Government of Rwanda Launches Economic Recovery Fund – Including Support to SMEs
For full information on the Economic Recovery Fund, please see the website of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN): Economic Recovery Fund Operational Guidelines.
| The newly launched Economic Recovery Fund includes key areas of support to SMEs:
For a full description of the Fund, please read the article below.
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On June 2nd, 2020, the National Bank of Rwanda launched the Economic Recovery Fund, with the goal of providing support to those businesses hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. BNR has recognized the need to help businesses resume their operations and safeguard employment, and SMEs are core to the response.
There are four categories of businesses that are targeted through the Fund, including SMEs. These are:
- Large Corporate Businesses: Those companies or cooperatives with annual turnover of greater than FRW 500 million;
- Small and Microenterprises (SMEs): Those companies or cooperatives with an annual turnover between FRW 20 Million and FRW 500 Million.
- Micro Businesses: Companies or cooperatives with an annual turnover of less than FRW 20 million;
- Participating Financial Institutions or PFIs: Banks and Limited Microfinance Institutions;
Those participating financial institutions who are eligible for financing through the Fund will have access for a period of two years, beginning with the signature of the BNR directive. The Fund has a specific focus on refinancing for those businesses who will be deemed eligible, especially in three areas: hotel, tourism and hospitality refinancing, working capital and lines of credit for corporations and SMEs, and micro businesses.
Hotels, Tourism and Hospitality:
Funds allotted for the tourism industry overall total 50 Billion RWF. Under the fund, a “hotel” refers to an establishment providing accommodation, meals, and other services for travelers and tourists. If the establishment does not provide accommodation will not be treated under the refinancing window category.
Refinancing for hotels negatively affected by COVID-19 and eligible for the facility will be available through banks, and interest rates for these loans will not exceed 5.0% per annum. To access these loans, hotels must have a current loan that was still outstanding prior to May 31st, 2020. Importantly, the loan must have been performing as of the end of February, 2020.
Those businesses receiving refinancing will have a three-year grace period, a period in which they are not required to make repayments – as well as a period of up to 15 years to repay in full , which will commence after the three-year grace period. For example, if you receive a loan in June 2020 from a financial institution, your repayment will start from July 2023.
Working capital and lines of credit:
Funds allotted for the tourism industry overall total 30 Billion RWF for large companies and 15 Billion RWF for SMEs.
Large corporate businesses and SMEs will have access to financing to cover needs for working capital. There will also be lines of credit available to cover expenses for repairs, restorations, equipment, and investment in technological solutions, such as moving to online distribution channels. Eligible businesses and SMEs will also access these facilities through banks one time only, and will have access to up to FRW 75 million (SMEs) and FRW 300 Million (large corporations), subject to the bank’s assessment and the borrower’s capacity to repay.
To be eligible, these businesses must demonstrate a 50% loss due on their operations to COVID-19 (January – May 2020 vs. January – May 2019) based on VAT returns submitted to RRA. You must also present your RRA tax clearances as of the end of February 2020, and demonstrate that any existing loans were performing at the end of February 2020. It will be of the utmost importance that those businesses seeking relief have their financial and tax paperwork in order to make their applications.
In terms of loans, priority will be given to borrowers fitting certain criteria outlined by BNR:
- Borrowers who demonstrate that the Fund can aid in a recovery of business turnover to at least 75% of pre-COVID-19 levels;
- Borrowers that demonstrate that the Fund will either help to preserve existing jobs or create new employment. To demonstrate this, businesses will need to show PAYE and Social Security Returns to prove number of employees pre-COVID, and demonstrate the number of jobs that will be preserved or created post-COVID through access to the Fund;
- Borrowers that demonstrate an increased fiscal contribution through accessing the Fund. This could be through jobs preserved or increased turnovers that result in an increase in tax payments. This can be demonstrated through VAT, PAYE, and income tax receipts.
If your business began operating after May of 2019, you may still be considered if you can demonstrate both your contribution to economic development and the negative impact on your business from COVID. Again – you must have the paperwork to show the negative trend on your turnover.
