{"id":35096,"date":"2021-07-15T08:35:17","date_gmt":"2021-07-15T08:35:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smeraonline.com\/newweb\/?p=35096"},"modified":"2021-07-15T08:35:17","modified_gmt":"2021-07-15T08:35:17","slug":"sme-loans-struggle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smeraonline.com\/hindi\/2021\/07\/15\/sme-loans-struggle\/","title":{"rendered":"Light for SMEs in the era of SMERA"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"35096\" class=\"elementor elementor-35096\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ebfe1ac elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-stretched elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-phone elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ebfe1ac\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;shape_divider_top&quot;:&quot;triangle-asymmetrical&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shape elementor-shape-top\" data-negative=\"false\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 100\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\">\n\t<path class=\"elementor-shape-fill\" d=\"M738,99l262-93V0H0v5.6L738,99z\"\/>\n<\/svg>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-08a22fc\" data-id=\"08a22fc\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-594b852 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"594b852\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-de834de\" data-id=\"de834de\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-f5da42e\" data-id=\"f5da42e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0e46451 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0e46451\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-86413cf\" data-id=\"86413cf\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0324181 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0324181\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.6.5 - 27-04-2022 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/www.smeraonline.com\/hindi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/feature-image-scaled-1-1024x512.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"This is the Banner image of article &quot;Light for SMEs in the ERA of SMERA&quot; depicts different SMEs in 3 circles on right hand side First clockwise is IT industry, next Handloom cloth industry, and lastly construction industry to show that SMERA is helping small businesses.\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.smeraonline.com\/hindi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/feature-image-scaled-1-1024x512.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.smeraonline.com\/hindi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/feature-image-scaled-1-300x150.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.smeraonline.com\/hindi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/feature-image-scaled-1-768x384.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.smeraonline.com\/hindi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/feature-image-scaled-1-1536x768.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.smeraonline.com\/hindi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/feature-image-scaled-1-2048x1024.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f747d3a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f747d3a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.6.5 - 27-04-2022 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#818a91;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#818a91;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">Trace the origin of most big organisations. They were like gentle river-water fishes in their initial days. Small-to-Medium enterprises (SMEs) as they\u2019re called in financial parlance. But SMEs would aspire to swim with the whales in the vast corporate ocean. All they needed was timely financing to make that quantum leap, give a free rein to their spirits.\u00a0<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Timely access to credit may have made some SMEs the business Godzillas that they are today. The history of India\u2019s economy is replete with examples of large organisations that started off as small business entities. Imagine if they had been deprived of commercial loans to increase working capital, build infrastructure, acquire machinery, and employ skilled labour. The economy would have lost much of its vitality.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b15d81c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b15d81c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.6.5 - 27-04-2022 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Why do SMEs struggle to get funded?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c199570 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c199570\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">Lest forgotten, SMEs withstood the global slowdown in the 2000s. They create FDI-boosting opportunities. According to a report published before the pandemic, the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector creates 113 million jobs.\u00a0MSMEs contribute 29 per cent to India\u2019s GDP and comprise nearly half of its exports. They employ over 11 crore workers.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Yet SMEs and MSMEs are made to feel like distant cousins when they turn to lending institutions or banks to support their businesses. Doubts galore. Are these fly-by-night operators? Will their businesses be profitable in the long run? Will the company sink in the quicksand of bad debt?<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Going by a recent report published in a leading daily, banks exposures to better-rated, large borrowers are declining. There are recent incipient signs of stress in the MSME and retail segments, warned the Financial Stability Report of the Reserve Bank of India. The demand for consumer credit across banks and NBFCs has dampened, with some deterioration \u2018in the risk profile of retail borrowers becoming evident\u2019, it said.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Challenges from competitors, limited market access, inability to adapt to changing industrial scenarios, geographical isolation in some cases, strict loan eligibility criteria by banks, a short repayment tenure and, more poignantly, the vagaries of nature, further hinder their progress.\u00a0Turn the clock back to the 2015 Chennai floods. According to conservative estimates, the region\u2019s Micro &amp; Small Industry sector were potentially losing Rs 840 crore every week owing to the extreme weather event. Since most SMEs and MSMEs operate in sub-optimal locations, they\u2019re more vulnerable to natural hazards and consequently inspire less confidence from lending institutions.<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">But going by recent evidence, the SME segment is finally getting a much-needed push, courtesy some government initiatives.