PUBLIC SUPPORT PROGRAMS IN FINANCING OF SMALL AND MEDIUM – SIZED ENTERPRISES

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are a key segment of the business sector in Slovakia, as well as the backbone of the economy and the basis for the country's competitiveness. An important prerequisite for their successful development is a favorable business environment and the provision of appropriate forms of support, because SMEs usually have limited resources and significantly higher sensitivity to the existence of different barriers in business compared to large enterprises. In Slovakia, a number of support measures have been implemented, which directly or indirectly aimed at SMEs support. The aim of the article is to evaluate current SMEs supporting programs in the Slovak Republic and to develop measures improving support system.