AKND grants 10 thousand loans, valuing SYP 1 billion in 6 months

Agha Khan Network for Development (AKND) underlined that providing small funds has continued normally and according to the plan scheduled during the last period of the current year despite of the rueful events taking place in Syria. The AKND spokesman said that more than 10,300 loans with a value of USD19.2 millions were provided and the number of the loans distributed over the second quarter of 2011 was 5,500 with a total value of SUD 10.1 millions. "There are about 29, 000 agents dealing with the Network as other 8000 agents have joined it during the last six months" the spokesman said. He added that after Tartous branch for small and medium sized loans, the Network opened Sweida branch last May as a new branch is expected to open in Aleppo soon. The Network encompasses a group of development programs and international organizations, and aims at upgrading the living standards of people, and creating new job opportunities for the poor, and it also seeks to boost the economic, social and cultural situation in Syria in addition to more than 30 other countries around the world. The Network signed a cooperation agreement for development with Syria in 2001 and its programs are implemented in Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Lattakia, Sweida and Tartous.