The share of small and medium-sized businesses in the gross regional product of the Russian Federation reached 23.9%

The gross value added created by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in 2023 exceeded 37.6 trillion rubles. As a percentage, this is 23.9%. This was reported to Izvestia on April 14 by the Ministry of Economic Development.

"Since 2019, the share of SMEs in the gross regional product has been growing every year: in 2023, the figure was 23.9%. The figures confirm that SMEs are a key driver of economic growth and job creation in the regions. It is important that the regional authorities continue to be interested in supporting and stimulating the growth of SMEs, creating conditions for their development," Maxim Reshetnikov, Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, was quoted as saying by the press service of the Ministry of Economic Development.

Among the leading regions in terms of the share of SMEs in the gross regional product: the Republic of Kalmykia (43.6%), Novosibirsk Region (38.5%), Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (38.1%), Ivanovo Region (37.6%).

The largest contribution to the formation of the gross regional product is made by entrepreneurs from the North Caucasus Federal District (30.5%), the Southern Federal District (28.8%), the Central Federal District (27.8%) and the Volga Federal District (25.6%).

"In many ways, this indicator depends on the established regional SME development tools and business support infrastructure. The state implements a whole range of programs for the development of SMEs in the regions. Work is currently underway to create at least 100 more such sites in the regions by 2030," summed up Tatyana Ilyushnikova, Deputy Minister of Economic Development of Russia.

"The most popular small business soft loan program will remain in place"

Deputy Minister of Economy Tatyana Ilyushnikova on the results of the national project to support SMEs, prospects for the next six years and changes for the self-employed

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.