Boosting SME Finance for Growth : The Case for More Effective Support Policies
This report offers strategic and actionable guidance to policymakers in strengthening their access to finance policies for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This report emphasizes the need to improve the enabling environment for SME debt and equity financing. It outlines a roadmap of eight key actions to guide policymakers in achieving this. While such reforms are necessary, they are often insufficient to fully address SME financing constraints. Targeted financial programs thus remain essential to bridge the financing gaps effectively. This report outlines seven actions to improve the design and implementation of these interventions to maximize their impact and the effective use of public funding. This report also underscores the importance of a tailored approach to address the distinct challenges faced by specific SME segments, particularly those of women-owned (and led) SMEs, SMEs in agriculture, SMEs in fragile and conflict-affected states, and those seeking financing for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Convergence Blended Finance, the Global Blended Finance Network Driving Private Investment in Developing Countries, joins the SME Finance Forum.
Innovative Financing for Inclusive Credit Fintechs in Africa
KoreFusion Consulting, a boutique strategy consulting and investment bank focused on SME payments and financing in North America and Western Europe, joins the SME Finance Forum
Washington D.C, September 30th, 2024 – KoreFusion Consulting, a boutique strategy consulting and investment bank focused on SME payments and financing in North America and Western Europe has joined the SME Finance Forum as the global membership network’s latest member. The 300+ 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.
“SME Finance Forum proudly welcomes the leading SME payments and financing Non-Bank Financial Institution in North America and Western Europe to our network. It is with great pleasure I welcome KoreFusion Consulting to SME Finance Forum which is in line with our strategy of onboarding leading SME payments and financing Non-Bank Financial Institution in emerging markets for impact,” said Qamar Saleem, Head of SME Finance Forum.
KoreFusion Consulting is a boutique strategy consulting and investment bank exclusively focused on payments and fintechs. Our clients are leading fintechs and international blue-chip payments companies. Over three fourths of the projects we complete are related to commercial and SME payments and financing. We are incorporated in the USA, Dubai, and Singapore and have team members in nine countries. We have completed nearly 500 projects and deals since 2013 across 77 countries. Historically we focused on developing countries and are recently growing in North America and Western Europe.
“As we embark on this journey with the SME Finance Forum, we seek and highly value data and thinkers who can help us improve our SME related work and deliverables. Despite the importance of SMEs as employers, engines of economic growth and catalysts of financial inclusion, reliable platforms of information and networks of specialists in the SME space have been hard to find. This absence is magnified when needing to work across multiple geographies, topics, and stakeholders. The SME Finance Forum fills this void and has earned the distinction of being regarded as a compass of information and deep thinking. The community and resources harnessed by the SME Finance Forum are essential to our being effective strategists and purveyors of investment advice in commercial payments. We also appreciate the opportunity to share our data and thinking with similar minded peers. Being able to both learn and share fosters a virtuous cycle of innovation, thought leadership, and analysis that improves the financial solutions offered to SMEs, and in turn further empowers their effectiveness as engines of social and economic development,” said Mr. Jan Alejandro Smith Ramos, Co-Founder & Group CEO at KoreFusion Consulting.
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 300+ members/affiliates operating in 190 countries. 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 products consist of “members only” solutions (like innovation hubs, solutions clinics, peer group networks, study tours, specialized tools and trainings, member portal repository, partnered initiatives) as well as public good 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
About KoreFusion Consulting
KoreFusion Consulting is a boutique strategy consulting and investment bank exclusively focused on payments and fintechs. Our clients are leading fintechs and international blue-chip payments companies. Over three fourths of the projects we complete are related to commercial and SME payments and financing. We are incorporated in the USA, Dubai, and Singapore and have team members in nine countries. We have completed nearly 500 projects and deals since 2013 across 77 countries. Historically we focused on developing countries and are recently growing in North America and Western Europe.
Learn more:
Website: http://www.korefusion.com and http://www.korefusioncapital.com
Intesa Sanpaolo’s acquisition of First Bank in Romania
Leader Dialogue Series - Interview with PVSLN, Murty, Chairman and Managing Director, North Eastern Development Finance Corporation (NEDFi)
Learn from PVSLN, Murty, Chairman and Managing Director, North Eastern Development Finance Corporation (NEDFi), about their mission to champion the entrepreneurial spirit of the North Eastern Region of India, financing commercially viable industries and providing consultancy services.
The interview is led by Hans Koning, Global Chief Industry Specialist, Digital Finance at IFC.
''In the North Eastern Region of India, we have 4000 MSMEs registered but only 14% are active. The remaining need financing support. Among the small businesses we are targeting and investing in are some start-ups, in particular those working in cloud-computing such as quantum."
The SME Finance Forum’s Leader Dialogues is a series of one-on-one interviews with CEOs, senior executives of financial institutions and technology companies as well as financial sector regulators.
Learn more about NEDFi
Financial institution catalyzing economic development of the North Eastern Region of India by identifying and financing commercially viable industries, providing valued advisory & consultancy services, promoting entrepreneurship through effective mentoring, skill development and capacity building of the micro, small and medium enterprises and generating sustainable livelihoods through Micro Finance and CSR activities.
Introducing the SME Finance Virtual Marketplace
The “SME Finance Virtual Marketplace” is an online match-making platform that promotes partnership and collaboration between financial institutions, fintech companies and development finance institutions/ investors.
The virtual Marketplace is powered by GlobalLinker, an AI powered ‘Digital Ecosystem’ offering SMEs a range of services to build digital presence including e-commerce.
How does the Marketplace operate?
To participate in the marketplace session, your institution must have an institutional profile (company profile) and personal profiles (individuals representing the companies) set up on the marketplace. Institutional profile shall also include products/services being offered.
Representatives of your institution can explore offerings available in the platform, such as investment products, advisory services, technology solutions...etc.
The virtual platform enables individuals to reach out to one another to discuss potential collaboration and partnership at their own convenience.
Marketplace Pitch Sessions
The marketplace sessions are scheduled monthly and feature institutions (DFIs, fintechs, investors, etc.) who present their products/services during a 7-minute pitch.
Following the presentations, participants can reach out directly to the presenting institutions to make inquiries or explore partnership opportunities.
