Financing SMEs and Entrepreneurs 2026: Croatia
Table of contents
Although individually, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are an important element of Croatian corporate sector and the overall economy, they collectively shape Croatia’s economic structure, not just through their numbers, but by their significant contributions across employment and economic activity.
Over the past 20 years, Croatia experienced two phases of corporate financing, a period of financial deepening, that is the growth in bank financing, until the global financial crisis, followed by a decline in bank financing after 2013. The decline of bank financing for SMEs was even more pronounced when compared to the large companies, however a modest rebound was recorded in 2024. More precisely, credit growth to enterprises in 2024 and beginning of 2025 was largely driven by lending to SMEs, which recorded an annual increase of 9.6% in 2024 and 11.8% in the first quarter of 2025. The strongest growth was recorded in investment loans to companies in real estate activities, accommodation and food services, and construction, as well as working capital loans to companies in the trade and manufacturing sectors.
To finance their operations, enterprises most commonly rely on deferred payments to suppliers and leasing, while bank loans declined in importance in 2024, with only 28% of SMEs using this source of financing, around 10 percentage points less than in 2016 and 2020. However, in 2024, full approval of the requested loan amounts was more frequent compared to 2016 and 2020. The main reasons cited for not using bank loans are the sufficiency of own funds and the availability of alternative external financing sources.
The easing of the restrictive European central bank (ECB) monetary policy in the second half of 2024 was reflected in more favorable financing conditions for corporates. Average interest rates on newly approved loans to SMEs continued their downward trend that began in early 2024, reaching 4.2% in March 2025. This represents a decrease of 54 basis points compared to the end of last year and 149 basis points compared to the beginning of 2024, when rates peaked during the most recent cycle of ECB key interest rate hikes.
Over the past few years regarding, among other: the COVID-19 pandemic and Russian large-scale aggression of Russia against Ukraine, SMEs have faced increase of energy costs, supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions, and monetary policy adjustments. Therefore, SMEs are forced to optimize their operations and costs, and access to finance is of even bigger importance for SMEs, especially start-ups and scale-ups.
Croatia has continued its strategic use of European Union funds to develop financial instruments aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs. This initiative builds upon the successful implementation of similar programs in the previous programming period, aligning with the overarching objective of fostering sustainable growth and employment.
One of the primary challenges facing Croatian SMEs is limited access to financing. Insufficient investment and constrained access to financial resources compel small entrepreneurs to rely on costly short-term borrowing, such as overdrafts and credit cards. Additionally, microfinancing is generally overlooked by traditional financial institutions due to high administrative costs and perceived risks associated with smaller or start-up enterprises.
Croatia's strong economic expansion continued in 2024, for the fourth year in a row. Economic activity grew 3.8% on annual basis, same as in 2023, primarily driven by strong domestic demand, while rebound of exports of goods was largely offset by decline in exports of services, in part due to moderating accommodation and food service. Household consumption grew by 6% on an annual basis, boosted by rising real disposable income, which grew close to 7% year-on-year, while investment increased at 5.3% on annual basis after two years of double-digit growth rates, led dominantly by private sector activity. Private sector investments were supported by strong growth of both household dwellings and other business investments. As a result, construction activity continued to markedly expand, following already high growth rate recorded in 2023. Services also increased given strong domestic demand, while, on the other hand, manufacturing activity declined for the second year in a row. However, intra-annual dynamics indicate that this mainly reflects negative carry-over effects from second half of 2023 and a weak start to 2024, while in the second half of 2024 manufacturing recovered to a level slightly above that in 2023. Economic growth in Croatia continued to outpace activity in most other EU member states, but GDP per capita measured in purchasing power standards remained at 78% of the EU average in 2024, which is still around ten percentage points higher than in 2019.
