The Ministry of Finance on Thursday signed a methodology for the implementation of the SME Invest guarantee programme capped at RON11.5 billion, Finance Minister Marcel Bolos told a specialist conference.

According to him, the SME Invest programme will be implemented „very shortly,” as European Commission’s approval of this state-aid scheme is expected around April 9.

„Today [Thursday] we sign a methodology so that we can implement the guarantee programme. For SME Invest, the cap is set at RON 11.5 billion lei and, from this perspective, after signing the methodology and the steps that the National SME Guarantee Fund will take, the programme will be implemented very shortly, which is extremely important to support, on the one hand, the working capital necessary for SMEs and, on the other hand, to implement investments, which have a bank credit and guarantee component, but are an incentive on our part,” Bolos told the Profit.ro event „SME – Year of great pressures for small entrepreneurs. Where else can I find growth solutions. Fourth edition.”

Bolos added that the implementation of SME Invest, an important programme supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, is nearing the finish line.

„We are providing interest subsidies for a period of one year. The deadline for obtaining the decision from the European Commission for the state aid scheme is estimated at around April 9. So, we are nearing the finish line for the implementation of this important programme supporting SMEs.”

AGERPRES