Twelve second-tier banks get data bank of Astana credit needs

ASTANA. February 19. KAZINFORM /Kanat Kulshmanov/ Today akim (mayor) of Astana Imangali Tasmagambetov has forwarded data bank of the city?s credit demand to the representatives of 12 second tier banks within realization of the MоU between the akimat, ?SamrukKazyna? National Welfare Fund and ?Atameken? Union? National Economic Chamber, Kazinform reports.

The data bank was prepared on the basis of questionnaires answered by the capital?s businessmen in different spheres. As is known, the January 19th Memorandum provides for allocation of funds for financing small and medium businesses of Astana to the amount of no less than KZT 30 bln at the rate of 12.5% per annum. ?In spite of current difficulties, the number of small and medium businesses has risen by 12.7%. However in January the volume of the products was reduced by 15.1% comparing with the same period in 2008. It is explained primarily by lack of credit resources for small and medium business?, Mr. Tasmagambetov said. According to Timur Zhaksylykov, deputy akim of Astana, ?special working group of the akimat has collected over 800 applications from the businessmen who need crediting? totaling more than KZT 80 bln. By our estimates realization of the projects will create no less than 8 000 jobs?, he said. At present there are more than 67 thousand small and medium businesses in Astana. 105 thousand people work there.