The business community in Rubavu and Rutsiro districts have been urged to acquire loans to expand their businesses.

The call from FINA Bank, Rwanda’s leading SME bank comes amid government’s initiatives to strengthen the private sector especially the small scale and medium enterprises.

Jean Philippe Manzi Gakuba, Fina bank’s Rubavu Branch Manager, said that the business community in the two districts should to take advantage of the available liquidity in the bank to access credit for their businesses.

The bank made the call, yesterday, in Rubavu District during a one day seminar to avail their new plans and consult with clients in regard to its products.

“We assure them (business people) of enough liquidity in the bank which they should take advantage”, he said, adding that many people were adamant to access credit from the banks after the global financial crisis.

With the current rise in inflation and increase in commodity prices, the bank is optimistic that its current 17.5 percent interest would remain unaltered to help businesses access loans easily.

The manager who was speaking during a one-week seminar, urged people with businesses to come up with business plans and forward them to the bank which would help to collect where necessary and acquire loans.

“This year we are targeting to give out Rwf2 billion in loans to small and medium enterprises,” he said. He added that in the first half of last year, no loans were given out while only a few were lent in the second half.