BFC. Agriculture Finance Bulletin.
5)
Credit Agricole Serbia issuing subsidized loans
May 15th, 2020, http://subvencije.rs/vesti/subvencionisani-krediti-za-poljoprivredu-credit-agricole-srbija/
Credit Agricole Serbia, in cooperation with a Ministry of Agriculture program, is disbursing subsidized agricultural loans with fixed interest rates of 1-3% per annum. The loans are intended to encourage the procurement of agricultural machinery and raw materials for plant or livestock production. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, loans of up to RSD 3 million for maintaining liquidity are also being issued under the program this year at a fixed rate of 1% per annum and for a period of up to 36 months. The loans are available to agricultural holdings, agricultural households, entrepreneurs, legal entities and cooperatives. The maximum loan amount for individual farmers is RSD 6 million; for legal entities, the maximum loan amount is RSD 18 million.
6)
RSD 410 million in emergency state support paid out to farmers
May 9th, 2020, https://www.novosti.rs/vesti/naslovna/ekonomija/aktuelno.239
A total of RSD 410 million has been paid out from the state to vegetable producers as a one-time emergency financial aid measure to support farmers amid the COVID-19 crisis, with similar aid expected to also be given to small dairies and apiarists older than 70 years of age. Agriculture Minister Branislav Nedimovic has also indicated that florists are likely to be included in the special measure. The state has allocated RSD 1.15 billion for this special measure. It is available to any farmer registered in the Register of Agricultural Holdings, even if they are not in the state’s VAT system.
7)
Working group established to improve raspberry production and marketing
May 1st, 2020, https://www.novosti.rs/vesti/naslovna/ekonomija/aktuelno.239
The government has formed a working group to improve the production and marketing of raspberries. The working group will examine and provide recommendations for all critical points along the value chain and will also consider possible measures to improve climatic and soil conditions as well as transport and storage conditions. The working group includes representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Customs Administration, the Ministry of Trade, the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and various faculties, institutes, manufacturers and associations.
Foreign Aid 8)
Free online trainings to support local businesses
May 27th, 2020, https://agrosmart.net/2020/05/27/onlajn-obuke-kako-do-kredita-i-pomoci-u-postkovid-periodu/
Experts in the fields of agriculture, finance, marketing and business are lending their expertise to Serbian small- and medium-sized enterprises within the Development of Financial Systems in Rural Areas in Serbia (SRFP II) program. Specifically, the SRFP II program has organized two free online training events this June on the topics of Preparing Loan Applications, which will emphasize applying for government and other post-COVID-19 programs, and Financial Planning and Cost Optimization. The SFRP II program is being funded by German development bank KfW and is being implemented by Swiss consulting company Business & Finance Consulting (BFC). Eduka Plus (from Nis) and Smart IPARD (from Novi Sad) will be conducting the training events.
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