Philippines chosen as regional hub for SME Knowledge and Finance
Asia-Pacific SME experts chose Manila to host the proposed Regional SME Knowledge and Finance Center, according to the recently concluded 3rd Regional SME Roundtable at Planters Development Bank. The Center, the first in Asia, hopes to accelerate economic growth and development, generate employment and reduce poverty by improving access to formal finance to Small and Medium Enterprises throughout Asia and the Pacific.
The SME Knowledge and Finance Center is being spearheaded by the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP), the Geneva-based International Trade Center, International Institute for Trade and Development (ITD) of Thailand and Plantersbank.
Among those present during discussion at Plantersbank headquarters in Makati are (from left) ITC senior adviser Roger Megelas; SME Bank of Malaysia managing director Datuk Mohd. Radzif bin Mohammad Yunus; Small Industries Development Bank of India executive director Vikram Singh Rathore; and Ambassador Jesus P. Tambunting, chairman and president of Plantersbank.
Planters Development Bank (Plantersbank) is the Philippines’ leading bank for Small and Medium Enterprises. *
