WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The World Bank on Thursday approved $400 million in funding to help small and medium-sized enterprises in India cope with the global credit crisis.
The loan will be made to the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), which will make available financing to small and medium-sized companies that are finding it hard to get access to credit. It will also go toward refinancing banks and other institutions that lend to small and medium-sized enterprises, known as SMEs.
"This project is part of a larger program of support in response to the government of India request for funding in light of the financial crisis," said Roberto Zagha, World Bank country director for India.
"It is targeted particularly at SMEs, to help address the credit slowdown that has resulted from the financial crisis," he added.
Zagha said credit growth to SMEs has fallen over the last year, which has affected overall growth and development.
