Intelligent SME.tech Issue 54 | Page 6

// LATEST UPDATES //
Small businesses set to see a boost in exports and business growth with new expert panel
As part of the UK Government’ s plan to support small businesses and boost global exports a new Board of Trade has been unveiled.
The new look Board, announced by the Business and Trade Secretary, will be charged with helping businesses, including the country’ s 5.5 million SMEs, to boost their exports and help super-charge growth for the economy as part of the Plan for Change.
Made up of a range of CEOs and business leaders, each member has been handpicked due to their expertise and knowledge in their respective fields.
The new Board members include Apprentice star and entrepreneur, Mike Soutar, BT Group Chief Executive, Allison Kirkby, and Michelle Ovens CBE, the Founder of Small Business Britain.
These advisors will be advocates and ambassadors for their sector, supporting businesses, especially SMEs, so they can trade more and grow.
Bangkok Bank to help SMEs manage transportation costs efficiently
Expanding lending to start-ups with launch of embedded finance service
Bangkok Bank joins Shell to launch the SHELL-BBL Prepaid Card, targeting small SMEs to help control transportation costs and specify the type of fuel to increase business efficiency. The card is easy to use, secure and flexible with no minimum purchase requirement. Additionally, it can be used for a marketing promotion activity. The Bank aims to have 55,000 SHELL-BBL Prepaid Card users in the first year.
This prepaid card( funds are pre-loaded and cannot be
topped up) can be used in place of cash to pay for fuel at over 720 Shell service stations nationwide. It is ideal for small businesses that use vehicles for operations, such as transportation, delivery or on-site services. This card allows businesses to control their spending limits as needed, helping them manage transportation costs more efficiently. There are two types of cards which cover different usage needs, Shell V-Power and Shell All Product.
Bettr, a leading AI-driven lending business under Ant International, has announced its official launch in Brazil to expand small- and mediumsized enterprise( SME) lending to support local and regional economic development by working with local partners. As a first move, it formed a strategic partnership with AliExpress to bring a new financing solution, Bettr Working Capital, to local merchants operating on AliExpress. This enables simple and streamlined access to working capital and supports business expansion in one of the world’ s fastest-developing e-commerce markets.
Bettr Working Capital will gradually roll out, with the first batch of disbursements starting on March 17. As Latin America’ s largest digital economy, Brazil continues to
experience rapid e-commerce growth, with millions of SMEs and microbusiness owners thriving in this dynamic sector. However, access to financing remains a challenge for many, as SMEs’ limited collateral, lack of standardised financial documentation and other constraints make it difficult to secure funding.
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