Issues of implementing measures to support small and medium-sized businesses and minimize the negative consequences of the spread of a new coronavirus infection were discussed today in the Federation Council with the participation of Deputy Minister of economic development Tatyana Ilyushnikova.
The Deputy Minister said that there was no significant increase in the number of businesses closing – the data is comparable to the previous year. Thus, in comparison with the beginning of 2020, 65.9 thousand units ceased their activities in May, 54.1 thousand units in April, and in 2019 this figure was 54.2 and 61 thousand units, respectively.
However, the drop in the number of newly created enterprises is noticeable. So, in May 2019, 71.8 thousand new companies were registered, in May 2020 – only 39.07 thousand. The Deputy Minister spoke about the measures developed to support small and medium-sized businesses to overcome the situation.
Thus, within the framework of lending at 0 percent (LCF-1, the program is aimed at maintaining employment in small, medium and large businesses), 49 participating banks have already signed 35.8 thousand loan agreements for a total of 88 billion rubles, for which 35.4 billion rubles were issued.
Under the loan program with possible write-offs while maintaining employment (CLF-2), 32 participating banks entered into 68 thousand loan agreements totaling 170 billion rubles, for which 67.2 billion rubles were actually issued. CLF-2 is available not only to SMEs and large businesses from the affected industries, but also to companies in manufacturing industries that are focused on the consumer market (clothing, furniture, toys) and socially oriented organizations.
The Deputy Minister also noted the adaptation to the current conditions of the subsidy program under the national SME project (the requirements for the borrower to have no arrears in taxes and fees, wages, and the maximum amount of credit agreements for refinancing have already been eliminated). To date, 7.5 thousand contracts worth 451 billion rubles have been signed under this program, and the amount of loan disbursements is 380.3 billion rubles.
Regional guarantee organizations (RGO) created with the support of the Ministry of Economic Development are issued guarantees (sureties) at a preferential rate in the amount of 5.3 billion rubles, which allowed SMEs to attract more than 16.2 billion rubles of credit funds. The state microfinance organizations (MFOs) were also provided with additional capitalization, which provided 4.2 billion rubles of preferential microloans, and a delay was granted for existing microloans in the amount of more than 6.5 billion rubles.
In addition, she noted tax and direct support measures for SMEs from the affected industries, the self-employed and socially oriented NPOs. According to Tatyana Ilyushnikova, all the measures being implemented are aimed at solving the tasks of maintaining employment, restoring economic activity, and quickly resuming the normal operation of enterprises.