December 4–6 , 2002
World Bank Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

Organized by the Financial Sector Vice Presidency of the World Bank and the World Bank Institute

The playing field for financial institutions has become an increasingly competitive place. Globalization, financial sector liberalization in some countries, falling profit margins, and ongoing consolidation have forced many players out of the market. At the same time, surviving banks are challenged to lower costs dramatically in order to maintain market share. As a result, large, multinational financial institutions increasingly dominate the market for mid- and large-cap corporate lending. At the same time, smaller domestic banks are challenged to rethink their strategies in order to maintain profitability and competitiveness. A growing body of research in the financial sector suggests that domestic banks should capitalize on their local knowledge and relationships to strengthen their positions in small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) markets.

In this context, the World Bank Group has designed the global conference on New Technologies for Small and Medium-Size Enterprise Finance to help financial institutions seize market opportunities in SME financing, and to overcome the obstacles that have hindered SME growth. The conference will convene financial institutions from emerging and developed economies, financial policymakers, and technology providers, to explore new--and profitable--approaches for extending financial services to the SME sector.