<p>Globally, some of the largest and fastest growing SME financiers may not have started as banks.&nbsp;From tech companies, logistics firms, commodities traders, and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods distributors, financial institutions are facing increasing competition from the real sector in financing small businesses.&nbsp;The real sector firms enjoy a competitive advantage in the form of large amounts of data and analytical skills, which give them insights into the behaviors of SME borrowers.</p>

<p>How will traditional financial institutions cope with this competition from the real sector? And are there untapped opportunities from these new competitors? The Global SME Finance Forum will examine the different ways in which the real sector has entered the SME finance space, and the various ways in which financiers are coping with the “new kids on the block.”</p>

<p><em>This year, we will celebrate the&nbsp;<strong>5th anniversary of our annual flagship event</strong></em><em><strong>&nbsp;</strong>and t<em>he action-packed 3–day event will include study visits to high-performing institutions, a B2B marketplace, fintech expos, panels, working groups as well as networking sessions and a gala dinner. We will also be announcing the winners of the&nbsp;<strong>Global SME Finance Awards</strong><strong>&nbsp;2019</strong>. Endorsed by the G20 countries’ Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion, these&nbsp;</em>awards recognize&nbsp;outstanding achievements of financial institutions and fintech companies in delivering innovative products and services to their SME clients.</em></p>

<p>To get a sense of what to expect from the event, take a look at&nbsp;<strong>this&nbsp;<a href="https://vimeo.com/315565294">video highlight</a>&nbsp;from our Global SME Finance Forum 2018 in&nbsp;Madrid!&nbsp;</strong></p>
