SAMA extends deferred payment program for impacted MSMEs by another 3 months

Logo of Saudi Central Bank

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) extended the deferred payment program for the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 precautionary measures for three additional months from Jan. 1 to March 31, 2022.

The extension is based on the assessment of the financing entities, the apex bank said in a statement today, Dec. 30.

The deferred payment program has benefited more than 107,000 contracts with a total value of deferred payments worth SAR 181 billion since its launch on March 14, 2020, to date.

In March 2020, SAMA launched a SAR 50 billion financing package to support the private sector, especially the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and mitigate the potential economic impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak. The program has been extended several times since its launch.