Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) face ongoing challenges. In response, governments have developed schemes to help remedy market deficiencies where private sector sources are unable or unwilling to operate, by creating public development banks. The Montreal Group is the first global forum exclusively dedicated to public banks that share a common mandate of supporting MSMEs.
The Montreal Group is an international forum created to foster peer group exchanges, identify best practices and innovative solutions on key topic issues, and develop thought leadership material contributing to the global MSME ecosystem. The Montreal Group provides a global collaborative environment where members can share and exchange best-in-class knowledge and information on important MSME-related topics with the ultimate goal of helping them make a vital contribution to the development of their countries and to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The founding meeting was held in September 2012 in Montreal, Canada, in the head office of BDC. For the subsequent years: 2013 Mexico (NAFIN); 2014 Brazil (BNDES); 2015 France (Bpifrance); 2016 India (SIDBI); 2017 Finland (Finnvera); 2018 Canada (BDC); 2019 China (CDB), 2020 (virtual) and 2021 (virtual).
In pictures on the right, Executives of the founding members during the launch in 2012.
Our mission
Our mission is to bring MSME Development Banks together as thought leaders to foster the evolution of their respective practices to the benefit of MSMEs from around the world.
How we do it
To encourage collaboration among our organizations, The Montreal Group
- Acts as a sounding board and fostering peer group exchanges, networking and cooperation amongst members.
- Operates a forum linking subject matter experts.
- Maintains an online repository of best practices, knowledge and innovative solutions for key issues faced by MSME-focused public banks to improve their offering to entrepreneurs.
- Develops thought leadership material to strengthen the global MSME ecosystem and effectively support MSMEs in their journey to sustainability.
Our Board of Directors
The Board of Directors (BoD) is comprised of one representative per member bank. They are appointed every year during the Annual Meeting and act as the main liaison contact between the member institution and the Secretariat.
| Name | Organization | The Montreal Group |
|---|---|---|
|
President Sowalfin (Belgium) |
Co-Chair of the Board |
|
|
Director of International and European Affairs Bpifrance |
Co-Chair of the Board |
|
|
Advisor to CEO Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF) |
Vice-chair |
|
|
Executive Vice President, BDC Capital Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) |
Treasurer |
|
|
Executive Vice President, SME Financing Finnvera, Finland |
Director |
|
|
Director, International Financial Institutions Nacional Financiera (NAFIN), Mexico |
Director |
|
|
General Manager, Planning & Administration Department China Development Bank (CDB), China |
Director |
|
|
Head of Investors Relations Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (BNDES), Brazil |
Director |
|
|
Director General Tamwilcom, Morocco |
Director |
|
|
Managing Director / CEO Development Bank of Nigeria Plc (DBN) |
Director |
|
|
Deputy Managing Director (DMD) Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) |
Director |
| Name | The Montreal Group | Other role |
|---|---|---|
|
Secretary-General |
Director, International Relations Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) |
|
|
Head of Operations and Sustainability |
Senior Advisor, International Relations Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) |
