MOSCOW, May 25. /TASS/. A new lending program for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be launched in July of this year with a limit of up to 150 bln rubles ($2.09 bln) and an interest rate equal to the key rate, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said during an operational meeting of deputy prime ministers with Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
"Starting in July, together with banks and the SME Corporation, we are launching a new lending program for current operational purposes. The limit here is up to 150 bln rubles, and the rate is equal to the key rate," he said.
The deputy prime minister also recalled that earlier, as part of business support measures, a program providing affordable financing with a priority on manufacturing had been launched.
"In this area, we introduced concessional turnkey investment loans at minus 3.5% for small and medium-sized businesses. First of all, this concerns priority sectors such as manufacturing, the hotel business, information technology, scientific and technical activities, and creative industries," Novak noted.