Introduction:

One of the critical elements to effective enterprise and supplier development ecosystem is an efficient element of SME Finance.

Any enterprise needs finance at some stage of its growth passage whether start-up to growth or mature phase. The form and amount of funding differs at every stage and therefore the financial solutions required are different.

The challenge:

How do ESD Programmes identify finance ready enterprises and how do the ESD programmes ensure that loans achieve their objectives? What role does ESD funds have in the finance ecosystem of Development Finance Institutions, Short term financiers, traditional finance institutions, private equity investors and venture capitalists? Furthermore what is the best finance model for SMEs to ensure that ESD funds issues loans or equity investments that result in growth in SMEs and economic growth?