The labor market in 2024 saw strong employment and wage growth, and falling unemployment. Administrative data suggest that employment rose by 3.3% (up from 2.5% in 2023), mainly driven by services and construction. The administrative unemployment rate dropped to 5.3% from 6.1%, while the survey-based rate fell to 5.1%. In 2024, Croatia's labor market continued to be strongly supported by the integration of non-EU workers and further re-engagement of pensioners. These groups played a crucial role in addressing labor shortages across various sectors, including construction, trade and accommodation and food service.
Inflation in Croatia fell sharply in 2024, with HICP averaging 4%, down from 8.4% in 2023, while national consumer price index declined from 8% in 2023 to 3% in 2024, driven by ECB’s restrictive monetary policy, stabilized supply chains, and lower energy prices. However, domestic demand remained strong due to robust economic activity, falling unemployment, and wage growth (both in the public and to smaller extent in the private sector, supported amongst other by wage-setting reforms in the public sector and a minimum gross wage increase). Nominal wages rose by about 15%, while real net wages surged from 4% to over 11% as inflation declined. Core inflation (HICP) dropped from 8.8% to 4.8%, mostly due to a sharp fall in industrial goods inflation from 7.2% to 1.3%. Services inflation eased only slightly from 10.1% to 7.6% amid persistent demand and high labor costs, especially in hospitality and accommodation, where price competitiveness compared to other tourism-oriented countries continued to erode. Food inflation moderated from 11.5% to 4.4%, though it rose again later in the year due to base effects and higher global prices of commodities. Energy inflation remained low at –0.3%, further helping to reduce overall inflation.
From 2019 to 2024, SMEs consistently represented around 99.7% of all enterprises. Within this group, small enterprises dominate, maintaining a steady share of around 98.5%, while medium-sized firms hovered just above 1%.
Note: 1. Absolute numbers for the tables included are available upon request.
The overwhelming presence of SMEs, however, isn't just based on the total count; they represent most of the economic activity as well. In terms of Gross Value Added (GVA), SMEs generate between 64% and 67% of Croatia's corporate sector total GVA over the six-year period. This contribution increased from 66% in 2019 to 67% in 2023, followed by slight decrease in 2024. While small enterprises contributed just under 44% in GVA, except during the pandemic when their contribution decreased to around 41% in 2020 and to around 42% in 2024, medium enterprises steadily increased their share from 22% in 2019 to 23% in 2024.
In 2020, the Croatian SME sector comprised nearly 140 000 enterprises, representing 99.7% of the total number of businesses and this share has remained the same in 2024.
In 2024, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) made a substantial contribution to gross value added (GVA) across most sectors of the economy. The highest SME shares were recorded in other services (82.4%) and construction (80.8%), followed by accommodation and food service (67.1%), IT, trade and manufacturing activity. These figures highlight the critical role of SMEs in driving economic activity and supporting the resilience of the Croatian economy.
The employment numbers mirror GVA contributions as SMEs consistently employed more than 71% of Croatia’s NFC's workforce. Within this, small enterprises accounted for the majority of jobs, employing over 52% of the workforce. Meanwhile, medium enterprises employ around 19%, maintaining a stable contribution. The difference between the companies’ size classes` contribution to economic activity against their labor force numbers suggests that smaller companies have lower labor productivity. In contrast, large enterprises accounted for approximately 35% of GVA and 28% of employment in 2024.
When it comes to sales revenue, SMEs accounted for 55% in total, with small businesses generating 34% and medium-sized 22%. However, it is worth noting that these numbers follow a declining trend until 2023, which slightly recovered in 2024. Compared with 2019, these numbers are around 5 pp; 4 pp. and 0 pp. lower, respectively. Large enterprises, on the other hand, recorded an increase in sales share, from around 40% in 2019 to 46% in 2023, followed by a minor decrease in 2024 to 45%.
In terms of exports, SMEs accounted for 49% of the total, with small businesses contributing 25%, similar to medium-sized. Large enterprises alone accounted for 51%, showing a stronger international presence, but decreased in 2024 from 54% in 2023.
