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While economies have demonstrated resilience over the past several years, economic uncertainty is weighing on the small businesses which are driving our economies. The cost of finance for SMEs remains high, despite recent decreases in SME interest rates, and banks continue to apply stringent lending terms and conditions to mitigate risk. And while venture capital has rebounded, it is highly concentrated in specific sectors like AI. At the same time, uncertainty is impacting business confidence, making SMEs reluctant to take on external finance for investment. These developments have implications for long-term growth, competitiveness and productivity. 

Against this backdrop, how can we create the conditions to incentivize and finance productivity-enhancing investments by SMEs using a range of financing instruments? What role can digital solutions play, both in lowering the cost of finance and strengthening SME productivity? 

This webinar, organized by the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities and the B20 USA, will bring together policy makers, financial institutions, SME representatives and other key stakeholders in an interactive setting. It will feature a presentation of the main findings of Financing SMEs and Entrepreneurs 2026: An OECD Scoreboard, as a springboard for discussion. 

The webinar aims to answer such questions as: 

• How is ongoing economic and policy uncertainty affecting SME financing and investment decisions, and what does this mean for productivity and competitiveness? 

• What policy approaches and market-based solutions can help SMEs invest in productivity-enhancing assets, drawing on a diverse range of financing instruments, including venture capital and Fintech-driven finance? 

• How can we strengthen uptake of digital solutions to enhance access to finance and boost SME productivity? 

Panelists:

• Aline Dimitri, Director General, Small Business Branch, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
• Alexis Dupont, Secretary-General, Turenne Group, France 
• Solveig Hatton, Senior Vice President for Public Sector Europe, Mastercard 
• Amira Karim, Head of Public Policy for Digital Financial Services and Payments Innovation, Amazon 
• Qamar Saleem, Global Head, SME Finance Forum  
• Tom Sullivan, Senior Vice President, Small Business Policy, US Chamber of Commerce