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Blockchain-based Supply Chain Financing Solutions for Qatar
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Date
2021
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Abstract
When it comes to trade, operations or expansion, access to finance from conventional sources
such as financial institutions (FIs) can become a major hurdle for companies (International
Chamber of Commerce [ICC], 2020). This is especially the case for firms that fall under the small,
medium enterprise (SME) category due to either lacking financial strength or being relatively new
to the market and therefore lacking credit history. Due to the smaller size of SMEs in comparison
to larger corporate customers, FIs and banks alike do not seem to be addressing SME demand for
more flexible financing options (Ash, 2018).
According to a recent report by the Asian Development Bank, there exists a 1.5 trillion (US) dollar
gap in terms of unmet trade financing requests worldwide (Asian Development Bank [ADB],
2017). Furthermore, the report adds that 74% of rejected trade finance requests come from SMEs
and midcap firms. By 2025, the World Trade Organization (WTO) projects that the trade financing
gap could increase to a whopping 2.5 trillion (US) dollars globally, further exacerbating the
situation for SMEs in developing countries (MarcoPolo, 2020). This is also worsened by the recent
COVID-19 pandemic.