OREANDA-NEWS. March 15, 2013. Since 2009 small and medium enterprises in the Tula Region have received RUB 2.2 billion under the State SME Lending Support Program implemented by SME Bank (Vnesheconombank Group).

It was announced by Nadezda Martynova, Deputy Chairman of SME Bank at the seminar “Organization of Interaction with the Investor: Theory and Practice” in the Tula Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

As of the end of 2012 the total balance of SME lending support in theTularegion reached RUB 820 million spread over 200 regional enterprises. Over the years 351 enterprises have received financing under the Program.

Meanwhile, according to Mrs.Martynova, the potential of financial support to Tula’s entrepreneurs is underutilized thus requiring further actions. “SME development figures in the Tula region require urgent measures to be taken first and foremost by the regional authorities in the area of SME support”, noticed she.