How can financial institutions help SMEs grow beyond providing finance?
How can financial institutions help SMEs grow beyond providing finance? Education, digital tools, business advice and stronger market connections can all play a role, but promising initiatives need a clear customer need, a workable delivery model and a commercial case.
The Global SME Finance Forum's 90-minute Solutions Clinic brings financial institutions and fintechs together to explore SME needs, institutional priorities, market opportunities and the barriers holding back non-financial services. An industry economist will help examine the business case, while group discussions aim to develop practical next steps.
Helping SMEs use technology also requires people and organisations to develop the right capabilities. That connects closely with CFTE's work in practical learning and implementation. CFTE co-founder Tram Anh Nguyen is a listed speaker at the Global SME Finance Forum.
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Examine SME needs, institutional priorities, commercial incentives and the delivery barriers that determine whether non-financial services can scale.
Discuss technology, skills and business-support ideas with financial institutions and fintechs, informed by an economist's perspective on value and sustainability.
The organiser plans a customisable worksheet to help participants bring a more concrete proposal and follow-up actions back to their organisations.
Leaders responsible for SME banking, customer growth, partnerships, digital transformation and business-support services who want a clearer case for helping SMEs develop beyond access to credit.
Teams developing tools or services for SMEs and looking to connect their solutions to real customer needs and institutional economics.
Participants interested in how access to finance connects with digital infrastructure, skills, data and the wider conditions for SME growth.
Friday 20 November 2026 · 10:15 to 11:45 SGT
The organiser describes the following discussion flow for this facilitated 90-minute Solutions Clinic. Individual segment timings have not been announced.
Identify SME challenges and what financial institutions need to achieve.
Explore support services, market opportunities and why promising approaches have not advanced.
Consider an industry economist's perspective on the value of stronger SMEs, including portfolio health and customer relationships.
Use guided prompts to shape approaches that fit institutional delivery models and economics.
Work towards a customisable worksheet and practical actions to take back into participants' organisations.
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