IFC, Standard Chartered Summit Promotes Finance Access for Women Entrepreneurs

In Washington, D.C.:
Katia Theriault, IFC
Phone:  (202) 458 9704
E-mail:  ktheriault@ifc.org 

In Singapore: 
Kari Reston, Standard Chartered 
Phone: +65 6530 3316
E-mail: Kari.reston@sc.com 




Singapore, October 28, 2009—IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and Standard 
Chartered Bank are hosting a global summit to discuss innovative ways to 
increase access to finance for women entrepreneurs, with the global financial 
crisis at the heart of conversations. 
  
The 9th Summit of the Global Banking Alliance for Women is being held in 
Singapore this year, from October 28 through 30. Participants and GBA’s member 
banks operating in developed and emerging markets will discuss the effect of 
the crisis on women entrepreneurs and the important role that women in banking 
can play in rebuilding confidence and trust in the banking sector.  

The summit will tackle other topics, including better understanding the needs 
of women, diversity and inclusion, and transitioning from microfinance lending 
to small and medium enterprise lending. It also will present the “Most 
Innovative Bank of the Year Award” to the GBA member that found the most 
creative way to reach women entrepreneurs in 2009. 

“If limited access to finance has traditionally been a barrier to growth for 
women-owned businesses, then the impact of the financial crisis on them cannot 
be understated,” said Zouera Youssoufou, Program Manager, IFC Gender Program. 
“Now more than ever, there is a clear need to support institutions that are 
committed to providing financial services for women entrepreneurs.”

Larke Riemer, Chair of the Global Banking Alliance for Women, said, “By sharing 
best practices, the GBA will be instrumental in boosting women’s economic 
empowerment around the world.” Riemer also heads the Women’s Market, Westpac 
Australia.

Joanna Fielding, Chief Financial Officer for Standard Chartered Bank China, 
said, “We are delighted to host the Global Banking Alliance for Women Summit in 
Singapore this year, marking the first time the event has been held in Asia. 
Standard Chartered Bank has a deep-rooted commitment to supporting women’s 
economic empowerment.” 

Since 2005, IFC has been the Global Banking Alliance’s main sponsor and 
supporter. For more information on IFC’s work with women entrepreneurs 
globally, visit www.ifc.org/gender. 

About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group creates opportunity for people to escape 
poverty and improve their lives. We foster sustainable economic growth in 
developing countries by supporting private sector development, mobilizing 
private capital, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to 
businesses and governments. Our new investments totaled $14.5 billion in fiscal 
2009, helping channel capital into developing countries during the financial 
crisis. For more information, visit www.ifc.org. 

For more information about Standard Chartered Bank, visit 
www.standardchartered.com. 

For more information about the Global Banking Alliance for Women, visit 
www.gbaforwomen.org.