“A total 19,296 business plans were submitted, of which 34% (6,539) were registered on the last day (…) Over 10,000 business plans are pending,” Laufer also said.
RON500 million from EU funds and RON1.2 billion from state budget funds were allocated for the Start-up Nation program. Over 44,000 new jobs will be created.
“I am convinced we shall manage to achieve a 100% absorption rate of EU funds allocated for the Start-up Nation program. I am also convinced we can also absorb local funds from the state budget for this program. It is a program with an unprecedented result in Romania’s history and we shall make an analysis to see if there is such a program for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe,” said Laufer.
The minister added there is a maximum potential of 45,000 newly created jobs, provided all business plans get funding, and a funding request of $1 billion, namely RON3.7 billion.
The implementation of the project reaches 77.8% in urban areas and 22.9% in rural areas.
A total 2,928 projects (1,339 approved) were submitted in Bucharest, 2,289 projects (1,250 approved) were submitted in Cluj and 885 projects in Timis.