The government will start calling tenders for 450 billion forints (EUR 1.16bn) in European Union and state funding for businesses from the second quarter, the national economy ministry said on Tuesday. The ministry said it had initiated talks with business chambers on finalising the details of the tenders. Tenders for microbusinesses and SMEs in the framework of the Economic Development and Innovation Operative Programme Plus (GINOP Plusz) will be called in “the shortest time possible”, it added. The resources, which will mostly be used for credit and to a smaller degree grants, will support investments in digitalisation, and energy efficiency to allow businesses to preserve their competitiveness.