The president of the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), Aloizio Mercadante, informed this Friday (18) that the institution, through an agreement with the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae), will make available R$ 9.4 billion to smaller businesses. The resources must be transferred through a credit guarantee fund. 
The announcement was made in the capital of São Paulo, during the Believe in Your Business event, organized within the scope of the Believe program, by four ministries, the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex Brasil) and Sebrae. The ceremony was attended by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and a delegation made up of representatives from the top level of the government.
THE Believe Program facilitates access to credit for different economic segments, especially the most vulnerable part of the population. The program was launched by the federal government on April 22 of this year, with three lines of action: training, entrepreneurship and employment.
Mercadante also said that BNDES should sign an agreement with Apex Brasil to support the export of products sold by small businesses. “92% of the market is outside the country and, today, with digital platforms, you sell”, he said, adding that, after the institution found that the level of default of small and medium-sized companies was below expectations, it will release more R $112 billion.
The president of Sebrae, Décio Lima, praised the creation of a program for this purpose, arguing that it filled a long-existing gap and that it popularizes credit. “Credit is no longer a luxury,” he stated. “The little ones growing up, we all grow up.”
Program
The Believe in First Step line was designed for workers without a formal contract, that is, informal workers, low-income families and female entrepreneurs, who already represent 73% of the public served, which has already carried out 30 thousand operations. In this case, the average amount granted is R$6,000. It is estimated that an amount of R$1.25 million in microcredit transactions will be reached by 2026 and that the application will convert into R$7.5 billion in the same period.
The Believe program also takes into account a dimension that has become increasingly important, that of sustainability. Through the Eco Invest Brasil aspect, it seeks to boost, with exchange rate protection, investments in green projects.
Another possibility designed for micro companies and Individual Microentrepreneurs highlighted at the event was ProCred 360, which benefits businesses with revenues of up to R$360 thousand. The rates paid by those who join this program correspond to half of those charged in the general market.
Businesses of this size also rely on Desenrola Pequenos Negócios, which also covers small companies with revenues of up to R$4.8 million per year. The objective is to assist them in paying off outstanding debts, resolving situations of default. The discount applied to debts can reach 95%.
