Remarks by
Uwe Pfeffer
at launch of
1 st National Bank’s
MSME Competency
Unit
First of all, the SBFIC, would like Caribbean Project for Financial and reaping the benefits of a
to wholeheartedly thank the 1 st Inclusion of MSMEs, a project globalized and digital economy.
National Bank team, in particular, endorsed by the ECCB. The goal is Their contributions depend to a
your visionary Managing Director to roll out this project throughout great degree on access to strategic
Johnathan, the management team, the Eastern Caribbean Currency resources, such as skills, knowledge
the many dear colleagues, and Union in order to support “Micro, networks, and finance.
especially Lester, for the work you Small and Medium Enterprises”.
have done through our wonderful
cooperation.
The Savings Banks in Germany are
MSMEs have an important role very experienced and successful
to play for boosting growth in MSME lending. This knowledge
We feel very proud to have and achieving more inclusive transfer was fundamental to this
provided the technical support globalization. MSMEs are the ECCU project.
to launch this MSME Competency backbone of all major economies, Unit. We remain optimistic that representing a key source of 75% of German companies have a
this will positively impact the employment and value-added business relation with a Sparkasse
lending landscape for MSMEs in across the world. They are a driving (Savings Bank). Savings Banks have
Saint Lucia, thereby resulting in force of innovation, knowledge disbursed more than EUR89 billion
prosperous economic growth. diffusion and social inclusion. of new loans to corporate clients
1 St National Bank and Saint Lucia However, MSMEs face specific and very small enterprises are
served as a pilot within our Eastern challenges in participating in financed by Savings Banks.
in the last year. Two-thirds of micro