The government of the Russian Federation in the state Duma introduced a bill aimed at expanding the range of entities receiving preferential loan funds in the agro-industrial complex (AIC). The document is available in the electronic database of the lower house of Parliament.

Under the bill, the government can support lending to agricultural producers, organizations and individual entrepreneurs engaged in primary and (or) subsequent (industrial) processing of agricultural products and its implementation in accordance with the list approved by the government, provided that the share of income from the sale of these products in total income is not less than 70% per year.

Credit support will also be provided to organizations and individual entrepreneurs, implementing investment projects in the agricultural sector is subject to confirmation at the end of three years from the date of conclusion of the contract on the loan, but not later than the expiration date of the term of such loan that the share of income from the sale of these products in total income is not less than 70% per year.

Also soft loans can be provided to organizations and individual entrepreneurs in case if they meet the requirements of the government for the implementation of Federal projects included in the national projects (programs) in the areas determined by the President of the Russian Federation.

"Using preferential loans of the newly created Russian companies allows to involve in the production of agricultural products new market entrants with the necessary financial and material resources for the implementation of important major infrastructure inter-regional projects, which are growth drivers of agriculture, food and processing industry, technical and technological modernization of production facilities", - stated in the explanatory Memorandum.