Four government-backed lenders said Thursday they have begun offering special low-interest loans to small and midsize firms affected by the bird flu outbreak.
The measure is intended to help any chicken-related company suffering from declining domestic demand or the suspension of imports, the lenders said.
Shoko Chukin Bank, for example, is offering loans at annual interest rates ranging from 1.7 percent to 1.95 percent within a limit of 480 million yen per company. The bank has 99 branches across the nation.
National Life Finance Corp. and Japan Finance Corporation for Small Business have begun offering similar loans.
The financial institutions are using a special loan system designed to help smaller companies cope with any serious crisis.