Regarding investment activity, SMEs traditionally record lower shares compared with their market share. However, after 2020 this share is increasing and in 2024 SMEs made up 46% of total investments (small: 25%, medium: 21%), while large enterprises accounted for 54%. Again, this points to the greater financial strength and capital intensity of large firms.
Finally, regarding net profit, SMEs represented a solid 66% share in 2023 (42% from small enterprises and 24% from medium ones); however, in 2024 their share in net profit decreased. Large enterprises contributed to 34% in 2023 and increased their share to 42% in 2024 as a result of significant increase in absolute amount of net profit by 42% while SME's net profit remained stable. Despite their size, it shows that SMEs still play a major role in overall corporate profits; however, considering their share in used inputs (especially labor) points to their lower net margins.
In 2024, SMEs in Croatia grew in both value added and employment, with growth rates of 12.0% and 3.7% respectively. However, as value-added growth is not adjusted for inflation, in the high-inflation environment of 2023, growth in real terms is negative at -5.9%. Compared to that in 2024, SMEs in Croatia grew in both employment and inflation-adjusted value added, with growth rates of 3.7% and 1.1% respectively. All size classes experienced growth in both indicators, with the highest growth seen in micro-enterprises, with 7.3% and 2% respectively.
Regarding 2025, Croatian SMEs are forecasted to grow further: employment growth will continue to be substantial, at 2.6%. Moreover, SME real value added is expected to grow by 3.4%. Croatia has 59 SMEs per 1000 inhabitants. That is slightly above the EU-27 average of 58 SMEs per 1000 inhabitants, and the Croatian SMEs value added created per person employed is close to 33 000 EUR (as of 2024 data) while EU average1 is nearly 58 000 EUR.
Construction, one of the biggest industrial activities in Croatia, saw significant growth in 2024; its SME employment grew by 8%, and the increase in inflation-adjusted value added reached 9.6%. Another key activity for the national economy, accommodation and food service, thrived as well, with growth rates exceeding 6,8% and 2.3%, respectively.
Regarding 2025, all 14 industrial activities will grow in both indicators. The most prominent growth is expected in the digital and cultural and creative industries; digital will grow by 4.6% in both SME employment and SME inflation-adjusted value added, and the respective growth rates for cultural and creative industries exceed 3.8%.
The corporate financing pattern in Croatia went through two characteristic periods over the last twenty years. The period between 2002 and the recession that followed the global financial crisis was marked by financial deepening, that is, the growth in bank financing, paired with the simultaneous reduction in the share of capital in corporate balance sheets. Opposite developments marked the period after 2013, when the share of liabilities towards banks in corporate liabilities started reducing for two reasons: a) the growth in the market share of companies that are not bank clients and b) the fall in the share of bank loans in the liabilities of companies that were banks’ existing clients.
The share of loans to SMEs in total corporate loans has been declining since 2013, mirroring their decline in corporate market share2, dropping to 56% in 2023, which is 14 percentage points lower than in 2013. The modest rebound was recorded at the end of 2024 when this share increased to 58%.
More precisely, credit growth to enterprises was relatively strong in 2024 and the beginning of 2025. Bank loans to NFCs in 2024 increased by 6.4%3, the same as in 2023, with most of the growth occurring in the second half of the year. In the first quarter of 2025, this growth accelerated to 12.2%. This growth was largely driven by lending to SMEs, which recorded an annual increase of 9.6% in 2024 and 11.8% in the first quarter of 2025. The strongest growth was recorded in investment loans to companies in real estate activities, accommodation and food services, and construction, as well as working capital loans to companies in the trade and manufacturing sectors.