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9cf42dd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9cf42dd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What are the types of government loans or initiatives to support SMEs?\u00a0<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f95c254 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f95c254\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">The Union government\u2019s fresh guidelines to include wholesale and retail traders in the MSME segment is expected to benefit as many as 25 million traders battered by the Covid-19 pandemic. In general, the Indian government has been keen to incentivise the priority sector which, in turn, should benefit SMEs. To cite an example, if an SME player specialises in a priority sector such as steel, it can apply for loan at affordable interest rates. Why wouldn\u2019t lenders reciprocate?<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Existing schemes like Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) offer credit to SMEs from the non-agricultural sector.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"p1\">\u2018MSME business loans in 59 minutes\u2019, \u2018Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme\u2019 for micro and small enterprises, \u2018National Small Industries Corporation Subsidy\u2019 to aid small organisations with finance and technology, \u2018Credit Link Capital Subsidy Scheme for Technology Upgradation\u2019 to reduce cost of production of goods and services for SMEs and \u2018Udyogini\u2019 to support women in meeting their capital requirements to start a business, all have given SMEs a lift in recent times.\u00a0<\/p><p class=\"p1\">In fact, the government has not only extended support to women entrepreneurs, it has launched skill-training programmes to drive their businesses. Certain schemes are intended to keep alive the entrepreneurial zeal of women, who might not have higher education but can still develop their business acumen.<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Additionally, there are special grievance cells for MSME owners. Many complaints are attended through this monitoring system.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6692920 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6692920\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What are the documents required for SME loans?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4770dfb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4770dfb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"v1MsoNoSpacing\">Even the loan application procedure is less rigid nowadays, with banks asking for proof of sole proprietorship, trade licence, audited balance sheets, address and KYC among the key documents. In fact, many lenders encourage borrowers to apply for loan online with minimal documentation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-30bf9c2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"30bf9c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How can SMERA help?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b935b39 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b935b39\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">Specialised SME rating firms such as SMERA Ratings Private Limited (erstwhile SMERA Gradings &amp; Ratings Private Limited) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smeraonline.com\/newweb\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">(SMERA)<\/a>, not only help companies get cheaper and faster credit, they offer comprehensive services such as operational performance, technological expertise and product capabilities. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smeraonline.com\/newweb\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SMERA<\/a> was set up in association with SIDBI and several banks in both public and private sectors in 2005 exclusively for the Indian SME segment. It serves as a check for what can be improved in the enterprise. It measures organisations on benchmarks specific to SMEs.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d4e4c2b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d4e4c2b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">SMERA is not only a rating agency...<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e8c1830 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e8c1830\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">Other than providing an assessment of business and financial risks, SMERA acts as transmitters of information for SME\u2019s financial planning. Lack of network often results in SMEs not having access to crucial information. In addition, most SMEs in India are found wanting in skilled personnel to manage their activities. They aren\u2019t able to report their financial results, earnings, and business projections that enhance their creditworthiness. Rating agencies have the tools to fill these lacunae.\u00a0<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Also, with limited experience in domestic and international markets, SMEs lose considerable ground to big players. SMERA ensures these gaps don\u2019t become an impediment. That\u2019s not all.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"p1\">Through SMERA\u2019s discerning eyes, SMEs are able to assess their own projects. Will SMEs be able to execute their project commitments in a timely manner? Are they guarded against factors affecting cost overruns such as delayed payments, changes in designs, inadequate project analysis and material price fluctuations? Rating agencies ensure these factors don\u2019t serve as bottlenecks. Site inspection and discussion with management about feasibility of a certain project also comprise their offerings.<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">In addition to this, SMEs benefit from SMERA\u2019s integrated research system that provides forecasts and in-depth analyses of India\u2019s economy, which is crucial for significant business decision<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-43e424f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"43e424f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How SMERA can make a difference in accessing funds<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e0dcd49 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e0dcd49\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">Of course, what matters eventually is whether SMEs can access finance to propel to the next level. A mere glowing recommendation from a rating agency should suffice for lenders, right? Wrong. It all comes down to the \u2018credibility\u2019 of the rating agency.\u00a0<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Lending institutions are mindful of taking any rating agency at face value. It isn\u2019t lost on them that corporates do occasionally indulge in rating shopping \u2013 they choose a rating agency that can be misled \u2013 to avail of easy loans. Banks thus don\u2019t rule out rare cases of SMEs approaching unaccomplished rating agencies with requests for a minimum BBB- rating, broadly the cut-off rate for loan eligibility.