Financing small and medium enterprises in Asia and the Pacific

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masato Abe ◽  
Michael Troilo ◽  
Orgil Batsaikhan
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
South Asia ◽  
World Bank ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Severe Constraint ◽  
Medium Enterprises

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose policy suggestions for the financing of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Asia-Pacific region. Recent literature suggests that lack of capital is the most severe constraint for SME survival and growth. Enabling policymakers to assist SMEs in their search for financing will boost economic growth. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology includes both quantitative and qualitative components. Current World Bank data on the strength of various financial institutions in the countries of interest is analyzed to discover areas of improvement. Additionally, 32 experts from East and South Asia were interviewed several times to determine areas of concern in financing SMEs. Their responses and the evidence from the World Bank data form the basis of the policy prescriptions in the paper. Findings – Financing is a critical constraint for SMEs for several reasons. Many SME owners do not manage working capital effectively, information asymmetry between banks and SMEs retards the loan application and approval process, and underdeveloped equity markets deny SMEs future growth opportunities. Policymakers can ameliorate conditions by serving as facilitators and communicators; governments should not provide financing directly if possible. Practical implications – It is hoped and expected that the policy prescriptions offered herein will enhance the growth and survival prospects of SMES, thereby creating more employment, innovation, and economic growth. Originality/value – The main contribution of this work is its scope. While the financing of SMEs is a familiar topic, the review of issues and policies in East and South Asia, and their distillation into practical advice for officialdom, is what makes this manuscript unique.

Inadequately educated workforce and financing obstacles: international evidence from SMEs in developing countries

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Imad Jabbouri ◽  
Omar Farooq
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Capital Requirements ◽  
Informal Credit ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis paper aims to document the impact of inadequately educated workforce on the extent of financing obstacles experienced by firms.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use the data provided by the World Bank's Enterprise Surveys to test our arguments. The data were collected during the period between 2008 and 2018 in 141 developing countries. A pooled ordered logit regression analysis is performed to arrive at the results.FindingsThe study’s results show that firms with inadequately educated workforce are more likely to experience financing obstacles than other firms. The authors argue that poor performance and lack of technical expertise required to access finance are some of the reasons behind greater financing obstacles experienced by these firms. The study’s results are robust across different geographic regions. The authors also show that firms with inadequately educated workforce are more likely to seek informal credit for financing their short-term (working capital) and long-term (capital expenditures) capital requirements.Practical implicationsUnderstanding the factors that affect the financing constraints faced by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) should be valuable to managers of SMEs and policy-makers. By removing these constraints, managers can improve their access to financing, and policy-makers can facilitate higher economic growth and better economic conditions.Originality/valuePrior studies have largely been silent on the impact of inadequately educated workforce on the access to finance. This paper draws attention to this issue within the context of SMEs in an international setting. SMEs are the drivers of economic growth in any country. However, their contributions to economic growth cannot materialize without fulfilling their capital needs.

Impact of introducing e-commerce on small and medium enterprises – a case on logistics provider

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Morsheda Parvin ◽  
Soaib Bin Asimiran ◽  
Ahmad Fauzi Bin Mohd Ayub
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Electronic Devices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Sustainable Economic Growth ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Small and medium enterprises (SME) significantly alleviate poverty and generate employment to achieve sustainable economic growth. Using electronic devices, e-commerce allows an immediate and advanced communication service to accomplish business transactions. Considering logistics provider as a case, this paper aims to examine the impact of adopting an e-commerce technology on its customers’ and agents’ satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach The authors use the difference in difference methodology to examine these effects and find positive impacts on both customers and service providers. Findings As SMEs are widely considered as the powerhouse of an economy, the authors’ findings suggest that using e-commerce not only makes an SME agent more efficient but also accelerates an SME business transaction, which ultimately helps to achieve sustainable economic growth. Originality/value A few studies are conducted in examining the impact of SME on economy. However, according to the authors’ knowledge, this is the first research that examines the impact of e-commerce on SME.

scholarly journals Stimulating employee ambidexterity and employee engagement in SMEs