EUR Million
To examine the specific challenges faced by SMEs, their operating conditions, and especially the challenges they face regarding financing, for the past decade the Croatian National Bank has been conducting a dedicated Survey on the access to finance of enterprises (SAFE). According to the fourth round of the survey conducted in the second half of 2024, regulatory requirements remain among the most significant obstacles to business operations. However, their perceived importance has declined compared to previous rounds of the survey, while an increasing number of enterprises report challenges related to production or labor costs and the availability of skilled professionals or experienced managers.
EUR million
To finance their operations, enterprises most commonly rely on deferred payments to suppliers and leasing, while bank loans declined in importance in 2024, with only 28% of SMEs using this source of financing, around 10 percentage points less than in 2016 and 2020. The main reasons cited for not using bank loans are the sufficiency of one's own funds and the availability of alternative external financing sources. Compared to previous rounds of the survey, 2024 saw a decline in the number of enterprises that found loan collateral requirements unacceptable, as well as those whose loan applications were formally or informally rejected. While surveyed enterprises perceived financing conditions as less favorable, primarily reflecting higher interest rates and other financing costs, this did not translate into reduced loan availability. A larger share of enterprises secured the full amounts requested than in previous survey waves, suggesting that the reported deterioration mainly related to the cost and other terms of financing, rather than to credit availability. Specifically, the share of enterprises that received the full requested amount increased, while fewer enterprises received less than the full amount. Looking ahead, enterprises emphasize the importance of improving the business environment, tax relief, and more flexible labor legislation for the future of their operations.
The easing of the restrictive ECB's monetary policy in the second half of 2024 was reflected in more favorable financing conditions for corporates. Average interest rates on newly approved loans to SMEs continued their downward trend that began in early 2024, reaching 4.2% in March 2025. This represents a decrease of 54 basis points compared to the end of last year and 149 basis points compared to the beginning of 2024, when rates peaked during the most recent cycle of ECB key interest rate hikes.
The decline in interest rates on corporate loans reflects the dynamics of the Euribor4, given that around half of newly approved corporate loans are linked to the Euribor as a reference rate. To a somewhat lesser extent, it also reflects a decrease in the average fixed interest rate, which applies to roughly the other half of new corporate loans. The drop in market interest rates is also evident in the gradual and moderate decline in the average interest rate on existing loans.
Annual, as a percentage
According to the Bank Lending Survey (BLS), in the first quarter of 2025, banks kept lending standards for corporate loans to SMEs unchanged, following a period of easing during the previous year. Reduced need for investment financing led to a slight decline in corporate loan demand, following growth in the second half of 2024.
Leasing has been regulated as an activity in Croatia since 2006 with the entry into force of the Leasing Act. Although the leasing business in Croatia was present even before the entry into force of the Leasing Act, a total of 26 companies has aligned their operations with the provisions of the Leasing Act and become subject to Hanfa supervision. From the very beginning of their operations, leasing companies have managed to position themselves as significant institutions within the financial system of Croatia with their products (financial and operational leasing).
The assets of 15 active leasing companies as of 31.12.2024 amounted to 4.1 billion EUR and are recording continuous growth (except for the period of the COVID pandemic when the volumes of financing through leasing fell significantly due to the closure of the market and problems with supply chains).
The value of newly concluded leasing contracts for SMEs (total financial and operational leasing) in 2024 amounted to 1.4 billion EUR, which represents almost 70% of the total value of newly concluded leasing contracts. From the above, leasing in Croatia represents an important alternative source of financing, which mainly finances SMEs.
The value of newly concluded leasing contracts for SMEs continued to grow until 2019. The COVID crisis brought a significant drop in the value of newly concluded contracts, considering that in 2020 the value of newly concluded contracts for SMEs was 39% lower compared to 2019. After the COVID crisis, which briefly stopped growth, the value of newly concluded contracts for SMEs continued to grow and reached EUR 1.4 billion in 2024 (40% more compared to 2019, 10% more compared to 2023).
The leasing market in Croatia is predominantly characterized by the financing of personal and commercial vehicles (more than 83% of the total amount of financing in 2024 refers to the financing of personal and commercial vehicles). Also, the leasing market in Croatia is significantly more active during the summer tourist season, with regard to financing of rent-a-car fleets and charter boats.
