KHUJAND, February 20, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Demand for small loans has increased that means that the global financial crisis has resulted in entrepreneurs falling behind, sales dropping and entrepreneurs’ financing needs decreasing, the source at the administration of the Khujand-based microlending organization, IMON INTERNATIONAL, said.

According to him, the organization’s loan portfolio now amounts to more than 128 million somoni (equivalent to 29.5 million U.S. dollars).  The number of clients has increased to more than 26,000 people, with 45 percent of them being women.

In the meantime, amounts of loans received by the IMON INTERNATIONAL clients have come down, the source added.  “To support women, we have opened new centers in remote districts of the Sughd province and in the south of the country,” he said, noting that the microlending organization is actively cooperating with other international organizations on women support programs.

Training seminars on starting business are being conducted for rural women and loans are being provided to them for initial capital formation.  A hotline to provide legal support to women running a micro business at bazaars in Khujand and border areas of the Spitamen district was launched on February 20, the source noted.