The microcredit specialist continues to grow in Wallonia with the official opening of its new branch on boulevard Janson in Charleroi on Friday 7 November. This event was attended by Philippe Maystadt, chairman of microStart and former deputy prime minister of Belgium, Paul Magnette, burgomaster of Charleroi and minister-president of the Walloon Region, Elio di Rupo, burgomaster of Mons and former prime minister of Belgium, and Max Jadot, CEO of BNP Paribas Fortis.
Since microStart launched nearly four years ago, it has helped many people who are unable to go through the traditional banking system to set up their own business by granting them a micro-loan plus free advice and support. During these four years microStart has helped to create no fewer than 600 jobs.
After originally setting up agencies in the Brussels area, microStart has pursued expansion throughout Belgium in order to help address these serious socio-economic issues across the country. After setting up shop in Liège last year, microStart now officially inaugurated its second agency in Wallonia, located in the city of Charleroi. The Charleroi agency will cover a good deal of the Hainaut province as microStart also has a presence in Mons and La Louvière. In Flanders, microStart is active from Ghent and Antwerp.
Microcredit helps combat poverty
Charleroi agency manager Anna Tinebra recalls the first steps taken in that town.
“I started in the job in April this year. My first task was to find suitable premises. The agency opened its doors in mid-July but before that I used to meet people in stations, shops and other public places. I did some prospecting with organisations which help companies to get up and running: jecreemonjob [I create my own job – a website], Azimut [‘build up your business’], business one-stop shops, banks and also organisations which help to get people back to work, such as public social welfare centres, the local job and training centre, and so on.”
Opening a proper branch in Charleroi was the obvious next step.
“The people who came to see me to request a loan had often heard about microStart through our partners. To date we have already met with 135 people, granted 10 microloans and – most importantly – enabled 14 people to find work.”
At the moment the Charleroi team consists of two full time staff and one half-time person. They arrange advice and support for customers before and after they are granted a loan. The microStart agency can also count on assistance from seven volunteer staff.
“Our objective for 2015 is to grant about 100 micro-loans. So far the average amount borrowed is around €7,200,” explains the Charleroi microStart manager, adding: “One encouraging aspect is that so far all our borrowers have scrupulously met the repayment terms on their loans.”
Serving the Hainaut province
The profile of Charleroi customers appears to differ slightly from other towns.
Our customers are not only people in receipt of social security. Some of them already have ‘independent’ status, are just getting started in business and are referred to us by their own bank. However, for the majority of those who knock on our door, we are their last resort. These people are often unable to go through the traditional banking system, frequently are of non-Belgian origin and – a particular feature of Charleroi – there are a lot of single women bringing up children on their own,” points out Anna Tinebra.
The agency is located in the centre of Charleroi, close to public transport. “However, we don’t only cover Charleroi. We also have two offices, one in Mons and one in La Louvière, where Maison de l’Entreprise, a centre offering advice and help to young companies, provides us with office space.”