KEXIM Offers Venture Loans Up to 5 Billion Won... Cuts Interest Rate for Restructuring SMEs to 1%

"KEXIM-Style Productive Inclusive Finance" Launched
Support for Startups and Business Recovery

The Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) announced on September 13, 2026 that it will officially launch the "KEXIM-Style Productive Inclusive Finance" program, which supports the entire business lifecycle of small and venture enterprises, from startup and growth to recovery.

The core of the program is to link investment and loans at each growth stage to help companies make significant progress, as well as to provide additional opportunities for companies facing business difficulties to make a new start.

First, KEXIM will introduce the "Technology Special Loan," which uses technology assessment instead of credit evaluation for venture companies with strong technology but limited revenue, making it difficult for them to obtain loans. Companies with annual sales of at least 2 billion won can receive up to 5 billion won in support over a maximum period of three years.

For companies with export and import track records but in urgent need of operating funds, KEXIM will provide up to 500 million won through the "Fast Track Special Loan," which is evaluated based on financial ratings and business execution capability, without a credit assessment. These special loans will be offered at interest rates equivalent to those for top-tier small businesses, with additional preferential rates for companies located outside the Seoul metropolitan area.

The financial burden for enterprises will also be reduced. KEXIM will make a special contribution to the Korea Credit Guarantee Fund to cover up to a total of 3.0 percentage points of the guarantee fees, which would otherwise be paid by companies using the guarantee, for up to three years. KEXIM and the Korea Credit Guarantee Fund plan to sign a related special business agreement within this month. In addition, the credit evaluation system will be rationalized within this year to prevent promising small enterprises from having to pay additional interest due to credit rating restrictions.

Growth-stage companies will be provided with a financial package linking investment and loans. KEXIM will establish venture funds to foster new growth drivers such as artificial intelligence (AI), cutting-edge strategic industries, and K-culture, and plans to select fund managers in December. The bank will also support companies receiving investment from KEXIM to secure funding through technology loans and other means, and will strengthen joint support in collaboration with venture capital (VC) management firms and financial institutions.

Companies pursuing business normalization will be granted a second chance. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) undergoing restructuring that are faithfully repaying principal and interest, the interest rate will be reduced to as low as 1% per annum, and principal repayments will be prioritized by applying the amount saved on interest, thereby lessening their debt burden.

KEXIM will also write off 1.62 billion won in long-term uncollected special assets that are deemed unlikely to be recovered. This will apply to special assets with write-offs already completed, among loans of 300 million won or less that have proved hard to recover despite prolonged efforts.

A KEXIM official stated, "Through KEXIM-style productive inclusive finance, we will build an ecosystem that supports the entire growth trajectory of domestic small and venture enterprises, from startup and growth to new challenges," and added, "We will also expand productive inclusive finance by continuing our existing crisis-response special programs and co-prosperity support for partner SMEs working with large enterprises."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.