Officials in the Absorption Ministry are planning to increase the loans granted to new immigrants who open or expand a business.  The new loan criteria will be officially announced during the upcoming annual entrepreneurs conference.

The new criteria will be implemented in 2008, and will make it easier for immigrants to receive business loans.  The maximum amount of money granted will be NIS 70,000 instead of NIS 35,000, and in some cases will be up to NIS 100,000.  Up to NIS 5,000 of the loan money will later become a grant.