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Out with Old. New Ecosystem of Digital Financial Services Support SMEs Growth for SDGs

Out with Old. New Ecosystem of Digital Financial Services Support SMEs Growth for SDGs

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Carmen Smith
May 01, 2019

Matthew Gamser, CEO of the SME Finance Forum, was the keynote speaker at the United Nations Secretary-General's Task Force on Digital Financing of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Gamser led a policy discussion on innovative mechanisms to finance MSMEs at the UN's headquarters alongside experts from Visa, Milken Institute and KIVA.

SMEs are a key driver of growth, directly affecting SDG 8, 9 and 17. Emerging markets generated...

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A Better Way to Finance SMEs: A Global Network Offers Solutions

A Better Way to Finance SMEs: A Global Network Offers Solutions

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Matt Gamser

May 25, 2018
Why must we do better in financing small business? It’s probably not necessary to tell this readership group that we really should care about small businesses. Not because there’s anything especially great about being small, but because they are engines of job creation and economic growth. We want them to grow! 9 out of 10 new jobs worldwide are...
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Five Win $1000 Tickets to the Global SME Finance Forum 2018 in Madrid this November!

Five Win $1000 Tickets to the Global SME Finance Forum 2018 in Madrid this November!

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Carmen Smith

May 22, 2018
Thank you for helping the SME Finance Forum LinkedIn discussion group reach 10,000 members. From May 14-16, members entered the raffle to win a complimentary ticket to the Global SME Finance Forum 2018. Below are the winners! Congratulations: Monisha Hermans - Consultant - Philippines Jacqueline Urquizo – Sygoes - USA Mercyline Njoroge – Proparco...
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Member Engagement Awards 2017

Member Engagement Awards 2017

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Carmen Smith

Dec 01, 2017
The SME Finance Forum recognized 10 of its 134 member organizations on November 2 at our annual gathering in Berlin. The first Membership Engagement Awards recognized members that have strengthened its global network in three categories: 1. Best Contributor, 2. Best Participant and 3. Best Partnership. The recipients were: Best Contributor Best...
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Digitization of SME Finance Is a Win-Win for All

Digitization of SME Finance Is a Win-Win for All

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Matt Gamser

Sep 28, 2017
Globally, access to finance remains one of the most significant constraints to the growth, productivity and even survival of SMEs – and to the critical jobs they create. The SME credit gap is both a demand and supply side problem. On the demand side, many SMEs cannot get access to credit because bankers cannot see the critical information they...
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Choosing the Right AI Underwriting System – 4 Steps to Success

Choosing the Right AI Underwriting System – 4 Steps to Success

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Patrick Reily

Sep 18, 2017
As SME lenders, we face the challenge of satisfying simultaneous objectives — shareholder return, borrower empowerment, economic development and financial inclusion — all within regulatory compliance. Even the most capable underwriters struggle to do all of these well, especially all at the same time. The top Fintech/AI underwriting systems...
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The Essential Ingredients for Financial Inclusion

The Essential Ingredients for Financial Inclusion

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Matt Gamser

Sep 06, 2017
Technology and mobile penetration have revolutionised access to finance. The mobile phone, and the ability to transfer money digitally has helped give millions access to financial services. The phones have become ‘financial receptacles’ that can be used to perform safe and secure transactions giving people access wherever they are. However, access...
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Ishenim, CreditInfo Partner on Shareholder Agreement

Ishenim, CreditInfo Partner on Shareholder Agreement

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Fabrizio Fraboni

Aug 03, 2017
On June 29, 2017, the Kyrgyz Republic’s Credit Information Bureau “Ishenim” and Iceland-based CreditInfo Solutions commemorated the beginning of a strategic and technical partnership in a landmark shareholder agreement signing ceremony. This fundamental occasion marked an important milestone in the World Bank Group’s Azerbaijan and Central Asia...
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Alternative Data Transforming SME Finance

Alternative Data Transforming SME Finance

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John Owens

by 

Lisa Wilhelm

Jun 26, 2017
Many traditional commercial banks consider small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to be high-risk clients, as well as high-cost clients to acquire, underwrite and serve. There is limited SME coverage by credit reporting service providers especially in emerging markets where SME informality is high. While being able to analyze SME financial data was...
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IFC Annual Digital Finance Partners Meeting - Singapore May 23-24

IFC Annual Digital Finance Partners Meeting - Singapore May 23-24

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Matt Gamser

May 30, 2017
The SME Finance Forum was very pleased to be asked to assist in IFC’s annual Digital Finance Partners meeting. This meeting attracted well over 100 participants from some 40 countries: Fintech partners, fintechs interested in partnerships, IFC client financial institutions, IFC investment and advisory staff. The even took place over 2 days. The...
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Entrepreneurship and Jobs: Think Small

Entrepreneurship and Jobs: Think Small

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Ejaz Ghani

May 23, 2017
Nearly one million new workers will join the labor force every month in India for the next two decades. This is equivalent to the entire population of Sweden joining the labor force in India, every year, for the next two decades. The pace at which India creates new jobs will determine whether India’s demographic trend turns into a dividend or a...
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