On April 2, 2025, the OECD will host a webinar titled Financing SMEs and Scoreboard: 2025 Highlights. This event -via Zoom- will bring together a diverse group of policymakers, financial institutions, SME representatives, and other stakeholders to explore the challenges and opportunities facing SMEs in today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape, with a particular focus on unlocking SME finance for resilience and competitiveness. In fact, SMEs are currently at a critical point, having faced unprecedented disruptions in recent years, from the global pandemic to rising inflation and rapidly increasing interest rates. While some of these challenges may be easing, financing conditions remain tight, and uncertainty about the future continues to affect SME operations. Furthermore, as a part of this boisterous context, emerging technologies, especially in artificial intelligence (AI), have the potential to transform how SMEs access finance, offering cutting-edge solutions but also presenting their own set of complexities and risks. Understanding how to navigate these technological shifts, while ensuring SMEs remain competitive and resilient, is crucial, and strictly linked to the ongoing digital and green transitions.
The webinar, held from 14:00 to 15:30 CET, will present the 2025 Highlights of the OECD SME and Entrepreneurship Financing Scoreboard, offering valuable insights into the current state of SME finance. Key speaker of the event is Qamar Saleem, Global Head of the SME Finance Forum, managed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), who will share his expertise and perspectives on the evolving landscape for SMEs, highlighting key opportunities and challenges. This discussion will explore key questions, such as how SMEs are navigating the challenges of an uncertain economic landscape and how policymakers can help broaden financing options beyond traditional debt. If you’re interested in discovering practical solutions and insights in this vital sector, this interactive session will provide valuable perspectives and foster meaningful conversations about the future of SME finance.
Be sure to mark your calendar for this upcoming event. For more information, visit the SME Forum website, or click here to register directly.
Source: INSME Secretariat
