Tajikistan’s Eskhata Bank has received the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) 2026 award for scaling up its Risk Sharing Framework (RSF) partnership, following an 82% increase in the facility’s limit to $15 million.
The award, titled “Best RSF Partnership Scaling of the Year,” was presented on October 8 at the EBRD’s regional conference, “SME Champions: Enhancing SME Resilience in an Era of Interconnected Risks,” in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Eskhata Bank reported.
According to the bank, the award recognized the expansion of its RSF limit following its active use of the financing instrument and sustained growth in its loan portfolio.
The RSF allows Eskhata Bank and the EBRD to share credit risks when financing businesses. Increasing the limit enables the bank to support more small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking funding for business development.
Eskhata Bank reportedly also participated in the conference, where Abdujabbor Ghafourov, head of its underwriting department, spoke during a panel discussion on risk management principles in due diligence and monitoring.
The event brought together around 150 participants, including approximately 80 SME representatives and 40 representatives of 15 partner financial institutions from Central Asia and Mongolia. Discussions focused on financial, climate and digital risks, business resilience and regional economic growth.
More than 20 years of cooperation
Eskhata Bank and the EBRD have worked together for more than two decades. The EBRD became a shareholder in the Tajik bank in 2005. According to Eskhata Bank’s official website, the EBRD currently holds a 4.61% stake in its authorized capital.
Their cooperation covers financing for small and medium-sized businesses, trade finance and support for women entrepreneurs.
Established in November 1993, Eskhata Bank is one of Tajikistan’s largest private banks. It received its operating license in 1994 and is headquartered in Khujand.
According to the bank, its nationwide network includes 150 branches and banking service centers, as well as 438 ATMs.