The Asia SME Finance Monitor 2013 is the knowledge sharing product on SMEs in Asia and the Pacific, specially focusing on SME access to finance. The Monitor reviews various country aspects of SME finance covering the banking sector, nonbank sector, and capital markets. It is expected to support evidence-based policy making and regulations on SME finance in the region.

The Asia SME Finance Monitor reviews the SME sector and the state of finance in 14 countries from the five ADB regions of Central Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

This report's highlights include the following:

• SMEs are the backbone of Asia’s economies. Further development can support inclusive growth; employment, and the effort to overcome middle-income traps;
• Poor access to finance limits the ability of SMEs to survive and grow. Further bank efficiency is needed;
• Limitations of bank lending require diversified SME financing models;
• Access to finance is a critical part of SME policies;
• SME finance policies focus on bankability; more work is needed on nonbank financing;
• SME finance policies should be addressed in a holistic manner that goes beyond already established ways.