Financial inclusion and the deepening of credit in Colombia have had very positive developments in recent years. The figures show, on the one hand, that the deepening went from 33% of GDP in 2010 to about 49% in 2021. And, on the other hand, that the financial inclusion indicator went from 62% in 2010 to 90.5%. in 2021 (33.5 million adults already have some financial product, according to Banca de las Oportunidades), driven in this case by the greater digitization of the economy, in the use of channels and products, and by the subsidy programs, deepened during the Pandemic.
However, significant gaps remain to be closed. In terms of inclusion, there is a gender gap of 7 percentage points (men – women) and of almost 30 points between the levels of large cities (98%) and rural and dispersed rural areas (55%-69%). Here are tasks to be done in a job that should be articulated between the public, private and financial sectors, which I will delve into in future writings.
On the credit deepening front, the gaps or growth potentials come from the side of mortgage credit and that destined to finance MSMEs, both with lags when compared to peer countries in the region.
In the case of MSMEs, there are coincident diagnoses on the need to accelerate their financing, among many analysts, the financial industry, and even the new government’s program of proposals when referring to the financing of what they have called “the popular economy”. ”. These diagnoses involve tasks for which technical and financial system analyzes have developed various implementation proposals.
Among them are mentioned, in addition to a public policy that encourages formalization and improves connectivity, the need to raise the level of information to improve credit scores, promote development banking and expand the use of guarantees.
On this last front, one of the most important lessons left by the pandemic was that the increase in guarantees and their coverage, thanks to the capitalization made by the Ministry of Finance to the National Guarantee Fund (FNG), is an important tool. to mobilize credit by reducing the risk incurred by intermediaries in the placement. In the midst of the Pandemic, the FNG was able to place close to $26 billion with its “United for Colombia” program aimed at companies in need of credit to reactivate their businesses and some households with housing credit.
Therefore, making greater use of this guarantee instrument seems essential, especially in the case of the first loan. It is there where the greatest limitations and risks appear, since they are people or companies that are, normally, between formality and informality and that require a first push to enter that virtuous circle that is generated when adequate financing is received. Later, if they prove to be “good payers” the financial sector will “fight” to give them financing.
Designing and implementing a guarantee for the first loan would be a quick and efficient tool to advance the financing of MSMEs and for many belonging to the informal sector. It would be an early victory that the new government could win by making use of the network and experience already gained by the Colombian financial sector.
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