We are pleased to share an article by Elma Zukic, President of the Association of Microfinance Institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (AMFI), published in Issue No. 5 of Adria Fintech Journal, reflecting on the development of MicroBalkans as a regional platform for inclusive finance and regulatory convergence.
In “MicroBalkans 2025 – A Regional Platform for Inclusive Finance and Regulatory Convergence” (pp. 31–33), Elma Zukić highlights the key messages and outcomes of last year’s conference in Dubrovnik, which brought together more than 250 participants from across the Western Balkans and the wider financial ecosystem.
As the initiator and lead organizer of the MicroBalkans platform, AMFI has been committed from the outset to bringing together microfinance institutions, regulators, central banks, international and development partners, and other financial-sector stakeholders around shared regional priorities.
The article identifies several themes that will shape the sector’s next phase: regulatory alignment with EU standards, digital transformation and responsible AI, ESG and the green transition, financial literacy and responsible lending, as well as the long-term sustainability and stability of the microfinance sector.
The central message is clear: financial inclusion, sustainability and financial stability can no longer be viewed as separate objectives. The next step is to turn shared understanding and regional dialogue into concrete, coordinated action.
Building on these foundations, AMFI is already moving forward with MicroBalkans 2026, with the ambition to further strengthen regional dialogue, institutional cooperation and a shared response to the changes shaping the future of finance across the Western Balkans.
MicroBalkans 2026 – continuing the regional dialogue, strengthening regional cooperation.
Read the full article on pages 31–33 of Issue No. 5 of Adria Fintech Journal:
Adria Fintech Journal – Issue No. 5
Our sincere thanks to Dr. Miodrag Dzodzo for the opportunity and support, and to the Adria Fintech Advisory team for providing a platform to share the MicroBalkans story and AMFI’s perspective with the wider regional financial community.
