[MSME Sustainability Made Possible] Launch of MSME Sustainability Impact ScoreCard - Harnessing the Power of Technology Innovation to Propel MSME Sustainability

 

"At the Singapore FinTech Festival, Ant International launched the ""MSME Sustainability Impact ScoreCard,"" designed to help small businesses streamline and validate their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) efforts using innovative technology. The panel featured Chen Leiming from Ant International, Vivek Pathak from IFC, and Winsley Bangit from GCash, moderated by Carrie Suen. 

Key Announcements and Concepts 

1. MSME Sustainability Impact ScoreCard Launch (Carrie Suen) 

  • Purpose: To digitally validate and measure the sustainability impact of MSMEs, making ESG credentials transparent and measurable. This aims to build economic resilience while guiding MSMEs on their climate adaptation and mitigation journey. 
    • Example: The case of Ibu Susie, a small café owner in Indonesia, illustrated how the ScoreCard can help automate ESG validation. Using digital tools like payment platforms and smart operating systems, her café could trace and certify sustainable practices, making it easier to qualify for benefits such as lower loan rates. 

Panel Highlights 

2. The Role of Digital Innovation (Chen Leiming, Ant International) 

  • Technology as an Enabler: Digital tools give unprecedented access to data, but changing MSME mindsets and behaviours remains a challenge. Education and incentives are key. 
  • Incentives: ESG efforts should not be seen as a burden but rather as a way to access green financing and reduce costs, making it easier for MSMEs to commit to sustainability. 

3. Scaling Sustainability in Developing Markets (Vivek Pathak, IFC) 

  • Technology's Role: Essential for scaling outreach and reducing inefficiencies. However, it is important to monitor the carbon footprint of digital tools and data centres to avoid unintended consequences. 
  • Economic Relevance: MSMEs must adapt to climate risks and remain part of global value chains, or they risk being sidelined. Technology helps achieve this at scale, especially in countries with diverse and remote populations. 

4. MSME Financial Inclusion and Sustainability (Winsley Bangit, GCash) 

  • Accessible Financial Solutions: GCash uses AI to create credit scores, granting over 5 million borrowers—many of whom are small business owners—access to loans without needing collateral or extensive documentation. 
  • Practical Impact: The aim is to make MSMEs more resilient by providing simple, accessible solutions that enhance productivity and business sustainability. 

Final Takeaways 

The panel concluded with one-word visions for MSME sustainability: 

  • Vivek Pathak: Practical — Solutions must make good business sense to encourage adoption. 
  • Winsley Bangit: Inclusion — Financial, digital, and sustainability inclusion are crucial. 
  • Chen Leiming: Sustainability Inclusion — Moving beyond financial inclusion to ensure MSMEs integrate sustainability into their operations. 

Conclusion 

The session emphasized collaboration, technology, and practical implementation as cornerstones of driving MSME sustainability. The MSME Sustainability Impact ScoreCard represents a significant step toward enabling small businesses to measure and validate their ESG impact efficiently, with benefits that extend to financing and consumer trust. 

 

Speakers:

  • Chen Leiming, Chief Sustainability Officer, Ant International & Senior Vice President, Ant Group, Ant International
  • Vivek Pathak, Regional Chief Risk Officer, International Finance Corporation
  • Winsley Bangit, Vice President, GCash

Moderator:

  • Carrie Suen, Vice President, Global Affairs & Sustainability Strategies, Ant International

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