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 662-680 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oluseyi Moses Ajayi ◽  
Kayode Odusanya ◽  
Susan Morton
Keyword(s):  
Employee Engagement ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Shop Floor ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Organisational Context ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the emerging theory of ambidexterity by developing measures to assess employee ambidexterity. Specifically, it identifies and tests the importance of the relationship between the organisational context and employee ambidexterity within small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach The research used a survey method to investigate SMEs in Nigeria. Two hundred SMEs were selected from across Nigeria to participate in the study and 72 companies responded, representing a 36 per cent response rate. The study sample comprised 398 shop-floor employees from 72 small and medium-sized manufacturing and service organisations. Findings The paper tests a model that sheds insight into the linkages between the organisational context, employee ambidexterity and employee engagement. Specifically, the model portrays significant relationships that exist between organisational context, employee ambidexterity and employee engagement. The results show that understanding the appropriate organisational contexts improves employee ambidexterity. Therefore, SMEs with the appropriate organisational contexts for employee ambidexterity and employee engagement will increase their potential for growth and survival. Originality/value The paper develops a conceptual model of the organisational context that improves employee ambidexterity and employee engagement.

Nigeria’s partial float will not relieve forex crunch

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Exchange Rates ◽  
Foreign Exchange ◽  
World Bank ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Medium Term ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Market Driven ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Allocation Decisions

Subject The naira's partial float. Significance On April 24, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) new market-driven foreign exchange (forex) window for investors and exporters was launched. A muted market reaction reflected ongoing doubts over how the window will be funded, particularly in the short term as investors test the credibility of the window’s independence. Moreover, the multiplicity of exchange rates in the market will complicate forecasting future forex trends, which could deter crucial portfolio investors that rely on these predictions for their allocation decisions. Impacts Higher World Bank growth forecasts -- 1.2% in 2017 and 2.5% in 2018 -- could improve medium-term naira sentiment. Increases in forex reserves above 30 billion dollars could overstate the CBN’s ability sustainably to defend the naira by 5 billion dollars. CBN’s allocations to small and medium enterprises will not offset structural weaknesses in manufacturing and services.

THE ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL SUPPORT THROUGH LEGAL CHANNELS OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN FOUR ASIA PACIFIC COUNTRIES

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 298
Author(s):  
Muhamad Marwan
Keyword(s):  
Financial Support ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Survey Questionnaire ◽  
Access To Finance ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

The aim of this study is to determine the impact of networking on SME’s ability to access government financial support through legal channels in Asia Pacific. This study is quantitative in nature in which the data has been gathered from 281 employees and managers working in SMEs through survey questionnaire. The SEM technique was utilised for the purpose of analysing and testing the mediation effect. The study found that there is a partial mediation of government financial support through legal channels among the relationship between networking with officers and access to finance. This study is restricted to the SMEs operating in the region of Asia Pacific.

Analysis of Major Problems Faced by Small Firms in North India

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 150-160
Author(s):  
Davinder Singh ◽  
Jaimal Singh Khamba ◽  
Tarun Nanda
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
North India ◽  
Small Enterprises ◽  
Employment Generation ◽  
Medium Enterprises

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have been noted to play a significant role in promoting economic growth in less developed countries, developing and also in developed countries. Worldwide, the micro and small enterprises have been accepted as the engine of economic growth of any nation. Small and Medium Enterprises are the backbone of the economies, because it trigger employment, output, export, poverty alleviation, economic empowerment, economic development etc. in developed as well as in developing countries. It is more important to developing countries as the poverty and unemployment are burning problems. MSMEs have been playing a momentous role in overall economic development of a country like India where millions of people are unemployed or underemployed. Therefore, the growth of small sectors is essential for the growth in the GDP, employment generation, total manufacturing production and export. India, being one of the fastest growing economies of the world, needs to pay an honest attention for the utmost growth of MSMEs for its increased contribution in above areas.

Twiga Hosting Ltd – providing affordable information and communication technologies services to small and medium enterprises

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Juma James Masele
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Innovation Management ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Medium Enterprises

TitleTwiga Hosting Ltd – providing affordable information and communication technologies services to small and medium enterprises.Subject areaThe case describes the launch of Twiga Hosting Ltd, a company providing information and communication technology (ICT) services to the underserved small and medium enterprise (SME) sector in Tanzania and in a many countries in Africa.Study level/applicabilityThis case targets a range of audience from undergraduate students taking both Bachelor of Commerce and those taking Bachelor of Business Administration; and Postgraduate students taking business‐related courses. Nonetheless, the case may be used by all other learners of advanced studies in entrepreneurship and innovation management.Case overviewThe case addresses a number of issues including: Issues to be considered when starting an ICT enterprise. Strategic management. Business revenue models.Expected learning outcomes To impart/inculcate entrepreneurial insights in ICT and related areas. To make learners aware of the business growth opportunities in ICT ventures. The success factors for fruitful ICT ventures. To enable learners to identify challenges facing entrepreneurs in ICT ventures and the ways to overcome them.Supplementary materialsTeaching notes.

