As part of its mission to advance sustainable finance and support SME transition around the world, SGFIN contributed a case study to the “SME Best Practice Guide” published by International Finance Corporation (IFC) SME Finance Forum to share the insights on how non-financial services can unlock sustainable finance for SMEs. SGFIN’s Deputy Director, Associate Professor Zhang Weina, together with Research Associate Allan Loi, presented a Singapore-based ESG data solutions provider – ESGpedia. The case exemplified how non-financial service providers—through access to sustainability advisory, ESG data infrastructure, reporting tools, and capability development—embedded in a data-driven, partnership-led ecosystem, has enabled over 1,000 SMEs enhanced access to sustainable finance, increased competitiveness, and embedded decarbonisation strategies across regional supply chains.

SME Finance Forum Case Study