Bank loans are the major source of capital for small and medium enterprises, however they represent just a small percentage of lending by financial institutions in China. Moreover, existing financial products and services offered by banks still have a long way to go to meet the specific demand of small and medium sized enterprises.

Meanwhile, with the full opening-up of China banking industry and the advancing of market-based interest rate reform, competition among banks has turned severe, with all striving to take over outstanding projects and large corporate clients. While revenues from traditional banking business are declining, the pressure for business innovations and profitability is higher than ever. Under such circumstances, development of loans for small and medium–sized enterprises which offers effective risk control and high returns will undoubtedly become the strategic choice for commercial banks.

Jointly organized by Experian and Sinotrust, the "SME Credit Risk Management for China Financial Industry 2008 Forum" has invited expert speakers from the People's Bank of China, major commercial banks, world-renowned financial consulting and research institutes, and leading credit risk management companies, to present and explore on forward-looking and practical issues such as "the current status and future development trend of SME credit risk management", "methods and procedures of SME credit risk management", as well as "external services and tools of SME credit risk management".

Through this event, we hope to contribute our knowledge and expertise to the rapid and healthy development of SME lending in China.

◆ general manager
◆ department head from risk management department