The government will provide special loans to small business owners who are feeling the pinch due to the avian influenza(AI) outbreak.
 
The decision came during an emergency meeting Friday chaired by Vice Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok.
 
Under the plan, five-year loans of up to 70 million won, or 66-thousand U.S. dollars, will be doled out to poultry and egg sellers, restaurants, bakeries and small-sized distributors starting in mid-January. The interest rate has been set at two percent.
 
A Finance Ministry official said that the provision of government loans is very unusual, adding that it was prompted by a request from small business owners who are experiencing difficulties due to the disrupted supply of poultry and eggs.