For the benefit of the forum participants and invited guests, Center-Invest Bank presented a new book by Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr. Vasily Vysokov. Entitled “Enterprise for All” the book is a guide for people who want to become entrepreneurs, as well as existing business people who are trying to restructure their companies, overcome economic challenges, and take their businesses to a new level in the post-crisis economy. It is also for politicians, civil servants, and heads of the numerous regulatory agencies and inspection bodies who are genuinely committed to SME development.
Center-Invest Bank has been running programmes to support SMEs in southern Russia for eleven years. 38,000 SMEs and self-employed individuals bank with us.
Since the beginning of 2009, we have provided SMEs with 2945 loans totalling more than RUR9.7 billion. The respected weekly analytical publication “Ekspert” ranks Center-Invest Bank 4th in the Russian Federation for lending to this sector of the economy.
During the economic forum, all visitors to the Center-Invest Bank stand were able to take advantage of exclusive offers: the chance to open a current account and obtain tax advice free of charge. Center-Invest specialists participated in round tables on energy efficiency, investment and innovation, and in discussions about training for the heads of municipal bodies and tax consultants.
At the forum, we also presented our banking products and services for SMEs:
― The programme “Southern Russia's SMEs in the Global Economy”
― Online loan applications
― Finance for energy efficiency projects, reducing companies' energy bills by up to 70%
― An extensive branch network in the Rostov and Volgograd regions, and the Krasnodar and Stavropol Krais (more than 130 branches)
― 20 standard business development projects in the services sector.
― Internet technologies supporting SME development: www.amb-don.ru
― A hotline providing free legal advice: www.hotline.centrinvest.ru
― Free assistance and advice from Center-Invest Bank specialists on preparing loan applications, including visits by our experts to companies.
The IX Exhibition Fair “Don Business”, showcasing the products of local SMEs, was held as part of the forum. Approximately half of the exhibitors were Center-Invest Bank customers, which once again confirms our status as one of the leading partners for SMEs in Russia.