Qualitative analysis into liquidity management by SMEs in the UAE (Published)
Small and Medium Enterprises or commonly referred to as SMEs are an important component of any nation. In the UAE, SMEs account for a large bulk of economic trade as well as provide invaluable job opportunities. Liquidity management is predominantly a key component for the long-term sustenance of any business, let alone SMEs. Lack of persistent liquidity could swindle the business model of the SMEs and could have pernicious effect on doing business in the region. The sinister effect of lack of effective liquidity management tools could be disastrous for the industry as a whole. Hence managing liquidity – both long term and short term, is imperative, especially when sources of liquidity are limited. This paper is an attempt to explore liquidity avenues for SMEs and how do SMEs manage their day-to-day liquidity to meet the going concern requirements. The paper will involve qualitative analysis that involves semi structured interviews with certain SMEs to gauge liquidity management by SMEs in the UAE.
Keywords: Bank, Financing, Liquidity Management, SME, UAE
The Influence of Access to Finance and Government Policies on the Growth of Small and Micro-Enterprises Growth in Kenya (Published)
Small and Micro Enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries and Kenya in particular face numerous challenges in their path to growth and expansion. Despite the many startups and government effort to improve the regulatory and institutional framework in Kenya, most SMEs do not evolve into medium enterprises. This paper sought to determine influence of access to finance and government policies on the growth SMEs in Kenya. The research design employed in this study was the descriptive cross sectional design that used a purposive survey. The study targeted SMEs situated in Nairobi City and operating in four sub-sectors of the economy namely: transportation and storage; accommodation and services activities; information and communication; financial and insurance activities; and professional, scientific and technical activities. A total of 395 SMEs were sampled using stratified technique and response rate registered was 88.1%. Primary data were collected through questionnaires administered on owners and managers of SMEs by the researcher by way of structured interviews. Data analysis procedures were carried out and the data coded before running the initial summaries in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Chi-square test of association at a 5% level of significance was used to explore the relationship between variables. The study found out that, access to finance is a critical factor in the establishment, development and growth of the SME sector. The financial system although relatively developed in Kenya is still skewed towards the established businesses. Despite the focus on policy on development of SMEs, it was found out that, government policies had the least influenced on the growth of SMEs. Consequently, there is need for review of the banking capital requirement rules to allow more banks to operate in the market. There should be use of the established mobile money technology platforms to allow individuals to directly purchase treasury bills for transparency in the financial market. This will have a positive impact on the interest spread and allow cheaper credits to private sector especially the SME sector. There is need for specialized financial institutions funded by government and development partners that will house all the government special funds destined for the SME sector.
Keywords: Capital, Government Policies, SME, Technology
Investigating the Performance of SME Sector in Bangladesh: An Evaluative Study (Published)
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are recognized worldwide as engines of economic growth. The commonly perceived merits often emphasized for their promotion especially in the developing countries like Bangladesh include their relatively high labor intensity, dependence on indigenous skills and technology, contributions to entrepreneurship development and innovativeness and growth of industrial linkages. The aim of this paper is to assess the performance and contribution of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the development of Bangladesh. Descriptive statistical tools were used to assess the performance and productivity of SMEs. Study results revealed that SMEs have noteworthy contribution to GDP (gross domestic product), employment generation, poverty alleviation, women empowerment and small and cottage industry sector. It is also found that the performance of SMEs is not satisfactory enough of the country may be due to lack of sufficient financing, lack of skilled workers and political instability. The authors also tried to recommend some suggestions for overcoming the lacking.
Keywords: Bangladesh, GDP, Performance analysis, SME
THE CHALLENGES BEHIND SMES’ ACCESS TO DEBTS FINANCING IN THE GHANAIAN FINANCIAL MARKET (Published)
Despite the fact that financial institutions have identified the SME sector as a fast growing sector in the country, there are several constraints serving as bottlenecks to SMEs in accessing finance from financial institutions. This study examines difficulties SMEs face in accessing loan, difficulties financial institutions face in lending to SMEs and the impact of loan on the profitability of SMEs. In conducting this study, questionnaires were administered to SMEs. Credit officers in the selected banks were interviewed. The following major findings came to the fore; Interest rate on loan to the SMEs is extremely high, Repayment periods on loans to SMEs are too short making it very difficult to embark on any developmental or expansion projects, most SMEs, do not understand terms and conditions, and also oblivious of the interpretation of the percentage charged on the loans. It was also found out that small business owners normally give false information when accessing loan from financial institutions. The study suggested that government should institute some form of tax incentives to financial institutions involved in SME lending and formulate regulatory laws to help loans recovery. SME associations must be established to unite them and serve as guarantors whenever loans are accessed.
Keywords: SME, debt financing, financial institutions
Effect Of 2004 Banking Reforms on Loan Financing Of Small and Medium Scale Industries in Nigeria (Published)
The paper assesses effect of 2004 banking reforms on loan financing of the SMEs in Nigeria. A sample size of 500 was randomly chosen and Chi square test provided analysis on the survey data, and Cronbach’s alpha, Split-half test and Guttman’s lambda provided the analysis for testing the reliability. The paper concludes that there is no significant effect of 2004 banking reform on loan financing of SME in Nigeria. This signifies that there are some constraints which restricted access to loans from the banks for SMEs in Nigeria. The paper recommends that Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and Nigerian government should provide general procedures for accessing the loans so as to remove unnecessary constraints from banks.
Keywords: Bank Reforms, Loan Financing, Nigeria, SME
Co-Creating Business Development Service: A Strategic Marketing Approach for Leveraging the Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) In Nigeria (Published)
The provision of Business Development Services (BDS) is critical to the survival and sustainable growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). BDS in Nigeria has been poorly provided as there are very few institutions that provide it. As a result, most SMEs neither appreciate the need for such services nor access them. This paper posits that a Business Development Service co-created through collaboration between the service provider and service consumer stands to elicit the need for such service among SMEs as well as improve their utilization and access to BDS. Based on theoretical paradigm and contemporary practices as documented in literature, this paper suggests that Institution of Higher Learning (IHL) are best positioned to provide the BDS. Given the provision of services like BDS may involve the collaboration of other organizations and institutions, it is the suggestion of this paper that the institutions who may undertake this project collaborate with larger enterprises and mass media organizations in alliance to provide the service while on the other hand, SMEs within the target market are sensitized through a radio phone-in programs that address the general problems of SMEs. When this is done, it is expected that an opportunity of interaction between the consumers of service and provider would have been in place for the requisite value-based BDS to be co-created.
Keywords: Business Development Services, Co-Creation, Collaboration, Leveraged Value, SME
Effect of 2004 Banking Reforms On Loan Financing Of Small and Medium Scale Industries in Nigeria (Published)
The paper assesses effect of 2004 banking reforms on loan financing of the SMEs in Nigeria. A sample size of 500 was randomly chosen and Chi square test provided analysis on the survey data, and Cronbach’s alpha, Split-half test and Guttman’s lambda provided the analysis for testing the reliability. The paper concludes that there is no significant effect of 2004 banking reform on loan financing of SME in Nigeria. This signifies that there are some constraints which restricted access to loans from the banks for SMEs in Nigeria. The paper recommends that Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and Nigerian government should provide general procedures for accessing the loans so as to remove unnecessary constraints from banks.
Keywords: Bank Reforms, Loan Financing, Nigeria, SME