May 13 (SeeNews) - Albania's government plans to set up in June a new sovereign guarantee fund worth $150 million (138 million euro) for loans to small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic, local media reported quoting prime minister Edi Rama.
Some 22 million euro of the first sovereign guarantee fund have already been disbursed to businesses and more applications from banks are being reviewed, Albanian Daily News quoted Rama as saying on Tuesday.
In April Albania’s government set up an 11 billion leks ($96.3 million/88.7 million euro) guarantee fund as part of its $370 million relief package to support the coronavirus-affected sectors of the economy.
Albania has confirmed 876 coronavirus cases, including 31 deaths, as of May 12, the prime minister's office said in a statement.
The country plans to lift by May 18 over 90% of the measures imposed to limit the spread of coronavirus. Almost all businesses will resume operations by that date, based on an earlier statement.
In addition, the country wants to open its land borders within a month, Rama said on Tuesday.
(1 euro = 123.978 leks)