Two funding sources support the ESP’s operations. While Window-II, also referred to as the reinvigoration fund, offers 4% interest subsidies on both new and existing loans for businesses affected by the pandemic, Window-I offers concessional loans without collateral at a 4% interest rate. The most applications under ESP Window-I were from Thimphu Dzongkhag, where 319 people applied for loans totaling Nu 1.28 billion. Paro received 265 applications totaling Nu 848.81 million, while Trashigang came in second with 289 applications totaling Nu 211.68 million. A high number of loan requests was also reported by a number of other branches. Various regions in the Philippines have received loans, with various applications amounting to various amounts, with the smallest number coming from Warmrong.
The loan requests are presently being evaluated. As of December 31 of last year, BDBL had rejected 221 loan applications totaling 287.99 million and approved 597 applications totaling Nu 299.85 million. Nu 3.3b and Nu 2b have been designated by ESP under Window I and Window II, respectively. The concessional credit program is administered by BDBL alone. The Nu 15 billion ESP initiative, which was introduced in May 2023, intends to boost the economy by giving financial assistance to companies that have been most negatively impacted by the pandemic. Since its official launch in September 2023, the program has been evaluating loan applications.