Events
Apr
23
SME FINANCE FORUM
WEBINAR
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2023-04-27 20:00:00
2023-04-27 20:00:00
SME Finance Awards Information Session - MENA / Asia Regions
For the SME Financier of the Year category, we hosted two information sessions where applicants and potential applicants could ask questions about the application process and judging criteria.
Re-live the session now to listen to the advice on how to prepare the best entry!
If you have questions about the other award categories, please get in touch with Kyle Krym at kkrym@ifc.org.
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We invite all types of financial intermediaries to submit an entry in this year’s Global SME Finance Awards competition!
Winners of the 6th annual Global SME Finance Awards will be announced at the Global SME Finance Forum on September 12-14 in Mumbai, India.
Don’t delay in getting your entries in as the deadline for submissions is May 31st! Please visit our Awards website for more information.
If you have any problem applying, please email us at smefinanceforum@ifc.org
WEBINAR
SME FINANCE FORUM
ronyg@panapps.co
America/New_York
public
Apr
23
SME FINANCE FORUM
Apr
23
SME FINANCE FORUM
Mar
23
SME FINANCE FORUM
WEBINAR
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2023-03-14 20:00:00
2023-03-14 20:00:00
Webinar: Bringing More MSMEs into Credit - Embedded Finance in Emerging Markets
Embedded finance reached $20 billion in revenues in the United States alone in 2021, according to McKinsey. This market could double in size within the next three to five years. Embedded finance is the placing of a financial product in a nonfinancial customer experience, journey, or platform. That is nothing new. For decades, nonbanks have offered financial services via private-label credit cards at retail chains, supermarkets, and airlines. Other common forms of embedded finance include sales financing at appliance retailers and auto loans at dealerships. Arrangements like these operate as a channel for the banks behind them to reach end customers.
What makes the next generation of embedded finance so powerful is the integration of financial products into digital interfaces that users interact with daily. Possibilities are varied: customer loyalty apps, digital wallets, accounting software, and e-commerce platforms, among others. For consumers and businesses using these interfaces, acquiring financial services becomes a natural extension of a nonfinancial experience such as shopping online, ordering food, ride-hailing, scheduling employees to work shifts, or managing inventory. This more deeply embedded form of embedded finance is what has grown so significantly in recent years.
In the webinar on March 15th, we will hear from e-commerce giant Mercado Libre from Latin America, and from ride-hailing and delivery services powerhouse Grab from Southeast Asia how they digitally provide embedded credit to businesses and consumers on their platforms. In addition, both will talk about the positive impact these credit facilities have on MSMEs and consumers in their markets.
PRESENTERS
Moderator
Hans Koning, Global Chief Industry Specialist Digital Finance at IFC
Hans Koning is global Chief Industry Specialist Digital Finance at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. IFC is the largest global development institution and aims to grow the private sector in developing countries by providing lending facilities, equity investments and advisory services. IFC’s investment commitments were $32.8 billion last year. Hans and his team engage with digital banks, digitizing financial institutions, and digital ecosystem platforms in developing countries, with the purpose of supporting these digital financial services providers in their financial inclusion ambitions. Hans is a Dutch executive with 25 years of experience in banking, private equity, wealth management, international project finance and global strategy. He has a degree in Business Economics from the University of Groningen and attended Executive Programs at business schools INSEAD and IMD. He is based out of Washington, DC.
Speakers
María Paula Arregui, Senior Vice President and COO of MercadoPago and member of the Executive Committee of the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP)
María Paula is the woman behind Mercado Pago, the “secret weapon” fintech branch of Latin America’s e-commerce market leader, Mercado Libre. The fast-growing online payment platform can now be used across Latin America’s largely cash-based societies. Since joining Argentina’s biggest unicorn — where she has worked for more than 20 years — Arregui has occupied various different roles, including being the first Mercado Pago employee in 2003. She went on to become its operations director and senior vice president of product and is now Chief Operating Officer.
Ritwik Ghosh, Regional Head of Lending at Grab
Ritwik heads Lending Vertical at Grab that spans across 6 countries in SE Asia. He is responsible for management of lending P&L, business operations, new business build and partnership development. Since joining Grab 5 years ago, he has helped build an unique ecosystem lending business that spans across driver partner, merchant and consumer segments. Prior to Grab, he spent 12+ years in the management consulting (Oliver Wyman) and banking industry (Capital One) working across Asia, US and Africa.
By registering for this event, you agree to the SME Finance Forum/IFC Event Privacy Notice.
Click the link to find out more benefits of being a member.
WEBINAR
SME FINANCE FORUM
ronyg@panapps.co
America/New_York
public
Jan
23
SME FINANCE FORUM
Online
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2023-01-16 19:00:00
2023-01-16 19:00:00
2023 SME Finance Forum Members’ Meeting
Registration for the 2023 Members' Meeting of SME Finance Forum is now open.
The 2023 Members Meeting of the SME Finance Forum will take place virtually via WebEx on January 17, 2023. The 90-minute meeting will start at 08:00 EST (GMT-5). Prior registration is required at https://bit.ly/SMEFFMemberMeeting.
Join this interactive meeting to get an overview of the 2023 calendar of physical and virtual activities, meet new members, and provide input on the work program of our newly established six Thought Leaderships (TLs):
1. Sustainable Finance;
2. Inclusive Finance;
3. Supply Chain;
4. Agrifinance;
5. Digital Transformation and Ecosystems;
6. Data, Risk, and Regulation.
In response to the feedback from our 2022 member survey, SME Finance Forum created six TLs to deepen members’ knowledge in their priority areas of interest. Each TL will be chaired by two Thought Leaders (from the IFC and a member institution).
At the meeting, IFC Thought Leaders will present:
the scope of each theme;
main challenges facing institutions in this area;
planned activities for 2023.
You will have a chance to:
express an interest to be a Thought Leader and co-chair one of the themes with an IFC expert;
express an interest to be a speaker and share your experience at one or more of our 2023 events;
identify specific topics you want to see covered by the 2023 program.
If Interested and not a Member send an email to Karla Espinoza
Online
SME FINANCE FORUM
ronyg@panapps.co
America/New_York
public
Dec
22
SME FINANCE FORUM
Online
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2022-11-30 19:00:00
2022-11-30 19:00:00
Governing Council Meeting
The Governing Council of the Forum is the Forum’s highest governing body and comprises of 16 members.
More information about each of the Council members can be found HERE.
The Forum would like to congratulate all the members on their appointment to the Governing Council and invite them to their first meeting on December 1st 2022.
THIS IS A CLOSED EVENT - BY INVITATION ONLY
Online
SME FINANCE FORUM
ronyg@panapps.co
America/New_York
public