New program for Low-interest or interest-free loans of 80 million euros concerning investments in islands announced by the Ministers of Development K. Hatzidakis and Shipping K. Mousouroulis.

Low-interest or interest-free loans of 80 million euros- Analytically

More specifically, the new program concerns the provision of low-interest or interest-free loans to tourism businesses, but also to businesses in its sector operating on islands.

The program will "run" through ETEAN by granting loans of 10,000 - 30,000 euros that will be financed by NSRF funds.

Especially for investments in islands with less than 3,100 inhabitants, loans will be interest-free.

Specifically, the action is addressed to all kinds of small businesses that are active or want to expand their activities in tourism. It concerns all islands (indicatively: hotels, rooms to let, catering businesses, tourist agencies and car rental agencies, water sports and water tourism companies in general, other alternative tourism businesses, processing companies of local products of tourist interest, shops, folk art shops, etc. a).

This action will provide loans ranging from € 10,000 to € 30,000, με εξαιρετικά ευνοϊκούς όρους (ειδικά για τα μικρά νησιά, κάτω των 3100 κατοίκων, μηδενικό επιτόκιο) για την υλοποίηση ενεργειών εκσυγχρονισμού, ανακαίνισης, αισθητικής βελτίωσης και κάλυψης λειτουργικών αναγκών επιχειρηματικής ανάπτυξης των νησιωτικών επιχειρήσεων με ιδιαίτερη έμφαση σε αυτές που θα συμβάλουν στην αναβάθμιση της συνολικής ποιότητας του προσφερόμενου προϊόντος. Για παράδειγμα, ανανέωση εξοπλισμού, διαμόρφωση-αναβάθμιση εσωτερικών και εξωτερικών χώρων, προώθηση τοπικών προϊόντων (πχ «Ελληνικό πρωινό»), δικτύωση για προμήθειες και προβολή, διαμόρφωση χώρων υποδοχής τουριστών για παρακολούθηση παραγωγικής διαδικασίας (ενδυνάμωση εμπειρίας τουρίστα), δημιουργία πρατηρίου πώλησης τοπικών προϊόντων, περιβαλλοντική αναβάθμιση κτιριακών εγκαταστάσεων και ηλεκτρικών συσκευών κλπ.

Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, επιχειρείται η κάλυψη όλων των μικρών επιχειρήσεων, ακόμη και αυτών που δεν καλύπτονται από τα τρέχοντα προγράμματα άμεσων ενισχύσεων. In order, through simpler and faster procedures, to provide loans for investment and operational expenses in view of the upcoming tourist season.

Who joins

In the program can be integrated both under establishment and new and existing businesses.

The financing procedures are provided for in a simplified manner. This is so that as many companies as possible can be included, without unnecessary costs and lengthy procedures. Negotiations with the European Commission are ongoing. In order to ensure an innovative process that will guarantee quick results for those concerned.

It is reminded that the upgrading of the quality of the tourist product and the improvement of the competitiveness of the sector's businesses are decisive factors of the tourism, but also of the general development of Greece, given that the islands produce 60% of the total tourist GDP of the country.

The formal notice will be made public no later than 15 March.