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">While top banks do have their own internal rating systems to screen SMEs, it does make a significant difference if credible rating agencies provide their own independent and unbiased assessments. A credit rating agency of SMERA\u2019s pedigree will have wider acceptability in banks. And sure enough, SMEs with ratings from reputed agencies enjoy a distinct advantage in getting loans disbursed over those who don\u2019t.\u00a0<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Moreover, each bank generally has a separate rating process and disclosure requirements to disburse loans that consume a significant amount of time. SMERA\u2019s comprehensive, transparent and reliable rating process has a wider acceptance within India\u2019s banking system and facilitates quick credit dispensation. SMERA ratings also take into account industry dynamics that enable SMEs to compare their strengths and weaknesses with their counterparts in the same line of business.\u00a0 This is achieved through statistically-derived, industry benchmarks for various ratios.<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">It must be noted that SMERA has completed over 50,000 ratings across sectors and geographies.<\/span><\/p><p class=\"p1\">If good business credit keeps SMEs in fine health, the high interest rates act as a deterrent. Often cold-shouldered by lenders that usually prefer a safety-first approach or demand unreasonable collaterals, SMEs are compelled to borrow from Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) at inhuman interest rates. Which brings the focus back on banks, the principal lenders<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d7955d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4d7955d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How SMERA can help access these loans at an affordable cost\u2026<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15eb8d7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"15eb8d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">Should banks do more when it comes to financing SMEs? When banks calculate their capital adequacy, different loans are given different weights. These are essentially called risk weights. The risk weight reduces for safe borrowers. Banks or any lending institution may need a bit of convincing that some flourishing SMEs can qualify in this category.&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Also, the vintage of the promoters and the company\u2019s operational track record assumes importance when lenders consider loan eligibility. Vintage gives confidence about the safety of funds lent to an SME.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">SMERA\u2019s 360\u00b0 rating methodology becomes significant here. Through this methodology, banks get complete clarity on an SME\u2019s financial risk (accounting quality, past financials, financial flexibility), management risk (the company\u2019s experience in the relevant sector, aspects of governance, integrity of owners) and business risk (market position, operating efficiency) and the organisation\u2019s vintage.&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">SMERA\u2019s standardised rating system makes it easier to benchmark a business entity\u2019s parameters and validate claims. Bankers and lenders thus have crucial information to finance SMEs and, in certain cases, are even encouraged to offer lower interest rates.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">SMERA\u2019s ratings categorise SMEs and MSMEs based on size such that they\u2019re evaluated among peers. This enables rational comparison of companies of the same size, thus ensuring that the smaller companies are not at a disadvantage while applying for credit.<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\">Features such as SMERA&#8217;s eight-point rating scale indicating SMEs relative standing compared to other similar entities, and QR code-enabled reports through which bankers can establish the latest rating of an SME from SMERA&#8217;s website are in sync with the times<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-890b13a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"890b13a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The road ahead\u00a0<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a14af2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0a14af2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">Reputed SME rating agencies that have set high yardsticks of analytical rigour can give confidence to lending institutions. They help reduce considerable time and transaction costs in loan disbursement processes. SMEs thus have a chance to leverage their ratings to negotiate better borrowing deals. High ratings foster an amicable association between banks and SMEs. Banks can recommend other business entities to join hands with the SMEs whom they\u2019ve backed with timely funding. In doing so, banks too contribute to accelerating growth in the SME sector.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">But as can be inferred from this article, rating agencies aren\u2019t mere intermediaries between borrowers and lenders. The wide spectrum of their offerings such as assessing a firm\u2019s capability to honour business obligations, presenting an all-inclusive assessment of its financial and operational compositions, and giving a through report of the SME\u2019s health comprise their core functions too.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">With rating agencies in their corner, SMEs can waltz their way to new heights going into the future. They have the steel. They need support. They have SMERA.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-dd22b33\" data-id=\"dd22b33\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c7f64a0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c7f64a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Services for SMEs<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-d330dfc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d330dfc\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-7af1a62\" data-id=\"7af1a62\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8f51bc8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"8f51bc8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">SME Credit Rating<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3eb818b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3eb818b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>An independent &amp; unbiased opinion of an entity&#8217;s creditworthiness.