The National Bank of Samoa (nbs) is developing a suite of new banking products that would benefit women entrepreneurs and improve remittances in Samoa with the support of IFC and the New Zealand Government.

The product which was developed by the Pacific Insurance and Climate Adaptation Programme, will be piloted in Samoa over the next 12 months.

International Finance Corporation will invest up to $4 million equivalent in Samoan Tala to boost access to finance for small and medium enterprises particularly women-led businesses and SMEs focused on agriculture.

The new national digital payment platform, the Samoa Automated Transfer System (SATS), is expected to increase access to the financial system for all Samoans.

Microfinance-supported entrepreneurs have exhibited the same resourcefulness that has characterized many other small businesses during the pandemic. At the same time, they face a variety of ongoing challenges.

A new agreement between IFC and the Mongolian Bankers Association will help improve access to funding for 200,000 micro, small and medium enterprises cumulatively over the next five years by developing a vibrant market for value chain finance in Mongolia.

The initiative aims to develop green financing, as well as improving access to financial products and services for the country’s micro, small and medium enterprises.