At the gates are four emblematic programs of the Recovery Fund

Of Tasos Dasopoulos

Digitization, modernization of the agri-food sector, renewal of the tourism product and energy upgrade for commercial buildings are the programs that will start to be implemented within the month in the form of special subsidies for small and medium enterprises.

The Ministry of Finance, from the beginning of the year, dropped the burden on private investments by the TAA in order to create the institutional framework with commercial banks and public valuers and for the flow of investments to proceed smoothly. At the beginning of the week, the last step regarding the operation of the electronic platform was completed, where all the private investments that will be supported by the low-interest loans of the Recovery Fund will be posted. Based on a relevant ministerial decision, from today, all interested investors will have to post their proposal on the online platform so that the evaluation by the commercial banks and the Ministry of Finance can begin, in order to claim financing from 30 to 50%, on the budget of their investment.

It is obvious that in view of the increase in ECB interest rates and – subsequently – the increase in lending rates by commercial banks, the financing of investments through loans by the TAA, with an interest rate starting at 0.35%, seems particularly interesting for those who have a complete proposal. Much more so since investments financed through the TAA can be combined with the incentives of the investment law, up to the respective limit of state aid.

Programs for smaller businesses

At the same time, however, with the completion of the institutional framework for private investment concerning the largest companies that have a bank profile, coming from the month starting today, 3 + 1 programs specifically for smaller companies, which have difficulty accessing bank lending. Specifically:

– The first program concerns the digital transformation of companies with a budget of 375 million euros. Through the program, up to 100% will be subsidized, the digital transformation of small and medium enterprises to improve their operation and competitiveness by integrating new technologies of electronic payments, remote work, digital office (document management, projects, etc.). ), digital marketplace, cybersecurity, etc. with criteria for dispersal of aid and emphasis on coverage of smaller companies.

– The second program, which is expected to be activated a few weeks later, concerns the strengthening of the agri-food sector. With a budget of 520 million euros, it will subsidize farmers to turn to green and precision agriculture, creating partnerships between similar or complementary sectors that can combine companies and cooperatives in the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors with the aim of innovation and extroversion. . The subsidies also include contract farming.

– The third program will concern the diversification of the tourism product and will run with a budget of 260 million euros. By the same logic, a subsidy will be provided for the development and diversification of the tourist product, with interventions for Mountain tourism, Health and Wellness Tourism (utilization of thermal springs), Agrotourism and Gastronomy, the upgrade of tourist ports, Diving tourism , accessibility to beaches.

I save by trying

In June, along with the second cycle of the popular Save program for urban and long-distance housing, the special energy upgrade program for commercial buildings will be launched, which will be implemented for the first time.

“Save by doing business” as it will be called, will have a total budget of 450 million euros through which it is expected to upgrade energy about 90,000 commercial properties.