Business environment to get 288.8 million lei in Swiss funds

 The Ministry of Economy, Digitalisation, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (MEDAT) has published the procedure for implementing the Programme for Strengthening SMEs through Improved Access to Financing - SME Eco-Tech, carried out within a project financed by the second Swiss contribution for Romania.According to a press release from the Ministry, the programme's budget is 288.8 million lei, of which 70% represents the Swiss contribution (202.2 million lei) and 30% MEDAT's own contribution from the state budget (86.6 million lei).The institution will thus provide new financial support for the development of the local business environment, with the general objective of the green and digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Romanian manufacturing industry, with the aim of improving their environmental footprint, thus aligning with the relevant objective of the European Union to mitigate or adapt to climate change.The "Programme for Strengthening SMEs through Improved Access to Finance - SME Eco-Tech" is to be launched in the second half of 2025, after, according to the provisions of the implementation agreement, MEDAT will prepare the necessary IT infrastructure and conclude the partnership with the credit institutions interested in implementing this new programme.The programme will be managed and implemented by MEDAT, as Programme Operator, in partnership with the selected credit institutions, until May 31, 2029, providing a broad horizon for the development and consolidation of the SME sector in Romania.The programme will be implemented based on a de minimis aid scheme, which aims to provide financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises carrying out production activities (section C of the nomenclature of economic activities), except for those excluded from financing by national and European regulations in force.The financial support offered to SMEs under this Programme consists of a grant at a maximum level of 40%, but not more than 50,000 CHF (equivalent in lei) of the eligible expenses related to an investment project in equipment / technologies / solutions / systems / specific to energy saving, which uses or generates renewable energy, in collection, recycling, reuse equipment, as well as in other conventional technological equipment.A minimum of 60% of the eligible expenses related to the investment project, but not less than 75,000 Swiss francs (equivalent in lei), will be provided by the beneficiaries through a bank loan obtained from partner credit institutions, under advantageous market conditions and through the programme.