In last week’s article this column laid out the case that the current SME credit gap, estimated by the IFC to be at least USD 260 billion in the MENA region, could not be closed using currently available tools and institutions. There is an argument to be made that the potential exists to close the gap as the SME sector’s contribution to the UAE’s GDP is in excess of 50% and its share of total loans is only 4% thus implying that the massive supply-demand imbalance has driven loan pricing to extremely attractive levels relative to risk. It is important to note here that it does not matter what the risk is as long as the return more than compensates for it. Continue reading
Tag Archives: SME
Standard Chartered UAE: Mishandling the SME Issue or just Misunderstood?
The National is reporting on customer backlash to Standard Chartered’s decision to shut down their SME business in the UAE. The fact that the bank is, according to The National, “provoking fury among customers” brings into question Standard Chartered’s commitment to its clients. The article by The National reports on the bank’s excuses for its behaviour. It also reports that the bank’s clients do not accept these excuses. So what is going on? Continue reading
The SME Credit Gap in the Middle East
According to the IFC SMEs in the UAE represent 90% of total businesses. As a total percentage of GDP the estimates for rich MENA countries is estimated at approximately 51% contribution from SMEs with employment contribution at 62%. Paradoxically there is a SME credit gap in excess of USD 260 billion in MENA with only 4% of outstanding loans in the UAE awarded to SMEs. This points directly to the main challenge facing SME sector growth.