Factoring has been fully regulated in Croatia as an activity since 2016 with the entry into force of the Factoring Act. At the end of 2017, there were 6 active factoring companies supervised by Hanfa, while at the end of 2024, there were 3 active factoring companies supervised by Hanfa.
The assets of factoring companies licensed by Hanfa decreased significantly compared to 2017 from over EUR 300 million in 2017 to EUR 16,7 million in 2024.
Also, since 2017, the volumes of financing through factoring in companies licensed by Hanfa have been continuously decreasing (in 2017, the total volume of financing through factoring was EUR 700 million, while in 2024 the stated volume was only EUR 83 million). Decreasing od assets and volumes of financing is a consequence of the delicensing of a certain number of factoring companies and the merger of one larger factoring company with its parent bank.
Factoring companies licensed by Hanfa achieved EUR 288 million in volume of financing with SMEs clients in 2017, while in 2024 they achieved only EUR 74,7 million.
Although the volumes of financing through factoring in Croatia have decreased, factoring also represents an alternative amount of financing for SMEs in Croatia. Especially considering the need of SMEs for additional liquidity, which is achieved by selling their own receivables to factoring companies. In 2024, of the total volume of receivables purchased by factoring companies, over 90% refers to receivables purchased from SMEs. From 2017-2023, this percentage varies between 62% and 97%.
AIFMD directive (Alternative investment funds) was implemented on Croatian national legislation with the date of EU accession (July 1st, 2013.), through provisions of Alternative Investment funds Act. Before that, the operation of investment funds in Croatia was governed primarily by national legislation, gradually aligning with EU regulations, particularly the UCITS Directive. Key law was Investment funds Act, and main fund types were Open-ended investment funds, offered either publicly or privately and Closed-ended investment funds, mainly targeting institutional investors. Leading up to EU membership, Croatia increasingly harmonized its laws with the UCITS directive (especially UCITS III and UCITS IV), allowing domestic funds to prepare for future EU-wide marketing and passporting.
In 2010, Funds for economic cooperation were established to overcome economic difficulties and eliminate the negative effects of the global crisis on the Croatian economy, while creating conditions for long-term sustainable economic growth, as one of the measures for economic recovery and development that stimulate credit activity. The aim of their establishment was to stimulate economic development, preserve existing and create new jobs, and strengthen existing and launch new economic entities through ownership restructuring by investing additional capital, in cooperation with the Croatian Government and interested private investors. They had to invest in companies that are headquartered in Croatia and that exclusively or predominantly carry out their activities in the territory of Croatia, with above-average growth and development potential, competitive advantages, professional and motivated management and technology or rights to generate strong business results, including companies in the early stage of business.
As for the legislative framework relating to these funds, they were established by a special Decision of government of Croatia, but they were also established as open-ended alternative private equity investment funds with a private offering, so their operations were also regulated by the Investment Funds Act and, later (after EU accession), by the Law on Alternative Investment Funds. Last fund matured in 2024.
AIFMD was implemented in national legislation with material level of gold-plating. In 2021, the Croatian Financial Services Supervisory Agency (HANFA) initiated a public consultation to assess potential regulatory burdens within the Alternative Investment Funds Act. This consultation aimed to gather feedback from market participants on the efficiency and proportionality of the existing legal framework governing Alternative Investment Funds and their managers. The insights collected were compiled into a report titled "Report on the Public Consultation – Alternative Investment Funds Act – Consultation on the Efficiency and Proportionality of the Current Legal Framework," which informed subsequent amendments to the Alternative Investment Funds act.
In 2025, HANFA launched another public consultation, focusing on reducing excessive regulation ("gold plating") in the legislative framework for Alternative investment funds in Croatia.
