As company balance sheets become increasingly saturated with liabilities and future cash flows less certain, the scope for obtaining bank finance on balanced terms is limited. Yet companies need fresh capital to continue investing and to make their business more resilient to energy shocks and lack of raw materials, and to cope with rising costs, which often cannot be offset by an increased price of the end product.

To adopt aid measures early and ensure business continuity, the government is proposing new rules on wage subsidy aid to help taxpayers stay in business in a Covid-19 crisis. This article explores the content of the proposals so taxpayers know what industries are eligible for this aid and how they can apply.

Russia’s military aggression has significantly affected some of the businesses importing metal products from Russia and Belarus, as well as industries such as metalworking, defence, construction, mechanical engineering, and information & communication technologies. To promote market stability, the Ministry of Economics intends to implement aid measures as an immediate solution in the form of financial instruments to ensure traders’ future business.