Register now on Micronomore Universe Stakeholders Conference 2010

Its final, Mark your calendar!

This year’s Micronomore Universe National Stakeholders Conference will be held on Oct. 20, 2010 in Cebu City.

Register now:
http://www.micronomore.com/register

Micro No More takes you to a whole new universe of mobility, accessibility, affordability and reliability in the provision of much needed financial and business development services to the micro- and small entrepreneurs in island and mountain communities that remain un-served and under-served by traditional financial institutions.

The Micro No More Universe – the whole socio-economic performance realm where MFIs strengthen themselves, adhere to their socio-economic VMGs, and provide the most responsive products and services to their clients for that ultimate impact and effect on the clients’ familial and economic life.

This year 2010, we take off from our foundations of Micro No More 2008 and Micro No More – No Borders of 2009, blasting off to the farthest reaches of this empowering MSME finance advocacy.

Sign up now to reserve a seat!
http://www.micronomore.com/register

Seedfinance Corporation, Philippines – Investment News

The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,107 islands. With an estimated population of about 92 million people, the Philippines is the world’s twelfth most populous country. 40% are considered poor. Poverty is concentrated in rural areas and in the sprawling urban slums. Considering the nature of employment and business in the Philippines, the presence and availability of microfinance is vital: 97% of total enterprises in the Philippines are micro-enterprises; 4.1 million families who belong to the lowest income strata are engaged in micro-enterprise activities, and many of the poorest manage at least two businesses. Even though there has been strong government support to develop the microfinance industry throughout the country, only 33% of the people concerned are reached by microfinance.

In April this year, responsAbility gave its first loan to Seedfinance Corporation. Seedfinance Corporation is an apex institution, which provides financial services to small microfinance institutions (MFIs), farmers’ organizations and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Given their size and small-scale operations, these institutions are usually unable to access financial services from commercial banks or international investors.

Funding via Seedfinance is a great opportunity for responsAbility to support small institutions that otherwise would be too risky and costly to finance directly. The small MFIs and farmers’ organizations play an important role in terms of social impact, as they can reach clients in remote rural areas, where otherwise no financial services are provided.

Located in Pasig City in the Philippines, Seedfinance not only provides financial services to small institutions, but also technical assistance and capacity-building programs that are vital to small start-up MFIs and SMEs.

By the end of 2009, Seedfinance provided funding to 71 MFIs and six SMEs located in various regions of the country – (except in the western part of Mindanao, which remains a conflict area).

Source: http://www.responsability.com/site/index.cfm?id_art=62525&vsprache=EN