Micro and small size companies in China have long faced difficulties in obtaining bank loans. But the tide is turning. The government recently launched several measures to increase small businesses’ access to bank loans, and the effect has been noticeable. The latest statistics show that growth in lending to micro and small companies was four percent higher than the growth of overall lending during the first four months of this year.
More and more Chinese banks are turning to micro and small firms for business. Funding demand for bank loans in this segment of the private sector has been rapidly gaining strength and the numbers show it.
The China Banking Regulatory Commission says banks lent 18.6 trillion yuan, or about 3 trillion U.S dollars, to micro and small firms during the first four months of the year. That’s an increase of 18 percent from a year ago. Loans to micro and small businesses in China’s eastern provinces such as Zhejiang, and Jiangsu have reached one third of all lending.
"The chance for micro and small firms to get financial services is getting higher, now that we introduced government finance, and created a good credit environment. There are even some big banks that are trying to get more small business clients. It’s a trend." Yang Zaiping, Vice President of China Banking Association said.
In Beijing’s Zhong Guancun High Tech Zone, a new policy was implemented recently to support small startups that aren’t qualified for bank loans. The district’s government also has enlisted an insurance firm to help guarantee loans for the companies.
"We take out 20 percent to 45 percent of the bench mark rate to subsidize small businesses. This lowers the costs of what companies are paying." Yang said.
the Shanghai municipal government has also created a way to lend to innovative startups. The procedure involves the Silicon Valley and Shanghai Pudong Development banks and the local government in providing loans and insurance to businesses in need.