Relevant factors of innovation contests for SMEs

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 1196-1215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Isabel Rodriguez Ferradas ◽  
José A. Alfaro Tanco ◽  
Francesco Sandulli
Keyword(s):  
New Product Development ◽  
Corporate Culture ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Context Factors ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Design Factors ◽  
Relevant Factors

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the relevant factors that influence the implementation of innovation contests, an open innovation (OI) practice that has been extensively reported in the literature as a managerial tool for external knowledge search. The authors focus the study on the context of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach The approach is a retrospective case study. This methodology allows an in-depth view into a Spanish SME that successfully undertook two new product development processes thanks to the deployment of innovation contests. Findings The main context factors influencing innovation contests as managerial tool are ambidexterity, technological and marketing turbulence and intermediaries, among others. Regarding design factors, this work highlights the role of attraction and facilitation. Additionally, the repetitive implementation of innovation contests creates a corporate culture that promotes OI activities. Practical implications Managers will understand that they can use innovation contests as a managerial tool, and knowing the factors that need to be taken into account when implementing an innovation contest will help SMEs managers to make better use of this practice. Originality/value This case study enriches the literature of both innovation contests and topics relevant to SMEs. Based on a theoretical framework of the design factors that influence the implementation of innovation contests, the authors propose a research framework that incorporates those context factors in association with an SME.

Effects of cloud computing assimilation on supply chain financing risks of SMEs

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiang Lu ◽  
Jinliang Chen ◽  
Hua Song ◽  
Xiangyu Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Cloud Computing ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Supply Chain Integration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supply Chain Financing ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Moderating Role

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine how cloud computing assimilation reduces supply chain financing (SCF) risks of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This study also investigated the mediating roles of internal and external supply chain integration between cloud computing assimilation and the SCF risks of SMEs, as well as the moderating role of environmental competitiveness. Design/methodology/approach Data was collected from surveys of SMEs located in China. Multiple regression analysis was used to validate the proposed theoretical model and research hypotheses. Findings The findings show that cloud computing assimilation could reduce the SCF risks of SMEs directly. The results also indicate that both internal and external supply chain integration mediate the relationship between cloud computing assimilation and SCF risks. Furthermore, environmental competitiveness inhibits the effects of cloud computing assimilation on SCF risks. Originality/value To our best knowledge, this is the preliminary study to explore the role of cloud computing assimilation in reducing the SCF risks of SMEs. Also, this study attempted to investigate the process by which cloud computing assimilation affects the SCF risks of SMEs.

How to survive in the age of artificial intelligence? Exploring the intelligent transformations of SMEs in central China

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinqiang Wang ◽  
Yaobin Lu ◽  
Si Fan ◽  
Peng Hu ◽  
Bin Wang
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
Central China ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
Text Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
External Pressures ◽  
Medium Enterprises

PurposeThe purpose of the research is to explore how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in central China achieve intelligent transformation through the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Because of unequal resource allocation, constraints on the intelligent transformation of SMEs in central China are different from those in economically and technologically well-developed coastal provinces. Hence, the authors focus on SMEs in central China to identify drivers of and barriers to intelligent transformation.Design/methodology/approachThe interview data were collected from 66 SMEs across 20 industries in central China. To verify the validity of the data collection method, the authors used two methods to control for retrospective bias: multi-level informants and enterprises' AI project application materials (Wei and Clegg, 2020). The final data were validated without conflicts. Next, the authors cautiously followed a two-step approach recommended by Venkatesh et al. (2010) and used NVivo 11.0 to analyze the collected text data.FindingsSMEs in central China are enthusiastic about intelligent transformation while facing both internal and external pressures. SMEs need to pay attention to both internal (enterprise development needs, implementation cost, human resources and top management involvement) and external factors (external market pressure, convenience of AI technology and policy support) and their different impacts on intelligent transformation. However, constrained by limited resources, SMEs in central China have been forced to take a step-by-step intelligent transformation strategy based on their actual needs with the technological flexibility method in the short term.Originality/valueConsidering the large number of SMEs and their importance in promoting China's economic development and job creation (SME Bureau of MIIT, 2020), more research on SMEs with limited resources is needed. In the study, the authors confirmed that enterprises should handle “social responsibility” carefully because over-emphasizing it will hinder intelligent transformation. However, firms should pay attention to the role of executives in promoting intelligent transformation and make full use of policy support to access more resources.

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