The Slovenia Times

Liquidity loans worth EUR 35m available to hauliers

Industry & Agriculture

Ljubljana - Hauliers, who have been severely hit by the Covid pandemic, can now count on EUR 35 million in loans to weather liquidity issues, while they can also look forward to some 10 million in grants in coming months.

A contract on financing and implementing the new scheme was signed on Monday by Infrastructure Minister Jernej Vrtovec and SIB Banka chairman Sibil Svilan.

"I'm glad that by introducing this important financial instrument, we have fulfilled a promise to Slovenian hauliers, who definitely don't have an easy time," said Vrtovec.

While they have suffered irreparable damage during the epidemic, they have also ensured that companies are supplied with what they need uninterruptedly, he added.

Companies providing local, inter-city, land, passenger and cargo transport will be eligible for loans from the fund, to be managed by the export and development bank SID.

"Hauliers are an important sector of Slovenian economy that has been hit severely by the crisis," said the chairman of the bank that has already ensured some EUR 55 million to the sector.

Since the 55 million was not enough, he welcomed the initiative for the new fund which came from hauliers, the OZS and GZS chambers and the ministry.

Svilan expects SIB Banka could start accepting first applications as early as Friday.

The fund was also welcomed by Peter Pišek from the OZS chamber of small business and Milan Slokar from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GZS).

Pišek said that the sector could also count on EUR 10 million in grants in the coming two to three months.

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