In terms of working capital or lines of credit:
Banks will have the ability to grant these facilities to SMEs at an interest rate of 8.0% over a period of five years, with a grace period of one year. Any borrower accessing these facilities can do so only once, from one institution.
Micro business financing:
Funds allotted for the tourism industry overall total 3 Billion RWF (1 Billlion RWF for microbusiness clients of MFIs and 2 Billion RWF for SACCO clients).
Eligible micro businesses will have access to financing to help recover from COVID-19. Lending for these funds will be provided through Limited Liability Microfinance Institutions (MFIs). Borrowers will be able to access up to FRW 5 million through these MFIs one time only, based on an assessment by the MFI and the borrower’s ability to repay.
Eligible microbusinesses must meet the following criteria:
- Borrowers must have a legally registered business as a company, cooperative or sole proprietor
- Borrowers must demonstrate the negative impact of COVID-19 by proving at least 50% losses (January – May 2020 vs. January – May 2019), using VAT returns submitted to RRA as a reference
- Borrowers should be able to show their RRA tax clearance certificates as of the end of February 2020 to demonstrate good tax standing prior to the pandemic
- Micro businesses seeking these loans must show that any existing loans were in good standing as of the end of February 2020
- Some micro businesses are not eligible for VAT registration. These may show their MFI other paperwork to demonstrate the negative impact of COVID-19. To find out what is needed, talk with your MFI for more information
Any micro business receiving a loan through the Fund will receive an interest rate of 8.0% per annum and a loan term of three years with a grace period of three months. Any borrower accessing these facilities can do so only once, from one institution.
How do I access the Economic Recovery Fund?
To access the fund, talk with your financial institution. Any SMEs or other businesses wishing to access the Fund will submit their loan application directly to their bank or MFI, who will review your paperwork, request any additional documents needed, and assess your eligibility for the Fund. You can find the list of Banks with contact numbers of dedicated staff in the SME clinic website.
You may also write directly to MINECOFIN with questions at erf@minecofin.gov.rw.
Remember: Being able to present your paperwork, your good standing with any previous or outstanding loans, and your losses due to COVID will be key in accessing the Economic Recovery Fund through your bank. All decisions will be made by banks on a case by case basis, so that these funds can be used in the most prudent and responsible way possible and businesses that need them will have access.
Reference:
Announcement 3000/2020 – 04931/0010BNR [902.4]. National Bank of Rwanda.
Economic Recovery Fund Operational Guidelines. MINECOFIN. May 2020.
Guverinoma y’u Rwanda yatangije Ikigega cyo Kuzahura Ubukungu hamwe no Gushyigikira Ibigo by’ubucuruzi Bito n’Ibiciriritse.
Ushaka amakuru yose yerekeye Ikigega cyo Kuzahura Ubukungu, wasura urubuga rwa interineti rwa Minisiteri y’Imari n’Igenamigambi (MINECOFIN): Amabwiriza agenga imikorere y’Ikigega cyo Kuzahura Ubukungu .
Ikigega cyo Kuzahura Ubukungu giherutse gutangizwa gishyigikira by’umwihariko ibyiciro by’ Ibigo by’ubucuruzi Bito n’Ibiciriritse bikurikira:
Ushaka amakuru yose kuri iyi nguzanyo, wasoma inyandiko ikurikira: |
Kuwa 02/06/ 2020, Banki Nkuru y’u Rwanda yatangije Ikigega cyo Kuzahura Ubukungu hagamijwe gufasha ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi byahuye n’ibibazo bitewe n’icyorezo cya COVID-19. BNR yabonye ko ari ngombwa gufasha abafite ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi kongera gusubukura ibikorwa byabo no kubungabunga imirimo, kandi ibyo bikorwa bishingiye ku Bigo by’ubucuruzi Bito n’Ibiciriritse.
Hari ubwoko bune bw’ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi icyo Kigega kizibandaho, harimo n’Ibigo by’ubucuruzi Bito n’Ibiciriritse. Ari byo:
- Ibigo by’ubucuruzi binini: Ibigo by’ubucuruzi cyangwa amakoperative afite igicuruzo rusange kirenga miliyoni 500 FRW ku mwaka;
- Ibigo by’ubucuruzi Bito n’Ibiciriritse: Ibigo by’ubucuruzi cyangwa amakoperative afite igicuruzo rusange kiri hagati ya miliyoni 20 na miliyoni 500 FRW ku mwaka.
- Ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi bito: Ibigo by’ubucuruzi cyangwa amakoperative afite igicuruzo rusange kiri munsi ya miliyoni 20 FRW ku mwaka;
- Ibigo by’imari bigira uruhare mu bikorwa by’ubucuruzi: Amabanki n’Ibigo by’imari biciriritse;
Ibyo Bigo by’imari bigira uruhare mu bikorwa by’ubucuruzi byemerewe guhabwa inguzanyo binyuze mu Kigega, byemerewe guhabwa iyo nguzanyo mu gihe cy’imyaka ibiri uhereye igihe amabwiriza ya BNR yashyiriwe umukono. Ikigega kigamije by’umwihariko guha inguzanyo ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi byujuje ibisabwa, by’umwihariko mu byiciro bitatu bikurikira: guha inguzanyo amahoteli, ubukerarugendo no kwakira abantu, imari shingiro n’umwenda ntarengwa ku bigo binini n’ Ibigo by’ubucuruzi Bito n’Ibiciriritse hamwe n’ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi biciriritse.
Amahoteli, Ubukerarugendo no Kwakira ababagana:
Amafaranga yose yagenewe urwego rw’ubukerarugendo agera kuri miliyari 50 FRW. Hashingiwe ku Kigega, bisobanurwa ko “hoteli” ari ikigo gicumbikira, kigaburira, kandi kinatanga izindi serivisi ku babagenderera na bamukerarugendo. Mu gihe ikigo kidafite amacumbi, ntikizashyirwa mu cyiciro cy’ibizahabwa amafaranga.
Amafaranga azahabwa amahoteli yagizweho ingaruka n’icyorezo cya COVID-19 kandi yujuje ibisabwa, azanyuzwa mu mabanki, kandi inyungu ku nguzanyo ntigomba kurenga 5% ku mwaka. Kugira ngo ayo mahoteli ahabwe izo nguzanyo, agomba kuba yari afite inguzanyo yari itarishyurwa mbere yo kuwa 31/05/2020. Ikindi kandi, inguzanyo igomba kuba yarishyurwaga neza kugera mu mpera za Gashyantare 2020.
Ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi bizahabwa inguzanyo, bizahabwa imyaka itatu bitishyura inguzanyo mbere y’uko bitangira kwishyura; muri ikigihe ntibasabwa kwishyura –kandi bahabwa igihe kingana n’imyaka 15 yo kwishyura inguzanyo yose, izatangirwa kwishyurwa nyuma y’imyaka itatu batishyura inguzanyo. Urugero, nuhabwa inguzanyo n’ikigo cy’imari muri Kamena 2020, uzatangira kuyishyura muri Nyakanga 2023.
Imari shingiro n’umwenda ntarengwa:
Mu mafaranga yose yagenewe urwego rw’ubukerarugendo, miliyari 30 FRW zagenewe ibigo binini, mu gihe miliyari 15 FRW zagenewe Ibigo by’ubucuruzi Bito n’Ibiciriritse.
Ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi by’ibigo binini n’ iby’Ibigo by’ubucuruzi Bito n’Ibiciriritse bizahabwa inguzanyo zo kuziba icyuho mu mari shingiro yabyo. Hazashyirwaho n’amafaranga y’inguzanyo ntarengwa azakoreshwa mu gusana, kuvugurura, ibikoresho, no gushora imari mu ikoreshwa ry’ikoranabuhanga, nko kuba hakifashishwa ikoranabuhanga mu kugemura ibicuruzwa no gutanga serivisi. Ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi n’Ibigo by’ubucuruzi Bito n’ibiciriritse byujuje ibisabwa bizahabwa izi nguzanyo inshuro imwe gusa binyuze mu mabanki, kandi bizaba byemerewe amafaranga ashobora kugera kuri miliyo 75 FRW (Ibigo by’ubucuruzi Bito n’Ibiciriritse) na miliyoni 300 FRW (Ibigo binini), hashingiwe ku isesengura rya banki no ku bushobozi bwo kwishyura bw’usaba inguzanyo.
