Damascus, Syria, August 07, 2008 – Syria’s first microfinance institution will start operating in the coming weeks, giving a diverse range of small businesses, professionals and individuals access to financial services that would otherwise remain out of reach to them. An initiative of the international development agency Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), the First Microfinance Institution (FMFI) will provide small loans, deposit facilities and a range of other financial services to clients in six Syrian governorates.