Search
Close this search box.

SME Bank Initiates Loan Projects to Boost SME Growth

Bangkok: The Treasury Department, in collaboration with D-Bank, has launched a new initiative aimed at empowering Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through the issuance of a specialized loan, the Beyond Loan, which offers an interest rate of 3% for the first three years.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Pornchai Thiravet, Director-General of the Fiscal Policy Office and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Finance, announced that the Ministry is intervening to support SMEs as banks maintain strict lending criteria amid the economic slowdown. To address the funding shortages faced by SMEs, the Ministry is promoting the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand (SME Bank) through two key projects.

The first project, the SME Empowerment Loan Project, provides a credit line of 10 billion baht. This initiative aims to offer liquidity, facilitate investments, support business expansion, and improve operations for small and vulnerable SME entrepreneurs across all sectors, with annual incomes not exceeding 2 million baht. The loan offers a credit line of up to 1.5 million baht per applicant, with an interest rate fixed at 3% for the initial three years. Subsequently, the interest will be determined by the SME Bank for the remaining term of up to 10 years. Applicants can benefit from a principal repayment exemption for up to 12 months, with loan applications open until December 30, 2025.

The second initiative, the Beyond Wings SME Loan Project, also boasts a 10 billion baht credit line. It is designed to serve as liquidity capital and support investments, business improvements, and asset or machinery modifications for SMEs with annual incomes of at least 2 million baht. This project provides a credit line of up to 15 million baht per applicant, with the same favorable interest rate terms as the first project. Similar to the SME Empowerment Loan, the maximum loan duration is 10 years, with an option to defer principal repayments for up to 12 months, with applications open until the end of 2025.

Mr. Thiravet emphasized that the Ministry of Finance remains committed to assisting SME entrepreneurs across all sectors. These projects are expected to significantly enhance the financial access, liquidity, and growth potential of SMEs, thereby contributing to the long-term growth of the national economy.