<br> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smeraonline.com\/newweb\/index.php\/sme-rating\/\">Know more<\/a><\/strong>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-76293ee elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"76293ee\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-02d80be\" data-id=\"02d80be\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dcb1d75 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"dcb1d75\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Credit Due Diligence<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c7e8b43 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c7e8b43\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>A thorough fact check to validate an entity&#8217;s parameters.<br>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.smeraonline.com\/newweb\/index.php\/sme-rating\/\">Apply now.<\/a><\/strong>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-2aa0b01 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2aa0b01\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-0a29da5\" data-id=\"0a29da5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-786202b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"786202b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">SMERA Terminal<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e4ff052 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e4ff052\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>A fintech platform connecting bankers &amp; SMEs to facilitate loans.<br> <a href=\"https:\/\/terminal.smeraonline.com\/general_registration.php\">Sign up<\/a><\/strong>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4b8b3ee elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"4b8b3ee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.6.5 - 27-04-2022 *\/\n.e-container.e-container--row .elementor-spacer-inner{width:var(--spacer-size)}.e-container.e-container--column .elementor-spacer-inner,.elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--spacer-size)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-befecae elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"befecae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">More about SMERA<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-85a962a elementor-aspect-ratio-169 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"85a962a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/watch?v=lcLhidKUYpE&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;aspect_ratio&quot;:&quot;169&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.6.5 - 27-04-2022 *\/\n.elementor-widget-video .elementor-widget-container{overflow:hidden;-webkit-transform:translateZ(0);transform:translateZ(0)}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-open-inline .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;background-size:cover;background-position:50%}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay{cursor:pointer;text-align:center}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay:hover .elementor-custom-embed-play i{opacity:1}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay img{display:block;width:100%}.elementor-widget-video .e-hosted-video .elementor-video{-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-fit-aspect-ratio elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5b5c1e8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5b5c1e8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d9b096f\" data-id=\"d9b096f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ccb636c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ccb636c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Let's talk<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e348ae elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"6e348ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<!-- Calendly link widget begin -->\n\n<!-- Calendly link widget begin -->\n<style>\n    .mybutton{\n        background-color: #0089CB;\nborder-radius:0px;\n  border: none;\n  color: white;\n  padding: 10px 32px;\n  text-align: center;\n  text-decoration: none;\n  display: inline-block;\n  font-size: 0.9 em;\n  font-family: Roboto;\n  font-weight: bold;\n  cursor: pointer;\n  box-shadow: 0 4px 8px 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2), 0 6px 20px 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.19);\n        \n    }\n    .mybutton:hover{\n        background-color: #ffffff;\nborder-radius:0px;\n  border: none;\n  color: #CC9955;\n  padding: 10px 32px;\n  text-align: center;\n  text-decoration: none;\n  display: inline-block;\n  font-size: 0.9 em;\n  font-family: Roboto;\n  font-weight: bold;\n  cursor: pointer;\n  box-shadow: 0 4px 8px 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2), 0 6px 20px 0 rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.19);\n        \n    }\n    .mylink{\n        color: white;\n    }\n    .mylink:hover{\n        color: orange;\n    }\n    \n<\/style>\n<link href=\"https:\/\/assets.calendly.com\/assets\/external\/widget.css\" rel=\"stylesheet\">\n<script src=\"https:\/\/assets.calendly.com\/assets\/external\/widget.js\" type=\"text\/javascript\" async><\/script>\n<div align=\"center\"><button class=\"mybutton\"><a class=\"mylink\"\"href=\"\" onclick=\"Calendly.initPopupWidget({url: 'https:\/\/calendly.com\/smera2021\/30min'});return false;\">Schedule a Call<\/a><\/button><\/div>\n\n<!-- Calendly link widget end -->\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trace the origin of most big organisations. They were like gentle river-water fishes in their initial days. Small-to-Medium enterprises (SMEs) as they\u2019re called in financial parlance. But SMEs would aspire to swim with the whales in the vast corporate ocean. All they needed was timely financing to make that quantum leap, give a free rein &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smeraonline.com\/hindi\/2021\/07\/15\/sme-loans-struggle\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Light for SMEs in the era of SMERA<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35148,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smeraonline.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35096"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smeraonline.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smeraonline.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smeraonline.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smeraonline.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35096"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.smeraonline.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35096\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smeraonline.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35148"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smeraonline.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35096"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smeraonline.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35096"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smeraonline.com\/hindi\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35096"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}