CROATIA: MEASURES FOR THE ECONOMY

At the session held on Tuesday, March 17th, the Government of the Republic of Croatia adopted a total of 66 measures to assist the economy due to coronavirus epidemic. The measures concern a total of 8 ministries, many of which relate to maintaining the liquidity and jobs of entrepreneurs.

What will happen with Tax liabilities?

In order to maintain the liquidity of the company, the Ministry of Finance has proposed an interest-free deferral of payments on the instalments of tax liabilities incurred during and due to special circumstances. The idea of the Government of the Republic of Croatia is to introduce this measure permanently into the law system, so that it can be activated in any circumstances that could affect the payment of tax liabilities in the future.

In cooperation with the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR, https://www.hbor.hr/https://www.hbor.hr/) the Croatian Agency for Small Business, Innovation and Investments (HAMAG-BICRO, https://hamagbicro.hr/https://hamagbicro.hr/) and commercial banks, a number of measures have been proposed to preserve the liquidity of the Croatian economy.

HBOR introduces a moratorium on credit obligations of clients under existing placements and reprogramming of existing loans with the introduction of grace period for repayment of principal, and in cooperation with commercial banks new loans will be approved for financing the so-called cold drive companies.

What about enforced collection?

As part of the support measures, it is proposed that commercial banks suspend forced collection against all debtors over a period of three months. An additional measure is the possibility of new loans for liquidity and working capital up to three years.

In order to help the tourism sector and Croatian exporters, which are among the most vulnerable sectors of the economy due to the coronavirus epidemic, it is envisaged to expand the scope of the export guarantee fund HBOR.

HAMAG-BICRO introduces a moratorium on all installments of ESIF micro and small loans and rural development loans until December 31, 2020 and will extend the repayment of the guaranteed loan.

HAMAG-BICRO measures about micro, small and medium-sized businesses.

HAMAG-BICRO implements six new measures targeting micro, small and medium-sized businesses due to coronavirus.

1. Moratorium on all instalments of ESIF Micro and Small Loans and Micro and Small Rural Development Loans by December 31, 2020 and the extended repayment period of the guaranteed loans.

2. Micro working capital loans for micro and small businesses (grace period of 12 months; reduction of interest to 0,5% – 0,75% – 1,0%, depending on the development index).

3. Reduction of interest rates on investment loans ESIF Micro and Small loans, with 30% share of working capital, to 0.1% -0.25% -0.5%.

4. Increase of the maximum guarantee rate for ESIF individual guarantees for loans for working capital from 65% to 80% of the loan principal.