According to figures released by Kafalat, the value of bank guarantees it offered to small and medium-size businesses rose to $169.4 million in 2010, compared with 139.6 million in 2009. The number of loan guarantees was 1401 in 2010 compared to 1050 in 2009. The average loan size in 2010 was $120,640 compared to $132,964 the previous year.

The geographical distribution of the recipients of the loan guarantees was as follows: 43 percent Mount Lebanon, the South and Nabatieh received 22 percent. The Bekaa 18 percent, the North 12 percent, Beirut received five percent.

Most guarantees went to the agricultural sector, which received 43.4 percent, followed by industry, which received 39 percent, tourism 15 percent, handicraft two percent and specialized technologies two percent.

Kafalat is a state-sponsored organization that provides financial guarantees for loans up to $400,000 earmarked for the set up and expansion of small and medium-size companies. It guarantees up to 75 percent of the loan and a similar percentage of the interest that accrues during the grace period.