- Kugira ngo ibi bikorwa by’ubucuruzi byemererwe guhabwa izo nguzanyo, hagomba kugaragazwa ko ibyo bikorwa byagize igihombo kigera kuri 50% giturutse ku cyorezo cya COVID-19 (Mutarama – Gicurasi 2020 ugereranyije na Mutarama – Gicurasi 2019) hashingiwe ku Musoro ku Nyongeragaciro (TVA) watanzwe mu Kigo cy’Igihugu cy’Imisoro n’Amahoro (RRA). Ugomba kandi kwerekana icyemezo cy’uko nta birarane by’imisoro wari ufitiye RRA mu mpera za Gashyantare 2020, ukerekana kandi ko wishyuraga neza inguzanyo iyo ari yo yose wari ufite kugeza mu mpera za Gashyantare 2020. Ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi bikeneye ingoboka, ba nyirabyo bagomba kuba bafite inyandiko zerekeye imari n’iz’imisoro ziri ku murongo mbere yo gutanga ubusabe bwabo.
Ku bijyanye n’inguzanyo, mbere na mbere zizahabwa abasa inguzanyo bujuje ibisabwa na BNR:
- Abasa inguzanyo bagaragaza ko izabafasha kuzahura igicuruzo rusange kugera nibura kuri 75% y’urwego bariho mbere y’icyorezo cya COVID-19;
- Abasa inguzanyo bagaragaza ko izabafasha kubungabunga imirimo cyangwa guhanga imishya. Mu kugaragaza ibi, ba nyiribikorwa by’ubucuruzi bagomba kugaragaza umusoro ku Bihembo n’imisanzu y’ubwiteganyirize batangira abakozi mu rwego rwo kugaragaza umubare w’abakozi bari bafite mbere y’icyorezo cya COVID-19, kugira ngo hagaragazwe umubare w’imirimo izabungwabungwa cyangwa imishya izahangwa nyuma ya COVID-19 babikesheje iyo nguzanyo;
- Abasa inguzanyo bagaragaza ko bazongera ingano y’imisoro batanga babikesheje iyo nguzanyo. Ibi bishobora guturuka ku mirimo izabungwabungwa cyangwa igicuruzo rusange kiziyongera bigatuma n’amafaranga yishyurwa imisoro yiyongera. Ibi bigaragarira ku Musoro ku Nyongeragaciro, Umusoro ku Bihembo, n’umusoro ku nyungu wakiriwe.
Niba ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi byawe byaratangiye nyuma ya Gicurasi 2019, ushobora nawe kwemererwa inguzanyo mu gihe werekanye uruhare rwawe mu guteza imbere ubukungu kandi ko COVID-19 yagize ingaruka ku bikorwa by’ubucuruzi byawe. Ugomba kandi kuba ufite inyandiko zigaragaza izo ngaruka ku gicuruzo rusange cyawe.
Ku bijyanye n’imari shingiro cyangwa umwenda ntarengwa:
Banki zizaba zifite ubushobozi bwo gutanga izi nguzanyo ku Bigo by’ubucuruzi Bito n’Ibiciriritse ku nyungu ya 8% mu gihe cy’imyaka itanu, harimo n’umwaka umwe wo kutishyura inguzanyo. Usaba inguzanyo wese uzahabwa iyi nguzanyo, azaba ayemerewe inshuro imwe gusa mu kigo kimwe.
Inguzanyo ku bikorwa by’ubucuruzi bito:
Mu mafaranga yose yagenewe urwego rw’ubukerarugendo, miliyari 3 FRW (miliyari 1 RWF yagenewe abafite ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi bito bagana Ibigo by’imari iciriritse na miliyari 2 FRW yagenewe abakiriya ba SACCO).
