18 banks apply for Bt30 bn soft loans
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Eighteen banks have applied for loans worth Bt30 billion under the government's soft-loan programme for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), according to the Government Savings Bank.
Chatchai Payuhanaveechai, president of GSB which oversees the Bt100 billion soft-loan scheme launched last month, said that loan demand should hit the ceiling in December.
GSB itself received applications from its clients for loans worth over Bt13 billion in the first month of the programme, though the bank targets to lend only Bt8 billion. About Bt2 billion is under the approval process, Chatchai said.
The clients represent three sectors - fishing, tourism and construction, and some tap loans for procurements as well as working capital.
Under the soft-loan scheme, entrepreneurs will be charged 4 per cent per annum for a 7-year period.
