Asia is at the forefront of a new generation of SME finance solutions. From fast payments and digital infrastructure to alternative data, AI-enabled underwriting, and public-private risk sharing, new models are transforming how SMEs are reached, assessed, and financed.

This discussion will explore what is working, what makes these solutions replicable, and how they can be adapted and scaled across markets, particularly from Asia to Africa and beyond. It will examine how proven innovations can accelerate SME finance globally, making SMEs more visible, connected, enabled, and funded. We would also explore the role IFC and World Bank can play especially in light of new WBG MSME strategy.

Session Objectives

• Showcase proven and emerging SME finance innovations from Asia and identifying scalability challenges.
• Explore how digital infrastructure, payments, and data can make SMEs more visible and connected to finance.
• Examine how AI-enabled underwriting and alternative data are enabling cash-flow-based SME lending.
• Consider how public-private risk sharing can help financial institutions reach underserved SMEs at greater scale.
• Draw out lessons especially for Africa, including what needs to be adapted rather than simply replicated.

Proposed Run of Show

[1:00PM to 1:05PM] Welcome and Opening Remarks

Moderator: Qamar Saleem, Head SME Finance Forum

[1:05PM to 1:20PM] Opening Perspectives: From Strategy to Scalable Solutions

Speaker(s): Alfonso Garcia Mora, Vice President for Europe, Latin America & the Caribbean, International Finance Corporation (IFC), World Bank Group

Alfonso Garcia Mora will frame the discussion through the new World Bank Group MSME Strategy and its ambition to make MSMEs more visible, connected, enabled, and funded. He will highlight how digital infrastructure, data, policy reform, partnerships, and innovative financing approaches can address persistent barriers to MSME growth and expand access to finance at scale and the role WBG plans to play in the new 2030 strategy.

[1:20PM to 1:30PM] Q&A

[1:30PM to 2:30pm] Practitioner Perspectives: From Innovation to Proven Solutions

A panel discussion focused on real-world solutions and implementation experience.

Round 1: Panel Discussion with Asia SME Finance Forum Co-chairs Practitioners

• Fast payments, alternative data, AI, tokenization, cashflow-based lending
• What has worked and where the leading practices in Asia – opportunities and challenges in scaling
• What role can development finance institutions like World Bank Group can play in the new era of digitization and in replicating models across regions

Round 2: Panel Discussion with IFC - Financial Institutions Group, Managers 

• Asia Perspectives: Public-private risk sharing, blended structures, and new instruments - what are the success stories, and which are innovative investment and advisory solutions being scaled in Asia.
• Africa Perspectives: What leading SME finance innovations from Asia can be replicated and any unique aspects to consider; What new funded (debt and Equity) solutions and how risk participation are needed and planned

[2:30PM to 2:35PM] Closing

[2:35PM to 3:00PM] Networking