The process of the implementation of the municipal program for concessional lending to SMEs is changing

All banks can be operators if an offer a loan not higher than 10.5%, of which 6% is subsidized by the Executive Committee.

(KZN.RU, March 5, Ekaterina Vislavskaya). The implementation of the city program of concessional lending to small and medium-sized businesses in Kazan will be entrusted to several banks in 2018. Applications for accreditation of future partners for working in a new format are accepted from March 1 to March 21, said Artur Valiakhmetov, the chairman of the Committee of Economic Development, at the Business Monday. The main condition for banks is the rate on loans for SMEs not exceeding 10.5% per annum.

It was decided to revise the mechanism of the program for preferential lending to small and medium-sized businesses because of grievances of entrepreneurs against the bank operator. According to A. Valiakhmetov, one of the main disadvantages of entrepreneurs' participation in the program is the exclusive right of the operator. “That is, a business cannot meet all the requirements of a single bank but there is no alternative. As a result, considerably fewer loans were issued than we expected. This is only 40% of the volume approved by the Executive Committee, 39 out of 99”, he explained.

This year it was decided to abandon the services of the only bank-operator. “All banks will be able to become participants, which will not loan more than 10.5%. We have previously communicated with banks, three of which have already expressed desire. Entrepreneurs will be able to choose from them independently”, explained Ildar Shakirov, the deputy head of the Kazan Executive Committee.

Potential program operators must also have a valid license from the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and experience in lending to small businesses. Conducting an advertising campaign at the expense of the bank's own funds is also included in the terms of the contract.

Conditions for entrepreneurs remain the same. The maximum loan amount is 10 million rubles, the term is from 3 to 5 years. The Executive Committee will subsidize part of the interest rate of 6%, that is, the interest rate on loans for entrepreneurs will not exceed 4.5% per year.

Entrepreneurs working in 12 priority and 3 priority areas can count on a soft loan. Priority areas include manufacturing, housing and communal services, innovative activities, consumer services, education, healthcare, culture, physical culture and sports, domestic tourism, catering, collection, processing and recycling of waste, processing of secondary raw materials, and non-stationary trade object in accordance with a standard project. Especially priority areas are the organization of private kindergartens, hostels and mini-hotels, as well as the production of souvenirs.

“Why do we distinguish 12 areas? Because we say that they are important for us, for the city. There is a shortage of hostels, private kindergartens. We want more youth to come to us on holidays low-budget. And private kindergartens are needed to relieve priority in municipal kindergartens”, said the Mayor of Kazan.

The Mayor also noted the separate collection of garbage among priorities. “We want to support the initiative, we collect PET bottles. But it happens that these containers are overfilled over the weekend, and there is no room to throw bottles. What for do we collect then?”. He urged Iskander Giniyatullin, the deputy head of the Executive Committee and the chairman of the Housing Committee, and other responsible specialists to resolve this issue.

I. Metshin noted that such programs as preferential lending to SMEs are very important because the President of Russia set the task to increase the share of small business in the gross territorial product to 40%. Now, this figure is 38%in Kazan. “Pull it together! There is no debugged mechanism that would work perfectly. Life changes, priorities change, and you must be very flexible. Look closely at the changes, listen and hear those program participants who make suggestions”, said the Mayor.

For today, 85 SMEs continue to receive financial support from the city on previously granted loans, the total amount of subsidies granted in January 2018 is 1.9 million rubles.

Details on the conditions for accrediting banks can be obtained on the website of the Committee for Economic Development in the section “Business in Kazan and by phones (843) 299-16-39 and 299-17-73.

Photo report

The Business Monday, 03/05/2018

Video report

05.03.2018 10:52

Accreditation of banks to participate in the soft loan program runs until March 21