Queen Máxima to attend SME Finance Forum launch in Antalya

On Sunday 15 November Her Majesty Queen Máxima will speak at the launch of the SME Finance Forum's global membership network during the G20 summit in Antalya, Turkey. The SME Finance Forum, an initiative of the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), is a centre for sharing expertise and networks to promote the development of small and medium-sized enterprises all over the world. Turkey is chairing the G20 throughout 2015.

The SME Finance Forum is the result of agreements adopted in Mexico during the G20 summit of 2012 on the GPFI’s recommendation, for the benefit of SMEs worldwide. The UN considers SMEs indispensable to global job growth and economic development. The SME Finance Forum is a public-private partnership involving financial organisations, legislative bodies and businesses in the technical financial sector. Its core business is networking, sharing knowledge and promoting best practices. The Forum will meet once a year.

Queen Máxima will co-host the launch meeting with Cevdet Yilmaz, Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister, in her capacity as the UN Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance and Honorary Patron of the GPFI.

The G20 is an international forum consisting of the 19 largest national economies and the European Union. Its aim is to contribute to worldwide economic growth and development. Within the G20, the GPFI focuses mainly on improving access to financial services.