Smart Start USA is launched, with USD 500 M for Romanian companies

The Smart Start USA programme with a 500-million USD budget to finance the Romanian companies that wish to extend to the US market was launched on Tuesday, the initiator and coordinator of the programme, Ilan Laufer, also Vice President for the relation with the US of the National Coalition for Romania's Modernization (CNMR) told a news conference. 

The said programme's main target is to create Romania's first ecosystem dedicated to the increase of the export and the Romanian capital companies' internationalization, with a priority access on the US market. 

The programme can annually finance 10,000 Romanian companies. 

"The companies have got until the end of the year to register in the application. Each company can benefit from a financial credit worth 200,000 USD, with a contribution of their own worth at least 15pct, and the implementation period will be of 7 years. One of the requirements is for the respective company not to have any debts to the state budget," Laufer stressed. 

In the score grid, the companies included in the manufacturing sector have 30 points, those in the creative industries have 25 points, services have 20 points and the trade has 15 points. 

If the companies had profit in 2017, they receive 10 supplementary points and another 10 points if they were in the black in 2018 as well. The turnout has its importance, too - 10 points in addition for businesses between 50,000 and 100,000 USD, and another 10 points for over 100,000 USD. 

Ten additional points will be gotten by those who direct 70pct of the business plan value to equipment and software. 

Producing in Romania brings another 10 points. The company's own contribution of 15pct means 5 points, between 15pct and 20pct means 10 points and over 20pct means 15 points. 

The programme is implemented with the support of three banks: Piraeus Bank, BCR and Banca Transilvania. 

"Thus, the beneficiaries countrywide have more than 1,000 such outlets, which will allow the access of any company regardless of its location," Laufer added. 

He invited the business people to be part of the programme, saying that it takes less than 30 minutes to register in the application. 

The launch of the platform will be followed by an information caravan in over 30 towns and cities in the country.

Agerpres