What We Focus On
The Montreal Group’s activities are generally focused around Key Topic Groups. The subjects are chosen by the members and respond to emerging areas of interest or challenges. Key Topic Groups are formed by Subject Matter Experts from each member bank and meet via video conferences throughout the year.
The Chief Economists Roundtable is formed by representatives from our member organizations. Additionally, the Chief Economists of the following guest organizations are invited to participate in the roundtables: the British Business Bank (BBB) and the Japan Finance Corporation (JFC). In 2021, this group met monthly to comment on various economic rebound subjects and the macroeconomic impact of the crisis on MSMEs. Understanding the importance of measuring the impact of the bank’s activities on the entrepreneurs, the Chief Economists also participated in a 3- hour-workshop on Impact Evaluation in November 2021.
Since 2021, the agenda of the Group is concentrated on supporting members to better understand:
1. The role of public banks in accelerating MSMEs' journey to sustainability and in achieving the Paris and the SDG goals and;
2. How MSME public banks can integrate sustainability and environmental, social and governance considerations into their strategies, policies, procedures and financial and non-financial offering.
Sustainability Sounding Board: In the last quarter of 2021, a new Sounding Board to lead the sustainability agenda was created. A first exercise to produce a Self-Assessment Diagnostic Tool for profiling and positioning each member bank along a maturity continuum towards a green/sustainable culture was designed and developed with the support of the external firm GYConsulting.
Beyond Financial Assistance: Understanding that MSMEs need more than financing to overcome crises such as the recent pandemic or the climate one, in 2021, the Non-Financial Offerings for MSMEs in times of COVID-19 and post-crisis group continued meeting regularly. In the summer of 2021, the group decided to pivot the focus of its work to discuss the role of Non-Financial Services to sustain MSMEs in their sustainability journey and transition to net zero.
Finally, with the aim of fostering collaboration, the Secretariat of The Montreal Group is facilitating a series of One-off Benchmark discussions around key topics of common interest for its members to learn and exchange with their peers from around the world such as: Cleantech Financing, IP Financing, Support to Women Entrepreneurs, Internationalization of SMEs and loan guarantee schemes.