Illumina Global joins the SME Finance Forum
Illumina Global joins the SME Finance Forum
Washington D.C, April 23, 2026–Illumina Global has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 250+ members/affiliates of the Forum are SME financing experts operating in 190 countries who share the common goal of expanding access to finance to small businesses worldwide through knowledge exchange and innovation.
“Joining the SME Finance Forum of the International Finance Corporation marks an important milestone for Illumina Global. It reinforces our commitment to expanding access to global financial systems for institutions operating in underserved markets. Through this collaboration, we look forward to contributing to a broader dialogue on financial inclusion and demonstrating how compliance-led infrastructure, when combined with real-world money moving mechanisms, can unlock new pathways for cross-border trade and economic participation.” - Luis Koberg, Illumina Global CEO
Illumina Global is a cross-border payments intermediary reconnecting de-risked financial institutions in emerging markets to the global economy. Since inception, Illumina has supported banks, NGOs, and payment providers in complex, underserved markets, enabling secure access to international payment rails.
Our model is built on a compliance-first approach, powered by the Klearium Cube, that uses advanced vetting, monitoring, and data-led decisioning to ensure every transaction meets the highest regulatory standards. Our model demonstrates how compliance, when engineered correctly, becomes the enabler—not the barrier—to seamless global payments.
"SME Finance Forum is delighted to welcome Illumina Global, a leader in correspondent services reconnecting financial institutions to global trade, providing cross-border payments and FX solutions. Their commitment to creating a trusted and secure environment for business in emerging markets is well aligned with the Forum and they will undoubtedly bring valuable insights and significant contributions to the network" - Qamar Saleem, Head of SME Finance Forum.
SME Finance Forum: Innovation & Partnership for MSMEs Growth
The SME Finance Forum, backed by G20 and IFC/World Bank, is the leading global network of 250+ members/affiliates operating in 190 countries. The network comprises of SME focused institutions providing and enabling finance and services- banks, non-banks financial institutions, fintech, payment platforms, development institutions, credit guarantee companies, insurers, investment funds, supply chain linked players, banking and SME associations, policy advocates, regulators, academia, consulting houses, knowledge aggregators.
Our member, affiliates, and associated stakeholders benefit from learning/replicating best practices from across the world, innovating new products for business growth, acquiring risk mitigation tools, establishing partnerships, attracting investors, and being recognized amongst a peer group of global innovators. Our activities consist of “members only” offerings (like innovation hubs, solutions clinics, peer group networks, study tours, specialized tools and trainings, member portal repository, partnered initiatives) as well as public services (200+ publications library, 500+ videos, webinars, newsletters, trainings, annual awards, annual event etc.)
Discover the SME Finance Forum members/affiliates:
https://www.smefinanceforum.org/members/member-list
https://smefinanceforum.org/about/partners
About Illumina Global
Illumina Global is a cross-border payments intermediary focused on reconnecting de-risked financial institutions in emerging markets to the global financial system. In the wake of widespread de-risking, where many banks have been excluded from correspondent banking networks, Illumina plays a critical role in restoring access to international payment rails for institutions operating in complex and underserved jurisdictions.
As part of the Klearium Group of companies, Illumina operates within the broader Klearium Environment—an integrated ecosystem of financial institutions, infrastructure, and compliance technology designed to facilitate secure and efficient global payments. This positioning provides Illumina with unique access to correspondent banking relationships, currency networks, and regulated financial infrastructure across multiple jurisdictions, enabling it to support clients in markets where traditional access has become constrained.
Since inception, Illumina has supported a diverse range of banks, non-governmental organisations, and payment service providers, enabling them to transact securely and reliably across borders. By bridging the gap between local financial institutions and global liquidity networks, the company facilitates the movement of funds in regions where traditional banking relationships are limited or unavailable.
At the core of Illumina’s model is a compliance-first architecture, underpinned by the Klearium Cube—its proprietary vetting and decisioning framework. This system leverages advanced data analysis, transaction monitoring, and rule-based validation to assess risk in real time, ensuring that every payment meets stringent international regulatory standards. Through this approach, Illumina enhances transparency, mitigates risk, and builds trust across the payment chain.
Illumina’s model challenges the conventional perception of compliance as a constraint in cross-border finance. Instead, it demonstrates that when compliance is intelligently engineered and rigorously applied, it becomes a powerful enabler—unlocking access, restoring connectivity, and supporting the seamless flow of capital across global markets.
Learn more:
Website:
https://www.illuminaglobal.com/
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