INFLUENCE OF THE WORLD FINANCIAL CRISIS ON THE SITUATION OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES IN SLOVENIA

Tako v Sloveniji, kot tudi v Evropski Uniji, mala in srednje velika podjetja pomembno prispevajo k ekonomskemu razvoju. Zaradi sposobnosti hitrega reagiranja na nove poslovne priložnosti, prilagodljivosti in inovativnosti, njihov pomen samo narašča. Priznana so kot potencialno najbolj dinamičen del gospodarstva. So tudi vir novih in obstoječih delovnih mest, instrument pospeševanja konkurenčnosti industrije in pogosto motor krajevnega gospodarstva. Podjetja imajo za svoje poslovanje različne vire financiranja. Dostop do finančnih virov je eden najpomembnejših izzivov za nastanek, preživetje in uspešno rast malih in srednje velikih podjetij, še posebej tistih, katerih proizvodi oziroma način poslovanja je zelo inovativen. Glavni problemi financiranja malih in srednje velikih podjetij v Sloveniji so predraga finančna sredstva, omejene možnosti dostopa do le-teh, omejitve pri najemanju posojil v tujini, nepoznavanje drugih oblik financiranja podjetij (financiranje s tveganim kapitalom) in pomanjkanje drugih oblik financiranja (skladi tveganega kapitala). Mala in srednje velika podjetja imajo že v ugodnih gospodarskih razmerah velike težave pri pridobivanju finančnih sredstev, slabša razvitost slovenskega finančnega sistema pa je v času udara finančne krize še bolj zaznamovala vire financiranja in finančno strukturo podjetij. V ekonomski politiki držav so mala in srednje velika podjetja pridobila poseben pomen in so tudi v kriznih časih deležna posebnih ukrepov. Vlade oblikujejo in razvijajo programe za preživetje, rast in razvoj, ki so se v času finančne in gospodarske krize še okrepili. Na nastalo okoliščino so se odzvale vlade držav povsod po svetu, vlade držav Evropske Unije, med njimi tudi Slovenija.Not only in Slovenia but also in the European Union, the small and medium sized enterprises contribute significantly to the economic development. Because of their ability to react quickly to new business opportunities, their adaptability and innovativeness, they are becoming increasingly important. They are recognised as potentially the most dynamic part of the economy. They represent a source of new and existing workplaces, an instrument to increasing the competitiveness of the industry, and they are often the engine that drives the local economy. The enterprises have different sources of financing to ensure their operations. Access to the financial resources presents one of the greatest challenges that the small and medium sized enterprises are forced to face in order to establish themselves, survive and grow successfully. The challenge is even more important for those enterprises, the products or operations of which are very innovative. In Slovenia, the main problems of financing the small and medium sized enterprises are represented by too expensive financial resources, limited access to them, further limitations in the granting of loans abroad, lack of knowledge about other forms of financing for enterprises (financing through venture capital), and lack of other forms of financing (venture capital funds). In acquiring financial resources, small and medium sized enterprises face major problems even in favourable economic conditions, and the less developed Slovenian financial system, together with a severe financial crisis, has marked the sources of financing and the financial structure of enterprises even more. The importance of small and medium sized enterprises has increased in the economic policies of different countries. Moreover, they are subject to special measures during the times of crisis. The governments are establishing and developing programmes for survival, growth and development, which have become even more strengthened during the financial and economic crisis. The governments of countries all over the world responded to the current situation, including the governments of the European Union countries and, among them, also Slovenia