The programme will begin in September and will cover enterprises operating for at least five years in the sectors of manufacturing, green economy, home building, transport and high value added services which have been mostly hit by the crisis.

The plan, announced by Development Minster Mihalis Chryssohoidis on Monday, will cover also enterprises with negative balance sheets employing at least one worker on the precondition that they have tax and social insurance clearance and that they will maintain their job positions.

Another precondition is that enterprises should have not received any state support more than 200,000 euros in the last three years. The ministry expects around 20,000 companies to benefit from the programme.