The Undersecretary of Financing and Regulation of the Knowledge Economy ordered the expansion of the rate bonus granted by financial entities through the Trust Fund for the Promotion of the Knowledge Economy (Fonpec), through provision 97/2023 published today in the Official Gazette.
With this modification, the rate bonus will go from 25 to 50 percentage points annually.
Meanwhile, it is stipulated that the annual nominal interest rate on the credits, taking into account said subsidy, may not be less than 50%, instead of the previous 30%, a percentage that, in any case, represents less than half of the current annual inflation
This limit is taken into account when calculating the monthly bonus points applicable in each case.
If the annual nominal rate charged by the bank, without accounting for the bonus, is equal to or less than 50%, the beneficiary will pay that rate and the subsidy will not be applied.
The loans offered by BICE and channeled through banks seek to finance productive projects of knowledge economy firms, including the purchase of new capital goods, construction, inputs, raw materials and payment of salaries.
In addition, they aim to promote the development of environmentally sustainable ventures, and encourage the international commercial insertion of firms.
The term of the credits is up to 24 months, with up to six months of grace and a maximum amount of $50 million.
Today’s provision also expands the maximum amount of Fonpec that will be used to finance the loans from $1,000 million to $1,400 million.
Fonpec was created as part of Law 27,506 of the Regime for the Promotion of the Knowledge Economy; and finances, especially, micro, small and medium-sized businesses and new ventures.
It is financed with resources from the National Treasury and by contributions made by companies registered as beneficiaries of the regime, as stipulated by law, which is calculated in proportion to their size: micro companies will contribute 1% of the total benefits received. in discounts on profits and reduction in employer contributions; small businesses, 2.5%; and large companies, 3.5%.
Added to these sources are income from legacies or donations and funds provided by national, provincial, city of Buenos Aires, international organizations or non-governmental organizations.
The decision to expand the annual percentage points of the rate bonus was approved by the Fonpec Steering Committee last September, which has representatives designated by the ministries of Economy and Science and Technology; the National Research Promotion Agency and the National Institute of Industrial Technology (INTI).
Source: Ambito
