Washington, D.C. June 4, 2019 – FMO Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO) became the newest member of the SME Finance Forum, a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs.
“200 million businesses worldwide need financing to invest, grow and create new jobs. We are proud to have FMO join our network of 150 members who work to expand access to finance for small and medium businesses,” said Matthew Gamser, CEO of the Forum.
Since 1970, FMO has been the driving force behind investments, empowering entrepreneurs in emerging and underserved markets. With its head office in The Hague, the Netherlands and a local office in Johannesburg, South Africa, FMO is a public-private development bank supervised by the Dutch Central Bank. FMO focuses on investing in growth and frontier markets, supporting jobs and income generation to overall open new markets and opportunities.
Their role extends beyond financing, as they challenge businesses to meet high international standards regarding the welfare of people, corporate governance and the environment. These businesses in turn create jobs and tax income, and contribute to a healthy private sector improving people’s prospects for a better life.
“The SME Finance Forum’s perseverance in creating opportunities for underserved SMEs parallels our mission to support and empower entrepreneurs to build a better world,” said Peter van Mierlo, Chief Executive Officer for FMO. “Membership with the Forum, will provide us access to insight that I believe will strengthen our efforts to benefit businesses and entrepreneurs long-term.”
To see all SME Finance Forum members, please visit: https://www.smefinanceforum.org/members/member-list
About SME Finance Forum
The Forum operates a global membership network that brings together financial institutions, technology companies, and development finance institutions to share knowledge, spur innovation, and promote the growth of SMEs. Its members share a common commitment to advancing finance so that small and medium enterprises can flourish and grow. The SME Finance Forum was established by the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) in 2012 and is managed by the International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group).
About FMO Entrepreneurial Development Bank
FMO Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO) was founded in 1970 and is a public-private partnership with 51 percent of shares held by the Dutch state and 49 percent held by commercial banks, trade unions and other members of the private sector. FMO has been the driving force behind investments, empowering entrepreneurs in emerging and underserved markets.
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