Türkiye reaches an all-time high in interest-subsidized, Treasury-backed loans to artisans and craftsmen. Support expanded across 18 sectors, while loan conditions were eased and new zero-interest credit programs were launched for young entrepreneurs.
In line with the government’s production and employment-oriented economic vision, the Ministry of Trade of Türkiye has reached a significant milestone. As of the end of April 2025, the total amount of interest-reduced, Treasury-supported loans extended to artisans and craftsmen has exceeded 615.4 billion TL, marking the highest level in the history of the Republic.
Between January and April 2025 alone, 86,416 businesses benefited from 51.5 billion TL in financing. In 2024, 232,192 loans were provided, amounting to 114.8 billion TL. In 2023, the record year to date, 441,151 loans totaling 164 billion TL were extended. Currently, there are 791,047 active credit users, with a total outstanding loan balance of 261.5 billion TL.
Top Three Sectors by Credit Volume:
- Wholesale and Retail Trade: 82 billion TL
- Transportation and Storage: 72 billion TL
- Manufacturing: 22.3 billion TL
These three sectors account for more than half of the total credit volume, while a total of 18 sectors—from agriculture to tourism, education to healthcare—benefit from financing.
New Loan Incentives for Artisans and Craftsmen:
- The loan ceiling was raised to 1 million TL for general business loans and 2.5 million TL for investment loans.
- Used vehicle purchases (up to five years old) are now eligible for investment loans.
- Repayment terms have been extended from 36 months to 48 months, and payment intervals can now be made every six months instead of every three.
- The operational start requirement for credit applications has been reduced from six to three months.
- The interest rate paid by loan recipients has been reduced from 29% to 25%, while the Treasury subsidy rate increased from 20% to 50%.
Zero-Interest Credit for Entrepreneurs:
To support entrepreneurship, the Ministry has launched zero-interest special programs, including:
- Young Entrepreneur Loans: 145.5 million TL to 768 recipients
- Master Artisan Loans: 18.9 million TL to 255 recipients
- Traditional Craft Preservation Loans: 17.3 million TL to 270 recipients
In addition, 13,829 entrepreneurs received 8.9 billion TL in investment loans for business premises or vehicle acquisition.
Special Relief for Earthquake-Affected Businesses
Following the February 6, 2023 earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye extended targeted relief measures to support recovery. 27,202 enterprises in the disaster zone received 6.73 billion TL in 50% interest-reduced loans. Loan repayments were deferred twice for six-month periods, and overdue loan interest was waived.
