The challenges facing the entrepreneursin South Ossetia have been discussed at the meeting of the Minister of Economic Development of the Republic Zalina Khugati with representatives of small and medium-sized entrepreneurship. At the beginning of the meeting Khugati has reported that the leadership of the Republic is working out a program of development of small and medium-sized entrepreneurship.
"Small and medium-sized business – is one of the main directions of our future work. We will do our best to support and develop this area, we will make every effort for our citizens to have the opportunity to earn their living, to develop their business in the territory of South Ossetia ", - assured the minister.
The entrepreneurs told about the problems faced after the war in August 2008. Acting Head of the Department for Supporting Small and Medium-sized Businesses Soslan Mamitov has reminded that the war caused huge damage to the economy of South Ossetia, including the small and medium-sized business.
"The leadership of the Republic made a decision to establish a special commission to determine the level and nature of damage caused to theentrepreneurs. Commission has identified about 290 subjects of small and medium entrepreneurship, which have been recognized as victims. In 2009, the loan funds in the amount of 20 million rubles were allocated on a return basis for the recovery of the business of these entrepreneurs, "- said Mamitov.
According to him, these funds were drawn, distributed among 65 entrepreneurs by the commission.
"However, these funds were not sufficient to fully restore the business. In accordance with the resolution of the Government additionally had been allocated 200 million rubles, but the money did not reach their target, virtually the Bank froze the cash payment to entrepreneurs, "- he added.
In this regard, many entrepreneurs have found themselves in a critical situation – the repay term of business loans expired in December 2012 and the bank imposes severe penalties on them.
"We do not know what to do. Many of us have mortgaged their homes, apartments; the city administration has declared an open war on us. We ask the government of the Republic to help us in this situation and write off our loans, because we could not manage to fulfill our obligations to Sberbank, "- said the entrepreneur Alena Gagloeva.
Zalina Khugati has noted with regret that the funding situation of the Republic is extremely difficult, and the state is not able to repay the loans for entrepreneurs.
"Today, there is no question at all to write-off of the loans received after the war in August 2008. The Government made a decision on repayment of debt to the entrepreneurs who had received credit for up to August 2008 and had been affected by the war. We all know that you have suffered, suffered serious damage, there are force majeure circumstances, but today there are not finances to repay the loans ", - she said.
She has underlined that at the same time the Economic Development Ministry has put a question on the extension of credits for as long as possible without incurring penalties.
Zalina Khugati has also listened to all the suggestions for balancing the complex situation in the field of small and medium-sized business and has assured that she will help in their implementation.
