MSME Access to Finance in Samoa

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSME) make a significant contribution to economic growth and job creation across Asia and the Pacific. However, they often encounter difficulties in accessing finance. Women-headed MSME's are particularly underserved by financial institutions due to economic, regulatory and socio-cultural factors. In recent decades, governments and related agencies have set up mechanisms to facilitate the flow of finance. The result has been an increase in financial inclusion but the extent to which the financing gap has been reduced is not well known.