The first call for applications was published in late December, with EUR 12m currently on offer, Enterprise Fund director Maja Tomanič Vidovič told the press on Wednesday.

Companies can apply for five-year loans in the EUR 5,000-25,000 range with annual interest of 0.8% plus six-month Euribor.

The aim of the loans is to level the playing field for Slovenian companies compared to their competitors in markets with the most advanced financing systems.

The loans will be available on an ongoing basis, with applications screened once a week, according to Tomanič Vidovič.

The bulk of the funding, EUR 28m, has been provided by SID, the state-owned export and development bank, which tapped a fund of funds that is financed by EU cohesion funds.