Financing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is not a social policy, but a necessity. If we want a resilient economy, we must ensure that consistent businesses and citizens have access to a fair and functional financial system, the president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ioannis Bratakos, said in an interview with “N”, noting that “we need more speed and better targeting.
“Growth cannot rely only on the big ones,” he underlined
Asked on the main obstacle for SMEs, he replied: “It is a fact that banking assessment models have not yet been sufficiently adapted to the structure of Greek SMEs. Small businesses do not always have a strong balance sheet or real estate for collateral, but they do have real activity, turnover and prospects. We therefore need tools that better respond to this reality: more guarantees and more specialized products. In other words, we must give small businesses the opportunity to prove their credibility, without having to mortgage their future.”
On the role of servicers, he stated that they manage a critical part of private debt. “Therefore, they directly affect the viability of businesses and households, as well as the overall payment culture. The goal cannot be exclusively the accounting recovery of receivables. Where there is viable activity, realistic and functional arrangements are needed, with clear rules and substantive dialogue. If a business can survive, it must be given the opportunity to continue, because otherwise productive capital is lost.”
Bratakos focused on three practical and applicable solutions: more guarantees instead of collateral, a substantial second chance for regulated businesses and strengthening alternative forms of financing, such as microcredit and factoring.
“We need to open up the agenda of options for small businesses, especially for working capital. Simpler procedures also help: less bureaucracy, faster approvals and products that ‘fit’ into the real business model. At the same time, of course, we also need to increase the ‘readiness’ of the business: with a basic organization, a simple business plan, a clear picture of cash flows. The more mature the small business is, the easier it will be able to secure financing. At the Chamber, we are already working on designing a new platform that will help in the evaluation and financing of small businesses, in cooperation with the market and institutions.”
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