Abafite ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi bito bujuje ibisabwa bazahabwa inguzanyo zo kubafasha kuzahura ibikorwa byadindijwe na COVID-19. Izi nguzanyo zizatangwa binyujijwe mu Bigo by’Imari Iciriritse bifite uburyozwe buhinnye. Abasaba inguzanyo bazaba bemerewe guhabwa amafanga agera kuri miliyoni 5 FRW inshuro imwe gusa binyujijwe muri ibi Bigo by’Imari Iciriritse, hashingiwe ku isesengura ryakozwe n’Ikigo cy’Imari Iciriritse ndetse no ku bushobozi bwo kwishyura.
Ibigo bito bizahabwa inguzanyo bigomba kuba byujuje ibi bikurikira:
- Abasaba inguzanyo bagomba kuba bafite ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi byanditswe ku buryo bwemewe n’amategeko nk’ikigo cy’ubucuruzi, koperative cyangwa nk’uwikorera;
- Abasaba inguzanyo bagomba kugaragaza ingaruka za COVID-19 berekana ko bagize nibura igihombo cya 50% (Mutarama – Gicurasi 2020 ugereranyije na Mutarama – Gicurasi 2019), bifashishije Umusoro ku Nyongeragaciro batanze mu Kigo cy’Igihugu cy’Imisoro n’Amahoro (RRA) nk’urugero.
- Abasaba inguzanyo bagomba kugaragaza icyemezo cya RRA cyo kutabamo ibirarane by’umusoro kugeza mu mpera ya Gashyantare 2020 mu rwego rwo kugaragaza ko bishyuraga imisoro neza mbere y’icyorezo;
- Abafite ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi bito basaba izi nguzanyo bagomba kugaragazo ko bishyuraga neza inguzanyo iyo ari yo yose bari bafite kugeza mu mpera ya Gashyantare 2020;
- Hari ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi bito biba bitanditse mu Musoro ku Nyongeragaciro. Ba nyirabyo bashobora kwereka Ikigo cy’Imari Iciriritse bakorana izindi nyandiko mu rwego rwo kugaragaza ingaruka COVID-19 yabagizeho. Ushaka kumenya ibisabwa, wakwegera Ikigo cy’Imari Iciriritse mukorana bakaguha amakuru yose.
Ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi bito byose bizahabwa inguzanyo binyuze mu Kigega, bizayihabwa ku nyungu ya 8% ku mwaka, binahabwe n’igihe cy’amezi atatu yo kutishyura. Uhabwa iyi nguzanyo wese, ayihabwa inshuro imwe gusa kandi mu kigo kimwe gusa.
Ni gute nakorana n’Ikigega cyo Kuzahura Ubukungu?
Ushaka guhabwa iyi nguzanyo, wakwegera Ikigo cy’Imari mukorana. Ikigo cy’ubucuruzi giciriritse icyo ari cyo cyose cyangwa abandi bafite ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi bifuza gukorana n’Ikigega, bazatanga inyandiko isaba inguzanyo muri banki cyangwa Ibigo by’Imari Iciriritse bakorana nabyo, hanyuma bige dosiye yawe, bagusabe izindi nyandiko za ngombwa, banarebe niba wujuje ibisabwa kugira ngo uhabwe inguzanyo. Ushobora kubona urutonde rw’amabanki na nomero z’abakozi bazo wahamagaraho ku rubuga rwa interineti rwa SME Response Clinic.
Ushobora no kwandikira Minisiteri y’Imari n’Igenamigambi ukayigezaho ibibazo byawe ubinyujije kuri erf@minecofin.gov.rw.
Icyitonderwa: Kuba warujuje neza dosiye yawe, kuba warishyuye neza inguzanyo wigeze gufata cyangwa wishyura neza izo ufite, no kugaragaza igihombo watewe na COVID-19, bizagufasha gukorana n’Ikigega cyo Kuzahura Ubukungu binyujijwe muri banki mukorana. Ibyemezo byose bizafatwa n’amabanki ashingiye kuri dosiye ya buri muntu kugira ngo ayo mafaranga azakoreshwe neza kandi ahabwe ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi biyakwiriye koko.
Ibyifashishijwe mu gutegura iyi nyandiko:
Itangazo 3000/2020 – 04931/0010BNR [902.4]. Banki Nkuru y’u Rwanda.
Amabwiriza agenga imikorere y’Ikigega cyo Kuzahura Ubukungu . MINECOFIN. May 2020.