The ability to support the credit demand of SMEs is growing, still influenced by the trend of the economic cycle: between October 2013 and October 2016, 21.498 loan applications were accepted for a disbursed equivalent of 6,3 billion euro out of a total ceiling of 10 billion, intended for performing SMEs that intend to make investments in tangible and intangible assets
to the business activity.
This was announced by the ABI as part of the Business in development initiative aimed at promoting the growth of investments by SMEs and renewed with the 2015 Credit Agreement between the ABI and all the other business associations.
ABI, following the updated survey of the operations carried out, underlines that "the use of the resources made available is an important signal to support the recovery of credit demand for investments and Italy's economic recovery".
Analyzing in detail the approved loan applications, it is noted that those 'covered' by the Guarantee Fund for SMEs, by Ismea or by Sace, as well as by Confidi, represent 21,2%. Furthermore, disaggregating the data by type of company shows that:
– 42% of loans refer to companies in the 'industry' sector;
– 28,6% of loans refer to companies in the sector
'trade and hospitality';
– 7,9% of loans refer to businesses in the 'craft' sector;
– 4,6% of loans refer to companies in the sector
'construction and public works';
– 3,6% of loans refer to companies in the 'agriculture' sector;
– the remaining 13,3% to companies in the 'other services' sector.
