The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) urged guarantee agencies for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to increase their support to SMEs in a move to help them overcome the international financial turmoil.

The guarantee agencies should shorten the process of transaction, increase efficiency and lower the charges for loan guarantee services, the ministry said in a document released on Dec 15.

The move is expected to be followed by other policies. The 21st Century Business Herald reported that the ministry made suggestions to the State Council, or the Cabinet, to support the upgrading of technology and the restructuring of SMEs, including allocating funds for technologies and discount loans based on investigation of their performance since September.

MIIT statistics show SMEs are now suffering from particular financial difficulties as the financial crisis spreads around the globe.

(China Daily December 16, 2008)