The financial support provided to SMEs under the national project " Small and Medium Enterprise " for the first half of 2024 was summarized. Under concessional credit, leasing and guarantee programmes, small and medium-sized businesses attracted almost 700 billion funding roubles.

Financial support has affected the qualitative growth of the SME sector. For example, as at 10 July, the number of medium-sized businesses was 20.8 thousand, the maximum since 2016, since the establishment of the SME registry. Number of newly established SMEs - 662,200.

" Under preferential credit, leasing and guarantee programmes, small and medium-sized businesses were able to attract 692 billion roubles. At the same time, 70 per cent of the recipients of credit support are micro and small enterprises. Most of the funds received were devoted to enterprise investment and revolving, which had a positive impact on the development of the business sector " , noted by the Vice-President of the Government of the Russian Federation, Alexander Novak.

According to the Minister of Economic Development of Russia, Maxim Rechetnikov, the main support is concentrated in real sectors that promote the supply economy and affect manufacturing, tourism, transport and agriculture. In particular, nearly 15.7 billion roubles of 900 credits were attracted by companies in the light industry. Of these, more than 10 billion roubles were received by small and micro-enterprises, which are the most difficult to attract bank financing. The increase in the number of loans supported was 33 per cent, and support remained at 2023.

The concessional lending programmes are most needed in small and medium-sized businesses. As a result, companies attracted cheaper credit funds to their businesses. For example, in the first half of 2024, commercial banks offered loans to SMEs at rates ranging from 20 to 28 per cent per year. At the same time, in one of the most demanded concessional financial programmes (Programme 1764), enterprises could use credits ranging from 500,000 roubles to 2 billion at 15 per cent rates for micro and small enterprises and 13.5 per cent for medium-sized enterprises.

" More than 40 per cent of concessional funds (over 300 billion roubles) have been engaged under our traditional preferential banking programmes, 1764 and 888, " , emphasized by Maxim Rechetnikov.

The " 888 " programme is a special financial instrument to support the business of the NPD, the LLR, the Zaporac and Herson regions. In the first six months of this year, entrepreneurs entered into 215 contracts with a total value of 660 million roubles and did not exceed 10 per cent. Of the recipients, 56 per cent are the Donetsk People ' s Republic enterprises, 33 per cent are the Luganese People ' s Republic, 11 per cent are the Zaporoz and Herson regions.

Key support tools remain a popular businessman. More than half of the finances involved businesses through bank loans. More than 22,000 contracts, totalling 208 billion roubles, were concluded under the umbrella sponsorship of the SME Corporation. By comparison, in 2023 the figure was 93 billion roubles and the number of treaties was 7.2 thousand. The Regional Guarantee Organizations (REOs) issued 9,000 sponsorships to the business and engaged 155.3 billion roubles.

Through the 3-year government MFI micro loans, business attracted 11.8 thousand loans worth more than 26 billion roubles. Over 5.4 billion roubles were online through the ICP.RF digital platform service. The average micro loans for Russian SMEs engaged through the platform were 7.3%. The average size of the micro loans was 2.4 million roubles and the crediting period was 2.6 years.

" The return of credits is linked to the development of the " zone-based " sponsorship tool, the number of contracts rose from 7.2 thousand in 2023 to 22.2 thousand in 2024 (an increase of more than 3 times). We see that, with the high key rate of ozone sponsorship, business can obtain credit on optimum terms. Our analysts say that every 3 entrepreneur could not get credit without sponsorship. There is also evidence of efficiency for the State, with SME ' s 1 budget line attracting 240 roubles " , the Director-General of the SME Corporation, Alexander Isaevich.

Small-scale business is allowed by the soft leasing of equipment through SME Lising. In the first half of 2024, concessional leasing support amounted to almost 2 billion roubles. It was received by 179 entrepreneurs who work in engineering and metalworking, chemical and food industries and polygraphs.

The concessional financial support provided under the project affects the quantitative development results of the SME sector.

" About 3,000 companies are increasing the criteria for small and medium-sized businesses each year. In addition, as of 10 July, the latest update of the Single Register of SME Entities, Russia has 20.8 thousand medium companies. This is the maximum value since 2016, when the registry began. This represents 17 per cent higher than 2022, 17.8 thousand enterprises and 12 per cent higher than last year ' s 18.6 thousand companies " , as noted by Maxim Rechetnikov.

The number of " newly established " companies is also an important indicator.

" The number of newly established SME entities is currently at 662,200. Such results indicate business activity, business optimism, desire even at a difficult time to start a case,” explained by the Deputy Minister for Economic Development of Russia, Tatiana Ilumshnikov.

Tatiana Ilumshnikova has traditionally stated that small and medium-sized businesses operate in the Central Federal District, with 1.9 million SME entities. In the second place, the Privian Federal District, there are more than 1.1 million entrepreneurs in business. The three South Federal District has been set up, with 715,000 enterprises registered in its territory. There are 685,000 SME entities in the North-West Federal District, 618,000 in Siberia, 510 thousand in Ural, nearly 311,000 in the Far East, 223,000 in North Caucasus. In the territories of the new Russian regions, some 108,000 SME entities are engaged in business activities.

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Entrepreneurs ' support is provided through the Maloy and Middle Entrepreneurship Project

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