OREANDA-NEWS. December 24, 2010. Predicated on the signatories’ mutual commitment to promote small and midsized business interests in Russia and to work together to address ongoing SME concerns, the agreement aims, among other objectives, to provide the nation’s entrepreneurs with affordable banking solutions on easy terms

Uniastrum Bank and the All-Russian Non-Governmental Organization of Medium and Small Business, OPORA Russia, are joining forces with a view to improving the funding options available to Russia’s small and midsized enterprises, while simultaneously working for amendments in the country’s legislation governing SME access to banking services. By means of joint information and analysis, research, promotion and educational programs, the Bank and OPORA Russia are looking to increase the financial literacy of SME owners and personnel.

“Our common cause is to lend support to small and medium-sized business,” Eugene Tutkevich, Chairman of Uniastrum’s Management Board, said at the signing of the agreement. “By bringing together SME owners around the country, OPORA Russia is making an immense contribution to the establishment of an auspicious environment in which the nation’s business community can grow and prosper. For the record, let it be said that Uniastrum’s unswerving commitment to honing its small and medium-sized lending programs is intrinsic to its strategic development objectives.”

Uniastrum continues to play an active part in the government-sponsored SME lending program operated by the Russian Bank for Development, which enables business owners to access credit at preferential rates. Meantime, the Bank’s partnership relations with regional administrations and foundations are expanding. In H110 total loans disbursed by Uniastrum Bank to small enterprises surged 78%. Thanks to its proactive operations in this area, Uniastrum ranks among Russia’s Top-10 SME lenders, according to figures released by RosBusinessConsulting news agency.