SME Finance Forum Welcomes DAMU Entrepreneurship Development Fund to its Global Network
SME Finance Forum today announced that DAMU Entrepreneurship Development Fund has joined its global network of more than 250 SME finance institutions and industry stakeholders across 190 countries working to expand access to finance for small businesses worldwide.
"We are delighted to welcome DAMU Entrepreneurship Development Fund JSC as our newest member. DAMU brings deep experience in building a comprehensive national SME support ecosystem, combining financial and non-financial instruments that are critical to MSME growth. We look forward to sharing knowledge on guarantee schemes, blended finance solutions, and entrepreneurship development programs to further strengthen access to finance for small businesses globally," said Qamar Saleem, Head of SME Finance Forum.
Through its work to strengthen Kazakhstan's entrepreneurial ecosystem, DAMU Entrepreneurship Development Fund provides financial and non-financial support that helps micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) start, grow, and scale. By joining the SME Finance Forum, DAMU brings valuable experience in expanding access to finance and supporting entrepreneurship development.
“Joining the SME Finance Forum marks a defining milestone for DAMU Fund, strengthening our global engagement and reaffirming our role in advancing MSME development. For us, this is an opportunity to adopt leading international practices, strengthen our impact and expand access to finance for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in Kazakhstan. It also supports the further development of sustainable financial solutions and strengthens the overall SME support ecosystem.” said Mr. Farhat Sarsekeyev, Chairman of the Management Board.
SME Finance Forum: Innovation & Partnership for MSME Growth
The SME Finance Forum, backed by G20 and IFC/World Bank, is the leading global network of more than 250 members and affiliates operating in 190 countries. The network comprises SME-focused institutions providing and enabling finance and services, including banks, non-bank financial institutions, fintechs, payment platforms, development institutions, credit guarantee companies, insurers, investment funds, supply-chain players, banking and SME associations, policy advocates, regulators, academia, consulting firms, and knowledge aggregators.
Members, affiliates, and associated stakeholders benefit from learning and replicating best practices from around the world, innovating new products for growth, accessing risk mitigation tools, establishing partnerships, attracting investors, and gaining recognition among a global peer group of innovators.
Our activities include exclusive member offerings such as innovation hubs, solutions clinics, peer networks, study tours, specialized tools and training, member repositories, and partnered initiatives, as well as public resources including a library of more than 200 publications, over 500 videos, webinars, newsletters, and training programs, annual awards, and flagship events.
Discover the SME Finance Forum members and affiliates:
https://www.smefinanceforum.org/members/member-list
https://smefinanceforum.org/about/partners
Learn more about DAMU Entrepreneurship Development Fund
DAMU Entrepreneurship Development Fund is a leading government-owned national development institution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, established in 1997, and plays a key role in advancing the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. DAMU Fund is part of the Baiterek National Investment Holding and is dedicated to empowering MSMEs through a comprehensive and integrated system of financial and non-financial support. DAMU Fund offers a wide range of instruments, including preferential financing, credit guarantees, and interest rate subsidies, alongside acceleration initiatives, mentorship, and entrepreneurship development programs. Through this integrated approach, DAMU supports the entire business lifecycle, from capacity building and skills development to access to finance and business expansion.
Website: https://damu.kz/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fund-damu/