Amendments to the Alternative Investment Funds Act entered into force in 2026. The most important changes relate to the prescription of new thresholds for small and medium-sized AIFMs, reduction of the minimum amount of share capital for small AIFMs and relief in the appointment of board members, changes in the concept of approval for the establishment of AIFs with a private offering, enabling board members and employees of AIFMs to invest in AIFs with a private offering managed by that AIFM, changes regarding custodians - enabling an investment company to be a custodian of AIF with a private offer and regulatory relief in reporting.
The number of open bankruptcies of SME companies was in constant decline from 2016 to 2020, followed by a period with certain oscillations in the number of open bankruptcies, but the number remained significantly lower than at the beginning of the observed period.
Most bankruptcies are related to regions where a larger number of business entities operate, Adriatic Croatia and City of Zagreb, so the share of bankruptcies in these regions is higher than the other two regions.
Number
Croatian Agency for SMEs, Innovations, and Investments (HAMAG-BICRO)
HAMAG-BICRO continued implementing financial instruments aimed at improving SME access to finance under the 2021–2027 EU programming period. Recent measures included ERDF portfolio and individual guarantees for SMEs, designed to support access to bank financing, particularly for beneficiaries with insufficient collateral or higher risk profiles. The guarantees provide coverage of up to 80% of loan value and are primarily intended for larger projects, supporting financing volumes of up to 10 million EUR.
In addition, HAMAG-BICRO implemented several loan programmes financed through the ERDF and ESF+, including loans for women entrepreneurs, start-ups, social services, industrial transition, and inclusive entrepreneurship. These instruments are mainly intended for smaller-scale direct financing, generally up to 100 000 EUR, and provide favourable financing conditions, including lower interest rates, reduced collateral requirements, simplified procedures, and in some cases capital rebates.
In addition to HAMAG-BICRO activities, significant financial support for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises can also be obtained through the products and services of the HBOR.
HBOR is the Croatian national development and export bank as well as Croatian official export credit agency. HBOR is state-owned financial institution that supports Croatian private and public sector entities directly and in cooperation with financial intermediaries (banks, leasing companies etc.) thus enabling leverage and crowding in the private sector. HBOR strategic goals include strengthening competitiveness, the green and digital transition, regional development, strengthening the internationalization of firms and the development of alternative sources of financing.
HBOR implements several different loans, guarantee programs, as well the ECA programs that enable Croatian SMEs to internationalize and export. In cooperation with EIF, HBOR also plays a crucial role in the development of the Croatian equity market, with primarily VC and PE funds aimed at fast-growing and innovative micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
HBOR loan program for ‘’Youth, Female, Start-Up and Other Special Segments Entrepreneurship’’ provides support for investments of start-up companies, investments of young entrepreneurs and female entrepreneurs, as well as the investments of SMEs in RDI and economically less developed areas. This loan program provides more favorable financing conditions with interest rates below market rates and lower collateral requirements, which enables improved access to financing, primarily for micro and small entrepreneurs.
For SME’s that do not meet the criteria of the loan program for ‘’Youth, Female, Start-Up and Other Special Segments Entrepreneurship’’, HBOR provides more favorable financing conditions through several loan programs with subsidized interest rates that enable more favorable financing of investments, especially investments in the green and digital transition of SMEs. HBOR loans with repayment of up to 20 years, and fixed interest rates enable support to SME’s long-term investments.
In cooperation with line ministries and with the support of EU funds (RRF and ERDF funds), HBOR implements several EU financial instrument programs aimed at encouraging investments of small and medium-sized enterprises, including innovative instruments that enable capital rebates through a reduction of the loan principle when green and digital transition criteria are met.
As an official ECA, HBOR carries out insurance short-term export receivables for SME’s as well as the other export credit insurance products, all with the aim of strengthening the internationalization and export of Croatian goods and services, all in line with relevant OECD recommendations.
