September 6, 2024
THIMPHU – Financial institutions (FI) in the country have started accepting applications for the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) starting September 2, 2024. However, applicants should brace themselves for an exhaustive review process and a stringent set of eligibility criteria.
The ESP initiative promises financial support, and low interest and mortgage free loans, aimed at re-invigorating the economy.
Applications must be submitted before December 31, 2024.
The chairperson of the Financial Institutions Association of Bhutan and chief executive officer of the Bank of Bhutan, Dorji Kadin, said that the FIs will employ stringent assessment criteria to review applications to judge business viability, income sources, and repayment capacity.
For large investments, additional factors such as raw material availability, technical expertise, management team, and market access will be scrutinised. “The cost of raw materials is one of the main components of assessment for manufacturing proposals,” he said.
The assessment timeline will vary depending on project size. Smaller loans may be processed within two to three days, provided that applicants submit all required documents, including comprehensive financial statements like profit and loss accounts and balance sheets, among others.
The ESP initiative includes financial injection of Nu 5.3 billion into the banking sector, divided into two distinct funding windows. The first window includes Nu 3.3 billion for concessional credit lines while the second window includes Nu 2 billion as reinvigoration fund.
This funds would be available from five commercial banks—Bank of Bhutan Limited, Bhutan National Bank Limited, Bhutan Development Bank Limited, Druk PNB and T-Bank limited—and three non-banks—Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan, Bhutan Insurance Limited, and National Pension and Provident Fund.
Under the concessional credit lines, the programme will support new and expanding businesses in designated sectors.
The FIs will focus on projects that contribute to economic activity and foreign currency earnings, such as manufacturing and food processing.
Loans under this window are offered at 4 percent interest rate without collateral for amounts up to Nu 1 million. For loans ranging from Nu 1 million to Nu 10 million, collateral requirements may include project assets like machinery.
Dorji Kadin said that the insurance premium amount for the project would constitute a part of the project cost to protect both the lender and borrower. The gestation period for these loans would depend on individual FIs.
The concessional credit window is tailored to various sectors.
Primary agriculture and livestock projects can receive loans up to Nu 1 million. A total of Nu 500 million has been allocated for this sector. This includes crop cultivation, poultry farming, piggery, raising of cattle and other animals, mixed farming, agri-infrastructure and machinery, and dairy products.
In production and manufacturing (cottage and small industries), it will support new and scale-up existing start-ups and movie production with loans up to Nu 10 million. Scaling-up start-ups have been allocated Nu 300 million and Nu 200 million for movie production.
However, services, construction, mining in raw form and primary agriculture will not be eligible for this fund.
Medium-scale manufacturing projects can access loans between Nu 10 million and Nu 100 million. The funding excludes services, construction, mining, and agro-based sectors. The government has allocated Nu 1.8 billion for this sector.
The reinvigoration fund is designed to assist distressed businesses that have faced setbacks due to the Covid-19 pandemic and other external challenges. It will support viable projects struggling with financing or operational difficulties.
The reinvigoration fund offers two modalities.
The first modality provides a 4 percent annual interest rate subsidy on outstanding loans for up to three years, with borrowers covering the difference between the subsidised rate and the existing rate. This means, if a bank’s interest rate on a loan is 10 percent, the borrowers will have to pay 6 percent interest rate since 4 percent will be subsidised under this scheme.
The second modality subsidises interest rates on new loans by 4 percent annually for up to three years, with borrowers responsible for the rate difference.
Borrowers can choose between the two modalities but cannot access both.
The reinvigoration fund excludes loans for housing, personal transport, import-oriented trade and commerce, personal expenses, credit cards, education, term deposits, shares, medical costs, staff incentives, and the hotel and tourism sector.
Dorji Kadin said that FIs will conduct rigorous assessment of each application, based on market availability, raw materials, and loans availed for projects under the National Credit Guarantee Scheme, among others.
The gestation period for the loan is a maximum of two years, which means borrowers will have to repay after two years.