In our view there is a missing point in the list aiming at promoting SMEs: re-think the donors policy.
As we pointed out in our contribution:
Financing food trade - a cost-effective approach for financial providers, 2004
http://www.eldis.org/cf/search/disp/docdisplay.cfm?doc=DOC15211&resource...
there are some alternative approaches that deserve more attention. The author suggests that through integrating traditional tradesmen into the formal economy, they could play a key role in supporting microfinance circuits. He supports this argument based on the following points:
• they are very familiar with the local environment
• they are able to distinguish between eligible and non eligible applications for credit
• they have a detailed understanding of production and marketing costs
• they can keep management costs very low and, in any case, below from the formal lender
• their reputations are such that it would be difficult to default on repayments

In terms of policy, this paper addresses financial providers, particularly within international development agencies and government agencies and draws their attention to the issue of food security within large urban centres. The author also advocates the importance of reviewing policy interventions and suggests alternative approaches that could be used.http://www.cambridgedata.com/GraziosiAscanio/