All HBOR activities are aligned with relevant EU state aid rules, they also support Croatian economy in line with national and EU environmental and climate goals.
Ministry of economy
Operational program competitiveness and cohesion 2014-2020 (OPCC 2014-2020) and National recovery and resilience plan 2021-2026 (NRRP 2021-2026)
Results of the implementation of Priority Axes 1, 3, and 11 of OPCC and activities financed through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP 2021–2026) of the Ministry of Economy
To date, the Ministry of Economy (MINGO) has published a total of 42 calls for project proposals within the OPCC (Priority Axes 1, 3, and 11) and NRRP, with a total value of EUR 1.59 billion. Priority Axe 1 also includes large companies. Of this, 32 calls were directly intended for entrepreneurs with an allocation of EUR1.43 billion, 8 calls focused on improving entrepreneurial infrastructure and creating a favorable entrepreneurial environment with an allocation of EUR145.1 million, and 2 strategic projects with an allocation of EUR15.7 million where MINGO was the beneficiary. Based on the published calls, a total of 15,832 project proposals were received, with a total value of EUR5.8 billion, requesting EUR2.9 billion in non-refundable grants.
A total of 5,405 contracts (OPCC) and 2,984 contracts (NRRP) were signed with beneficiaries – of which 8,221 were for entrepreneurs and 168 for entrepreneurial infrastructure. The total value of supported projects amounts to EUR3.1 billion (EUR645.5 million from NRRP), with a total amount of non-refundable grants of EUR1.4 billion (EUR290 million from NRRP).
Through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP 2021–2026), under component C1.1 "Resilient, Green and Digital Economy," the Ministry plans to award EUR380 million in non-refundable grants directly to entrepreneurs. These activities are aimed at transitioning the economy towards energy and resource efficiency, as well as innovation and the application of new (digital) technologies.
Implementation results of Priority Axis 1 PCC 2021–2027 by the Ministry of Economy
For MINGO, an indicative allocation of EUR 631 million was determined from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) within this thematic objective. Of this amount, EUR 365.8 million is planned for non-refundable grants, while EUR 265.4 million is planned for financial instruments aimed at business development and increasing competitiveness, including investments in tangible and intangible assets and working capital.
To date, MINGO has published 3 calls for project proposals under PCC (TO 1 – SO 1. i; 1. ii; 1.iii; 1. iv) directly targeting entrepreneurs with an allocation of EUR 39.5 million. Based on these calls, 1 015 project proposals were submitted with a total value of EUR 82.7 million, requesting EUR 22.4 million in non-refundable grants.
A total of 47 contracts were signed with beneficiaries. The total value of supported projects amounts to EUR 517 500, with non-refundable grants totaling EUR 389 100.
The Ministry of economy also finance Interest Rate Subsidy on Entrepreneurial Loans Planned budgets are as follows: EUR 398 168 for 2025, EUR 265 445 for 2026, and EUR 159 268 for 2027. Subsidies cover interest payments for projects in 2009 and 2014.
The Ministry of Economy implemented several grant measures from 2021 to 2023, primarily in the field of education for vocational occupations and craftsmanship.
In 2021, 668 grants were awarded, totalling EUR 2 297 226.82; in 2022 1008 grants totalling EUR 2 091 711.04; in 2023 693 grants totalling EUR 2 510 038 63, in 2024 620 grants totalling EUR 2 116 148 15.
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← 1. based on data for 11 countries participating in BACH database: PL, HU, BE, FR, DE, IT, LU, PT, HR, ES, SK
← 2. Data available until 2023.
← 3. The corporate loan growth rate for 2024 would amount to 8.2% if the effect of the repayment of a syndicated loan by a large public enterprise were excluded. All growth rates are calculated based on transactions.
← 4. Euribor, or the Euro Interbank Offered Rate, is a euro money market benchmark that measures the rate at which wholesale funds in euro could be obtained by credit institutions in current and former EU and EFTA countries in the unsecured money market.