Date: 08-09 June 2009
Time: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Venue: AIM-WB Global Distance Learning Center, Asian Institute of Management
MSMEs Financing in Asia-Pacific Region: Crisis and Countermeasures (Videoconference)
As a driving force for innovation, employment and economic development, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) play a very important role in a country’s economy. MSMEs’ access to finance, however, is rather limited. Financing has been a problem that troubles MSMEs for a long time, which restrains them from sustainable development in the long run. On the one hand, financing through equity and debt are often attached with many strings; on the other, the traditional financing access and patterns can not provide adequate funds to support the MSMEs. As a result, it is a common challenge for all the governments and financial institutions to address the issues of how to provide sufficient financing support, expand access to finance, innovate financing pattern, and promote sustainable development for MSMEs.
The current global economic crisis has resulted in capital depletion, risk aversion and credit contraction. As the financial market cannot function properly as a source of financing and the credit crisis continues to push up the financing cost, enterprises now are left with virtually little access to finance, which would severely undermine their survival as well as development. In the case of MSMEs, the situation might be even worse. A great number of MSMEs would be forced to go bankrupt due to lack of finance. Against this backdrop, MSMEs financing, a pressing issue for all nations, especially for the developing economies in the Asia-Pacific region, needs to be addressed by joint efforts of the governments, financial institutions and enterprises to enhance innovation in financial systems, products and services, and to improve the sustainable development of MSMEs.
Thus, the AIM Policy Center, Konrad Adenauer Foundation, and AIM Development Resource Center took part in the two-day conference entitled “MSMEs Financing in the Asia-Pacific Region: Crisis and Countermeasures.” The conference, held from June 8-9 at the AIM-WB Global Distance Learning Center, featured international experts through videoconference and local speakers. The videoconference was joined by the following APEC economies: China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia, and the Philippines.
The main objectives of the workshop are to help the audience to: 1) understand the new trends and key challenges of SME financing in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in the developing economies under the current situation of global financial crisis; 2) define the role of government in SME financing amid the crisis; 3) understand the Institutional Innovation of financial institutions and the innovations in terms of financial products and services to promote SME financing; 4) understand the trade financing and equity financing for MSMEs in face of the financial crisis; and 5) explore possible solutions (especially from policy perspectives) of promoting SME financing in the region amid the crisis through sharing successful international experiences.
Programme
June 8, 2009
Session 1: MSMEs Financing in the Asia-Pacific Region amid the Financial Crisis: Status, Challenges and Trends (Videoconference) by Dr. Chris Hall, CEO of Comnami and PECC SME Network Leader
Session 2: Panel Discussion on Challenges Facing MSMEs Financing moderated by Atty. Rhodora Raterta of the AIM Policy Center
Session 3: Small Business Corporation’s Role in MSMEs Financing amid the Crisis by Ms. Josefina Flores of SB Corp
Session 4: Latest Measures Taken by the Philippine Government to Promote MSMEs Financing by Dr. Leticia Z. Gorospe , Executive Director of the Office of Transport Cooperatives, Department of Transportation and Communication
June 9, 2009
Session 5: Institutional Innovation of Financial Institutions and MSMEs Financing (Videoconference) by Mr. Tim Alexander, Head of Small and Emerging Business
Session 6: Financial Products and Services Innovation in MSMEs Financing (Videoconference) by Mr. Du Yunfei, Marketing Director of the Trade Finance Department, China Minsheng Bank
Session 7: Trade Financing for MSMEs in the Face of the Financial Crisis by Ms. Leonor D. Abella, VP for Promotions of the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc.
Session 8: Case Study/ Success Story of Mother Earth Products, Inc. by Ms. Rebecca Narciso of SB Corp
SMEs Financing in the Asia-Pacific Region amid the Financial Crisis: Status, Challenges and Trends(.pdf)
Dr. Chris Hall
CEO of Comnami and PECC SME Network Leader
SB Corp's Role in MSMEs Financing amid the Crisis(.pdf)
Ms. Josefina Flores
Small Business Corporation
Latest Measures Taken by the Philippine Government to Promote MSMEs Financing(.pdf)
Dr. Leticia Z. Gorospe
Executive Director of the Office of Transport Cooperatives, Department of Transportation and Communication