16 Nov 2023

Prof Zhang Weina, Deputy Director of SGFIN, participated in the panel discussion "SME Financial Literacy and Talent Development" at Singapore FinTech Festival 2023. The panel featured John Rwangombwa, Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda (NBR); Kwamina Duker, CEO of the Development Bank Ghana; Qamar Saleem, CEO of the SME Finance Forum, managed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Aimee Chiuten, Deputy Director from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), served as the moderator. The discussion covered various topics, including the roles of governments, development agencies, educators, and other capacity builders in supporting the global growth of MSMEs.

Prof Weina emphasized the importance of government support in guiding MSMEs to transition from profit-centric to holistic business models, encompassing operations to long-term sustainability. She stressed that training and capacity building for top leadership and key sustainability talents are crucial for MSMEs to embark on sustainability and decarbonization journeys. Prof. Weina called for the development of multi-disciplinary talents with deep sustainability expertise, underscoring the need for knowledge sharing and capacity building through training and education for MSMEs. In today's competitive labor market, SMEs must build strong social capital with employees through support, role-modeling, mentorship, and providing opportunities for purpose-driven millennials, who are united by a common understanding of sustainability imperatives.