The World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF), committed to collaborate globally to empower the economic development of the world by fostering innovative financial instruments for SMEs, innovators and startups, has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the SME Finance Forum. The agreement means the two organizations will join in global efforts to ease access to finance for SMEs, which will create jobs and contribute to the world economy.

Baybars Altuntas, Chairman of the WBAF and Matthew Gamser, CEO of the SME Finance Forum signed the MOU during the WBAF's World Congress 2018 in Instanbul.

"I am really happy to collaborate with IFC, because we have a really great (SME Finance Forum) CEO here who believes in the power of angel investors," said Altuntas. "This agreement summarizes what we are going to do together, starting from training, education, and creating avenues worldwide."

"I believe that angels play a critical role in the development and growth of SMEs. We, in turn, want to play a critical role in all of our economies around the world, so we are delighted to have this association," said Gamser. "We look forward to many years of fruitful work together."

The SME Finance Forum was also awarded the The Best Global Organization of the World Supporting SMEs by the WBAF during the Congress on February 19.