The purpose of MED is to provide micro credit to established businesses and to individuals wishing to begin a new business, with emphasis primarily given to established businesses. MED helps owners of small businesses, and those employed by these businesses, to increase their standard of living from the income generated through the provision of small and micro loans.
A lack of credit and access to capital are major problems for the small business community in Afghanistan. MED uses a revolving loan fund to provide loans to those who would otherwise be unable to obtain credit. Initial loans are in the range of $220 and may increase over time as the recipients pay back the initial loans. By the end of 2004 over 800 loans will have been given out over the course of the year. 50% of these loans have been given to women.
The MED project is currently based in Kabul but may expand to other regions as needed in the future.
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