Scaling up Access to Finance for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Washington, DC

February 27, 2019

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which make key contributions to GDP and employment, face significant challenges in accessing finance. This panel discussion will focused on policies to improve access to finance for SMEs.

Opening Remarks 

David Lipton, IMF First Deputy Managing Director 

(link)
Presentation of IMF paper on SME financial inclusion Jihad Azour, IMF Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department
Panel Discussion

Moderator
Jihad Azour, Director, IMF Middle East and Central Asia Dept.


Speakers:
  • Ceyla Pazarbasioglu, Vice President for Equitable Growth, Finance and Institutions, World Bank
  • Tim Adams, President and Chief Executive Officer, Institute of International Finance (IIF) 
  • Ayman El Tarabishy, Executive Director, International Council of Small Business and Teaching Professor, George Washington University 
Questions and Answers
Moderator
Jihad Azour, Director, IMF Middle East and Central Asia Dept.

Full text: English
Executive Summary: Arabic, French

Webcast

Access to Finance for Small and Medium Enterprises

A departmental paper entitled Financial Inclusion of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the Middle East and Central Asia was launched in a seminar at the American University in Cairo, Tahrir campus, on February 12, 2019. The event was co-hosted by the American University in Cairo, the Economic Research Forum, and the IMF.

Discussions focused on how small and medium-sized enterprise financial inclusion is at the core of the economic diversification, growth, and job creation challenges many countries are facing. This is especially pertinent in the Middle East and North Africa and Pakistan, which lags behind other regions when it comes to SME access to finance. The paper aims to highlight the macroeconomic relevance of this issue and calls for a holistic approach to financial inclusion strategies.

 

Full text: English
Executive Summary: Arabic, French

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Agenda

Opening Remarks Dean Sherif Kamel, AUC School of Business
Presentation on IMF Findings Nicolas Blancher, Advisor, IMF Middle East and Central Asia Dept.
Panel Discussion

Moderator
Jihad Azour, Director, IMF Middle East and Central Asia Dept.


Speakers:
  • Gamal Negm, Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Egypt
  • Holger Wiefel Regional Head SME Finance & Development, EBRD
  • Ibrahim Al Badawi, Managing Director, Economic Resarch Forum 
  • Dante Campioni, CEO, Alex Bank
  • Sam Quawasmi, CEO, Eureeca
Questions and Answers
Moderator
Jihad Azour, Director, IMF Middle East and Central Asia Dept.