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Scaling up Access to Finance for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
February 27, 2019
IMF Conference
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
Speakers:
|
| Questions and Answers |
Jihad Azour, Director, IMF Middle East and Central Asia Dept. |
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.
| 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 Speakers:
|
| Questions and Answers |
Jihad Azour, Director, IMF Middle East and Central Asia Dept. |
