The company’s press service reports that small and medium-sized businesses in the new regions secured 670 million rubles in bank financing during the first half of 2024, thanks to umbrella guarantees provided by SME Corporation. This support made it easier for local firms to access capital and push growth, even amid regional transitions.
Alexander Isaevich, the General Director of SME Corporation, stated that a total of 216 contracts were signed across the new regions within this period. The figure highlights growing engagement and the appetite among regional entrepreneurs to invest in expansion and modernization projects.
Specifically, in the Donetsk People’s Republic, 105 contracts were signed totaling 379 million rubles; in the Luhansk People’s Republic, 67 contracts amounting to 216 million rubles; in the Zaporozhye region, 31 contracts for 50 million rubles; and in the Kherson region, 13 contracts for 25 million rubles. These numbers illustrate how umbrella guarantees are supporting a broad mix of local economies and small business activities.
Isaevich emphasized that many applicants seek loans to boost production capabilities. The umbrella guarantees are enabling businesses to pursue factory upgrades, process improvements, and increased output without waiting on extensive collateral documentation.
In the broader industrial landscape, umbrella-guaranteed loans are most popular among SMEs operating in trade, automotive repair, agriculture, transport and storage of goods, manufacturing, and construction. This reflects the diverse needs of regional economies as they adapt to changing market conditions and investment opportunities.
For context, SME Agency umbrella guarantees cover up to fifty percent of the loan amount. This feature helps entrepreneurs obtain financing even when collateral is limited or unavailable. In addition, the umbrella loan amount can reach up to fifty million rubles and is offered at a preferential rate of up to ten percent per year under the Ministry of Economic Development’s subsidy program.