OREANDA-NEWS. March 25, 2011. Member of the Board – Deputy Chairman of the Board of RBD Olesia Teploukhova chaired a scheduled meeting of the ARB Committee on Development of SME Lending Mechanism. The meeting accentuated on the current situation at the SME lending market, possibilities of overcoming obstacles and future challenges, reported the press-centre of RBD. 

The issues touched upon at the meeting were of great interest for representatives of the banking community. It was pointed out that the efficient development of SME lending can be attained not only by the earmarked long-term lending to banks but also by improving the existing Russian legislation.

In her report O. Teploukhova spoke about the SME lending market behavior in Russia and presented a macroeconomic forecast prepared by the analytical center of RBD.

According to Ms.Teploukhova “main positive trends at the SME lending market in 2010 were the liberalization of the SME credit policy by banks and improvement of their marketing activities”. “Last year has shown reduction of average interest rates by far, increasing of loans terms and sizes, product line development, the banks’ transparency in respect of SME lending”, specified O. Teploukhova.

Moreover she forecasted SME sector development this year: “We anticipate that including but not limited to the government support new innovative and energy efficient projects will appear”.

Deputy Chairman of RBD pointed out that all macroeconomic changes in SME lending were reflected in the State SME Lending Program implemented by RBD.