Launch of the Romanian-Swiss Programme for SMEs

Press releases, 16.01.2014

The Project Agreement for Romanian-Swiss Programme for SMEs was signed on 16 January 2014 by the Ambassador of Switzerland, Jean-Hubert Lebet, Mr Dan Manolescu, Secretary of State for Ministry of Public Finance, Ms Maria Grapini, Minister for SMEs, Environment Business and Tourism and Mr Radu Graţian Gheţea, President of CEC Bank, in the presence of the representatives of the Swiss Contribution Romania and the National Coordination Unit of the Swiss-Romanian Cooperation Programme. The event took place at CEC Palace in Bucharest.

The credit lines programme will provide investments loans, for maximum of 284 SMEs with a focus on four business sectors: manufacturing, healthcare and medical services, tourism and clean technology (renewable energy resources). The program aims at enhancing competitiveness of participating companies and thereby creates a significant number of workplaces in Romania.

The budget of the programme is of 28,524,286 Swiss francs (CHF), out of which 70 % is the Swiss grant, amounting to 20 million CHF and 30% is the contribution of CEC Bank, amounting to 8’524’286 CHF.

The programme is part of the Swiss-Romanian Cooperation Programme (SRCP) and aims at improving the business environment and access to finance for SMEs in order to reduce economic and social disparities within the enlarged EU.

CEC Bank

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Launch of the Romanian-Swiss Programme for SMEs at the CEC Palace

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The signature ceremony, from left to right: Radu Graţian Gheţea, President of CEC Bank, Maria Grapini, Minister for SMEs, Environment Business and Tourism, Ambassador of Switzerland, Jean-Hubert Lebet and Dan Manolescu, Secretary of State for Ministry of Public Finance

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Ambassador of Switzerland, Jean-Hubert Lebet and Head of the Swiss Contribution Office, Tomas Stauffer converse with participants to the event