include it Monthly cash flow in the weakest month.
What the warranty covers and what remains the responsibility of the business.
The guarantee covers the bank's risk, it does not reduce your obligation. On a 10,000,000 lek loan with a 70% guarantee, the bank is protected for 7,000,000 lek, while the business remains liable for the full principal and interest. If the loan is not repaid, the guarantee protects the bank, not you.
Therefore, high coverage is not a reason to request a larger loan than planned. It is the reason why the bank agrees to review a file it previously would not have considered, which is a real benefit of a different nature.
Read also: Credit yes or no: how the decision is made by the numbers
The documents required and the one that takes the most time
The official page lists three basic documents: the NIPT, the tax certificate, and the business plan. The first two are processed within a day. The third is the one that sets the pace for the entire file.
The program provides funding for expert assistance in preparing the plan, so this cost does not fall on the business. However, the expert reports on the figures that you submit. If financial statements They are not aligned; the plan ends up built on a foundation that the bank controls and then rejects.
The practical order we recommend is the reverse of what usually happens. First, the schedules and returns for the past two years are reconciled. Second, it is drafted. business plan Regarding those figures. Third, the expression of interest is submitted. When the file is returned, it goes back for completion and loses weeks.
Why does the business file that declares so little fall?
The bank reads the same mirrors which the tax administration reads. The business that has declared minimal profit to save on taxes is presented to the bank as a business that cannot afford the installment, regardless of its actual turnover.
The sovereign guarantee does not change this. It reduces the demand for collateral, but it does not reduce the demand for proven repayment capacity. A file with declared earnings below the required threshold is still rejected even with 70% coverage, because risk assessment remains the bank's responsibility.
This is why it makes sense to plan the program in advance. A business planning to apply by 2027 has time to get its filing and reporting in order during the year and to submit two reconciled periods. The November 20, 2027 deadline is far enough away to allow exactly that.
Read also: When profit isn't enough, liquidity and hidden cash in the business
Program partner banks
According to the program's official website, the scheme is implemented with eleven second-tier banks. Conditions may vary from one bank to another, so comparing offers remains useful even within the program.
List of eleven partner banks
- Raiffeisen Bank
- National Commercial Bank
- Credins Bank
- Intesa Sanpaolo Bank Albania
- OTP Bank Albania
- Tirana Bank
- ProCredit Bank
- Union Bank
- American Investment Bank
- First Investment Bank of Albania
- United Bank of Albania
What is not yet known about the program
Three things remain undisclosed until September 19, 2026, and they're worth stating openly because they affect business decisions.
First, the legal basis. Sources speak of a decision by the Council of Ministers and an instruction from the Ministry of Economy, but the number and date of neither act are provided on the program's website, on the Prime Minister's website, or in any public source consulted to date. Therefore, no condition of the program should be treated as a verified legal obligation until the act is published.
Second, the forgiveness period. The official website mentions it in the FAQ without specifying its duration. A media source gives at least 12 months, but this figure is not confirmed by an official source and therefore is not used in calculations.
Third, the lower guarantee limit. The Prime Minister's Office website gives the interval 30% to 70%, while the program's page shows coverage up to 70%. The upper limit matches on both, so only that is used as safe.
Every time there is a tax or financial change that affects your business, we notify you directly by email with a practical explanation.
Send me free notificationsFrequently asked questions
How do you apply to Double Your Entrepreneurship?
The application is made online through the e-Albania portal using the “Expression of Interest for Doubling Your Enterprise” service. Log in, fill in your NIPT and investment concept, and track the status of your file on the platform. After this phase, you proceed with the full application at a partner bank.
How much credit can I get with this program?
Coverage goes up to €2,000,000 per beneficiary, or about 200,000,000 lek. The exact amount depends on the submitted investment and the bank's assessment, so the program limit is not the amount that is automatically approved.
Is it a grant or a loan that has to be repaid?
It is a bank loan that is repaid in full, principal and interest. The state guarantees part of the bank's risk; it does not provide any money and does not make any payments on your behalf.
Can I get a loan without collateral, with the state's guarantee?
The guarantee reduces the requirement for collateral, it does not eliminate it. The bank continues to require collateral for the uncovered portion and to assess repayment capacity, so a file with declared earnings below the requested tranche is rejected even within the program.
Until when can I submit the expression of interest?
Until November 20, 2027, according to the program's official website. Early submission makes practical sense, because assistance with documentation and the bank's evaluation take time.
Does a registered farmer also benefit?
Yes. The official website includes farmers along with micro, small, and medium enterprises, and agriculture and agribusiness are listed among the priority sectors.
What is the interest rate I will pay?
The official page provides 2% to 3% as a guideline and explicitly states that the final terms are set by the bank. Therefore, this rate should not be treated as guaranteed in the contract before negotiating with the bank.
Sources
The criteria, priority sectors, deadline of November 20, 2027, maturities, documents, and the list of partner banks have been obtained from Official program page at the Ministry of Economy and Innovation. The rate from 2% to 3% and the guarantee interval from 30% to 70% have been taken from Prime Ministry notice of July 27, 2026. The figures for applications—1,700 expressions of interest and 720 under review—are statements from the Ministry of Economy and Innovation dated September 17, 2026.
The number and date of the Council of Ministers' decision and of the directive regulating the scheme are not provided by any publicly available source as of September 19, 2026. This page is updated with the citation of the act as soon as it is published.
