Over the past week, entrepreneurs received 417 concessional loans totalling UAH 1.3 billion from authorised banks under the Government’s Affordable Loans at 5-7-9% programme, of which 347 loans were from public sector banks for about UAH 0.8 billion.

Since the beginning of 2024, entrepreneurs have received 15,313 loans worth UAH 57.2 billion under the programme, including 11,643 loans worth UAH 20.1 billion from public sector banks.

During the period of martial law in Ukraine, 59,455 loans worth UAH 234.5 billion were issued (including 44,677 loans worth UAH 120.5 billion by public sector banks), of which as of 26 August this year:

• UAH 23.81 billion – for investment purposes;
• UAH 63.35 billion – for working capital financing;
• UAH 39.43 billion – loans for agricultural producers;
• UAH 19.9 billion – for the processing of agricultural products;
• UAH 57.56 billion – for anti-war purposes;
• UAH 16.81 billion – lending in the high military risk zone.

A total of 94,277 loan agreements worth UAH 324.1 billion have been signed since the start of the programme, including 65,153 agreements worth UAH 147.1 billion by public sector banks.

The programme is implemented by the Entrepreneurship Development Fund (EDF), whose sole participant is the Government of Ukraine represented by the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, which coordinates all key aspects of the Fund’s activities.

Under the Affordable Loans at 5-7-9% programme the EDF has entered into cooperation agreements with 46 banks. The state continues to make all necessary compensation payments to businesses under loan agreements concluded under the programme.

On 27 December last year, in order to expand the opportunities for entrepreneurs to receive state support, the Government amended the Procedures governing the provision of financial state support under the 5-7-9% programme at the initiative of the Ministry of Finance. First of all, the restrictions on receiving state support for certain categories of enterprises affected by the hostilities were lifted. In addition, as part of the agreements with the IMF, the amendments provide for the focus of the 5-7-9% programme exclusively on micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

In order to optimise the Affordable Loans at 5-7-9% and Affordable Financial Leasing at 5-7-9% programmes under martial law, the Government adopted Resolution No. 229 dated 14 March 2023 “On amendments to certain resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on the provision of financial state support to business entities”.

Also, at the end of last year, the Government officially launched the Affordable Factoring programme, a new financial instrument under the Affordable Loans at 5-7-9% programme to provide micro, small and medium-sized enterprises with working capital.