SESRIC attended the International Development Forum on “SME Finance and Development in the Age of Digitalization” held on 11-12 September 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey, and presented a paper on the “SME and Women Entrepreneurship in OIC Countries”. The Forum was organised by the Association of National Development Finance Institutions in Member Countries of the Islamic Development Bank (ADFIMI), an international organisation based in Istanbul.

The Forum analysed the current situation of knowledge about the contributions of SMEs to economic and social well-being, globally and in the OIC countries. Furthermore, it examined the opportunities and challenges SMEs face in a global and digital economy, among others, finance, innovation, regulation, digitalisation, employment, skills, trade, internationalisation and global value chains and environment. Among others, the Forum aimed to advance the debate and catalyse improvements in SME policies in OIC Member countries to deliver more sustainable and inclusive growth.

The forum was addressed by senior officials from the World Bank/IFC; IDB, OECD, East African Development Bank, IMF, SESRIC, and CEOs from over 15 countries.

To learn more about the Forum, please visit the official website.