Author Archives: thumphries

SKS to relaunch life cover for micro borrowers

SKS Microfinance, the only listed micro lender in the country, plans to offer an endowment life insurance policy to its borrowers once again. The Hyderabad-based micro finance company had exited this business in 2009. An endowment policy is a life … Continue reading

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Tom Steyer: Impact Investing Icon

Before the current fascination with celebrities, there were icons. Elvis. Brando. Buffett. Icons are celebrities for sure, but more significant and authentic — enduring symbols representative of a movement or idea. The closest impact investing has to an icon is … Continue reading

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MFIs find relief in loan securitisation

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) have something to cheer about. Securitised microfinance loans are getting grades that are better than the ratings assigned to micro lenders selling these portfolios, say analysts and those in the sector. This has persuaded banks and non-banking … Continue reading

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Small US firms eying Indonesia

Driven by the country’s stellar economic performance and huge population, 17 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from a variety of sectors from the United States are on a two-day visit to explore business opportunities in Indonesia. US deputy ambassador to … Continue reading

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Impact Investing Done Right: No Shortcuts to Social Change

The widely recognized challenge of socially progressive investing is ensuring that financial results are not sacrificed in favor of social impact, and vice versa.  When it comes to impact investing, too often the financial goals are forgotten as investors focus … Continue reading

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New plan to help unregistered MSMEs

ew Delhi : The Planning Commission’s new manufacturing plan will help unregistered micro and small industrial enterprises (MSMEs) access institutional finance, power connections and other entitlements, the Federation of Indian Micro and Small and Medium Enterprises (FISME) said Wednesday. Of … Continue reading

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Microfinance-another sector to create employment

Rising number of young potential moving out of Uttarakhand owing to lack of job opportunities is becoming an increasing concern these days. Ms. Indira Hridayesh, the finance minister for Uttarakhand raised her concerns on this issue recently. She believed that … Continue reading

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Kano to get 44 micro finance banks

A consulting firm, KUDITECH Investment Limited, is seeking partnership with the Kano State Government to establish micro-finance banks in each of the 44 local government areas of the state. Prof. Pedro Alimi, the Chairman of the company disclosed this on … Continue reading

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Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Announces Launch of Investing with Impact Platform

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney today announced the launch of a new investment platform designed to help clients align their financial goals and their personal values. The Investing with Impact Platform offers clients and Financial Advisors a broad range of investment … Continue reading

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CHANGING THE CULTURE SO SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES WIN MORE PUBLIC CONTRACTS

The Government wants more public contracts to be offered to small and medium sized enterprises. But delivering this change across all public sector organisations is difficult. Graeme Young explores the procurement culture which favours the larger companies and he looks … Continue reading

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