Şekerbank secures €50 million in new funding from the development-focused European Fund EFSE

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          30.03.2026

Şekerbank has signed a new loan agreement with the European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE) for 50 million euros, with a maturity of up to seven years. The first tranche of this funding—which marks the first sustainable agriculture loan in Türkiye disbursed in accordance with EFSE’s “Green List” criteria—will be used to support sustainable agriculture projects as well as to finance SMEs and small businesses.

Şekerbank has signed a new loan agreement with the European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE)—in which the European Union and many leading development finance institutions worldwide are investors—to support investments in social and environmental development in Türkiye. The agreement provides for a total of 50 million euros, to be disbursed in various tranches, with a maturity of up to seven years. With the first tranche of 20 million euros from this facility—which is the first sustainable agriculture loan disbursed in Türkiye in accordance with EFSE’s “Green List” criteria—Şekerbank will contribute to the widespread adoption of sustainable agriculture practices and continue to expand its support for segments with limited access to financing, including SMEs and small businesses operating in rural areas.

Aybala Şimşek Galpin: “The support provided by International Development Finance Institutions for Türkiye’s sustainable development continues uninterrupted.” 
In her assessment of the agreement, Şekerbank CEO Aybala Şimşek Galpin stated: “This significant loan agreement we have concluded with EFSE has once again confirmed Şekerbank’s position as Türkiye’s key bank in the eyes of International Development Finance Institutions in the areas of agricultural banking and inclusive finance. This funding provided to Şekerbank through the EFSE fund—in which the European Union and the development finance institutions of many countries are investors—is a valuable transaction demonstrating that international investors’ support for Türkiye’s sustainable development remains uninterrupted even during the current period of global volatility”.

Jasminka Begert: “EFSE’s first investment in Türkiye aimed at supporting sustainable agriculture.” 
In her speech, EFSE Portfolio Manager Jasminka Begert said: “This facility represents EFSE’s first sustainable agriculture-related investment in Türkiye. It aims to channel dedicated resources into modern, resilient, and sustainable agricultural investments, while expanding access to finance for farmers, small agricultural businesses, and rural MSMEs.”