Bezeq workers deploying fiber optics Photo: Bezeq Corporate Communications The Small and Medium Business Agency in the Ministry of Economy and Industry is launching additional allocations of incentive and assistance programs for small and medium-sized businesses during the Corona period.
Assistance grants to increase online business activity and make necessary adjustments at the business due to the outbreak of coronavirus.
The goal of the program is to help businesses increase the volume of online business activity as well as adapt themselves to work in the corona routine.
The budget cost of the program is estimated at NIS 75 million and is intended to help businesses that choose to upgrade their business, including moving to online commerce, including clearing the site, shipping and related expenses. The purpose of the grant is to enable businesses to upgrade the business and adapt it to the current requirements, as well as to prepare for further activities, even in the event of a closure renewal, and to cover, among other things, the purchase and installation of equipment and physical accommodations designed to adapt the business to the purple character.
The amount of the grant will be determined against the business expenses for the required adjustments, and will cover about 50% of the expenses up to about NIS 5,000 for a business not including VAT. A business wishing to receive the grant can submit an ‘Eligibility Request’ for assistance through a digital form on the Small and Medium Business Agency’s website at the Ministry of Economy and Industry. Upon submission of the form, the business will receive an email with a certificate of eligibility that will be valid for 90 days. A call will then be made to the business for the purpose of providing an explanation of the terms of the grant and eligibility and for the purpose of sending a link to submit the payment request. The payment requirements will be examined, and after their approval, the payment will go to the business on a “current +30” payment terms.
The Corona crisis highlighted the need for high-quality, fast and reliable communications infrastructure, which will enable remote work in a variety of industries. The shift to telework by most of the economy has led to an increase in home internet consumption during the crisis, which has created many congestion, and complaints about repeated falls in internet infrastructure.
The new reality has led to the acceleration of the process of improving the communications infrastructure in Israel. The use of advanced communication infrastructures will help businesses maintain and expand their digital operations, in such a way that even if they are required to operate the business remotely, the communication infrastructures will allow for continued proper operation.
Fiber optic cables make it possible to transmit a large amount of data at high speed and reliability. Currently, the FttH infrastructure is the most advanced stationary communication technology, and it enables a stable, fast and symmetrical connection. Fiber-based fiber-optic infrastructure in the FttH configuration can upgrade the browsing speed of businesses up to 1,000 megabytes per second, which will allow, among other things, smooth and stable use of various conferencing applications, remote work on complex systems installed at remote sites, and effective customer service.
Under the plan, which has a budget cost of NIS 20 million, businesses will receive a grant of NIS 1,000 including VAT for connection to the FttH infrastructure made from April 2020 and only for a plan whose monthly cost does not exceed NIS 250. Businesses wishing to apply for a grant will fill out a digital form on the website of the Small and Medium Business Agency at the Ministry of Economy, and upon submitting the form, the business will receive an “eligibility certificate” via email that will be valid for 90 days. During this period, the business must submit a “payment request” to which an invoice must be attached indicating the business’ connection to the fiber-optic infrastructure. The payment requirements will be examined, and after their approval, the payment will go to the business on a “current +30” payment terms.
To apply for assistance in financing a fiber-optic Internet infrastructure.
To apply for a grant for adjustments in the business and promotion of digital activity.
The Minister of Economy, Amir Peretz: “After the high demand for aid routes, we in the Ministry of Economy are opening additional allocations to the requested programs and allocating tens of millions of NIS to improve small and medium-sized businesses, create continuity of activity during the corona period and prepare for the day after the crisis.
The director of the Small and Medium Business Agency, Ran Kaviti: “The Corona crisis has brought with it many challenges for businesses. Business owners were required to make special adjustments in order to meet the purple mark. The agency is launching a second round of grants, and I invite you to enter the small and medium-sized business agency’s website and exercise your eligibility. ”