An exchange of financial products was organized last Tuesday in the Radisson hotel, with presentation of the JEREMIE initiative as an attractive source of funding for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, channeled from EU funds, on top of the agenda. The event attracted about a hundred of entrepreneurs operating in the West Pomeranian region and trying to secure funds for growth. It gave them the opportunity to hear finance and EU funds experts as well as holding personal interviews with representatives of institutions and banks which serve the role of intermediaries or provide financial support themselves.

According to the Marshall’s Office, small and medium-sized enterprises are predominant in our region and create new jobs. They are also the most innovative and bring new services and products to the market. However, securing funds for growth is among the major challenges they confront. No credit history and lack of the required collateral are the main obstacles. The Jeremie initiative, launched in West Pomerania in 2009, is a solution to the problem. So far, support has been provided to 2768 entities, 20% of which being start-up companies. The total of almost PLN 390 million has been distributed among entrepreneurs.

The participants were encouraged to use this form of support by Jacek Adamski, advisor to the Management Board of Confederation Lewiatan, who confirmed the words of the Prime Minister that the crisis is over, admitting, at the same time, that social pessimism is still widespread. With a view to testing this hypothesis, he asked who believed that the situation in Poland was going in the wrong direction. Hands were raised by only a few attendees. “I am happy to see that you are optimists. After all, you apply for loans and focus on growth”, joked the economist. However, after a short while, when asked whether the overall situation in Poland was favorable, none of the participants answered “yes”.

According to Tomasz Kaczor, the chief economist of Bank Gospodarki Krajowej, the Polish economy will rebound in the upcoming quarters, and the growth will be at least satisfactory. The fact that even in those countries where the crisis was sparked off, that is to say those situated in Southern Europe, slight improvements may be seen in the economic conditions is the most positive signal, he believes. “The conditions in Poland favor a rise in consumption, which will be observed soon”, said Tomasz Kaczor. “The labor market is recovering and banks are more favorably inclined towards borrowers, though only in the consumer credit segment”.

Experts claim that in the next EU perspective for 2014-2019, repayable and mixed financial instruments, that is those which will require repayment of the support in whole or in part, will count more. Therefore, they encourage entrepreneurs to use the available solutions instead of waiting. “We have a glowing vision of the future”, argued Barbara Bartkowiak, President of the Polish Entrepreneurs Foundation. “Jeremie funds are both available and attractive. Don’t wait for your loans to be forgiven in the following perspective. It may be expected that the rate of interest will not be as attractive as before, and, on the whole, the results of the final calculation may not be more favorable at all”.
ŁP