A launching event was held this week for an MSME supply-chain financing platform called “Shwe Lan”, which aims at reducing the inequalities between MSMEs and larger players. The project is backed by Swiss-based Seedstars and Thura Swiss, a firm specialized in bringing foreign investments to Myanmar. The UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) financially supports the project through its DaNa Facility. Dr. Gail Marzetti, Head of DFID in Myanmar, said “this support will mean more and better paid jobs and increased economic opportunities across the Myanmar economy and more prosperous and secure future for poor people.” The  project aims to initially provide access to working capital for 300 MSMEs in Myanmar’s supply chain and will be inclusive for the poor and women. In a first phase, the investment is set at USD 1.9 million. Unlike banks that typically serve larger companies against real estate as collateral, Shwe Lan will require less documentation and will manage its risks through alternative ways of credit rating, use of technology and proven methods in other markets, according to Shwe Lan’s CEO Eleonora Castaldo. Dr. Aung Thura, CEO of Thura Swiss, said it is “an easy, innovative and scalable solution”. Seedstars has operated similar platforms in other developing markets and will bring the technology and operational experience to Myanmar.

Contact us if you would like to know more about the project info@thuraswiss.com