A network of Sardinian credit consortia to encourage access to credit for island businesses. This is the goal of the agreement signed yesterday at the Chamber of Commerce in Sassari between Fidicoop Sardegna and Finart, the former representing Confcooperative and Legacoop, and the latter representing the Confartigianato Sassari network. The agreement comes at a time when access to credit has become challenging for small and medium-sized businesses, due to banks' more selective approaches to granting loans to the productive sector and the wide interest rate differential compared to larger businesses.

The agreement was signed by Fidicoop President Fulgenzio Cocco, Fidicoop General Manager Riccardo Barbieri, and Finart President Maria Amelia Lai, in the presence of banks, trade associations, and interested businesses. "We believe this agreement represents a concrete example of how credit guarantee consortia can work together," Lai stated, "and that it can become a great opportunity for the region we represent. In a historical period marked by profound transformations in the credit system, networking means strengthening the ability to respond to businesses' needs, sharing expertise, expanding the range of guarantees, and improving the effectiveness of actions to support local development." "Cooperation between credit guarantee consortia," Cocco added, "allows not only to optimize available resources, but also to build a model of financial proximity capable of addressing the real needs of micro, small, and medium-sized businesses, leveraging first-hand knowledge of the region and the relationship of trust with entrepreneurs. It is through alliances like this that credit consortia can strengthen their role as local intermediaries, making a concrete contribution to economic growth, competitiveness, and the sustainability of the local productive fabric.

"With today's agreement," Barbieri explains, "we are strengthening and enhancing the instrument of credit consortia, including at a local level. These financial institutions are deeply familiar with the businesses they support on a daily basis. Fidicoop, which has provided €55 million in guarantees, with €105 million in guaranteed credit lines and nearly €30 million in risk funds, is offering its expertise in the strategic sectors of the Sardinian agri-food sector, primarily dairy and wine, while Finart offers a significant membership base. The agreement also highlights the banking system's renewed interest in credit consortia."


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