The Croatian Chamber of Economy (HGK) on Wednesday presented measures to help industries hit by the coronavirus outbreak, including a loan scheme with minimum interest rates, loan rescheduling and a bailout fund.

The HGK president Luka Burilovic earlier in the day outlined the measures to Finance Minister Zdravko Maric.

Burilovic said that the aim was “to help companies and the economy to overcome the current crisis, with a minimum impact on the state budget.”

He also said that the measures, which are designed for export-oriented sectors hardest hit by the outbreak of the virus, envisage the preparation by the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR) of a scheme offering loans at minimum interest rates.

Businesses affected by the crisis will also be given an opportunity to reschedule their loans and defer loan repayments.

The measures also include setting up a state fund to ensure funds for monthly wages to workers in the companies hit by the crisis, and taking a more flexible approach to bad loans in a bid to prevent the short-term crisis from pushing companies into bankruptcy.

The HGK proposed that the measures to ease the impact of the outbreak of COVID-19 also be coordinated with the European Union. It said it would continue to closely follow the situation and take into consideration suggestions by its members.