The expert spoke about new strategies and trends for SMEs

Some entrepreneurs create several businesses in different fields while continuing to experiment. The current trends are related to digitalization and the development of digital channels. Irina Zhimerina, Senior Vice President and head of the PSB small and medium-sized business unit, told Izvestia on March 27.

"According to the RSBI Index, which tracks the dynamics of small businesses since 2018, the situation was favorable at the beginning of 2024: a minimum number of companies followed a survival strategy, while the majority focused on growth. However, by the beginning of 2025, the picture had changed. Now we see a situation similar to the beginning of 2022: only a few companies are aiming at significant expansion," the expert noted.

Speaking about attracting investments, she stressed that a classic IPO is available only to large small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with annual revenue of 1-2 billion rubles, as the process requires sustainable profitability and strict control.

"A more affordable alternative is the pre-IPO segment — private placements among qualified investors. However, the requirements for risk and profitability are high here, and because of the key rate, expectations for profitability are also growing. In addition, companies are required to attract specialists for marketing support of the release and its promotion among investors," summed up Zhimerina.

Production promise: small business did not receive preferential loans

So far, the launch of the program has been postponed — when is it planned to be restarted

Earlier, on January 30, the Russian Ministry of Economic Development told Izvestia that the agency was restarting a program of preferential investment loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in priority sectors of the economy. The program will be implemented jointly with the Bank of Russia and will combine subsidies from the federal budget, as well as preferential funding from the Bank of Russia. In addition, as part of the program, the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia will continue to subsidize loans issued in 2019-2024 to SMEs, as well as self-employed citizens, under the 1764 program.