Emerging economies are continuing to grow rapidly. SMEs stand to play a significant role in this growth. However, serious challenges remain for businesses in emerging markets, including access to finance, lack of expertise, lack of networks, and cross border barriers to trade. The World Bank estimates a US$2.2 trillion financing gap in unmet demand from SMEs in emerging markets, and increasingly, governments in emerging economies – such as Pakistan and Georgia – are beginning to prioritise SME development under national growth strategies.