FIREMPRESA was approved for US$600 million and US$100 million more was added due to the increase in the minimum wage. The head of BANDESAL noted that the first amount has already been channeled and, of the overall US$700 million, US$614 million was used.

"More than US$505 million were placed in pure credits", he said, and now that the collection stage has begun, "people are paying correctly", which guarantees that "the State will recover that money".

He also said that this program has been a model of great impact on the country's micro, small and medium-sized businesses and for those in the informal sector, which has generated interest beyond the country's borders.

FIREMPRESA established unparalleled conditions at the time of people's greatest need, when the fight against COVID-19 forced mandatory isolation and economic incomes fell.

"One year full grace, 3% interest, 10 years to pay, up to half a million dollars of financing and no real estate collateral were unique conditions that could only be guaranteed with this trust", Durán said.

It is worth mentioning that through the trust, 82,657 operations were also carried out, including individual and collective subsidies, such as for orchestras, artists, fishermen, cab drivers, among others.