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SME financing gaps highlighted at Lahore expo | The Express Tribune

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SME financing gaps highlighted at Lahore expo | The Express Tribune


Chamber urges easier credit, cash-flow lending and support for women entrepreneurs

Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Photo: file


LAHORE:

The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday organised the SME Finance and Banking Expo to provide small and medium enterprises direct access to banking facilities, financing schemes and financial products. According to a statement, the day-long event saw participation from almost all major commercial banks, Islamic banks and financial institutions operating in the country.

Banks set up dedicated stalls where a large number of LCCI members visited to obtain information on SME-focused financing products, refinance schemes, credit facilities, Islamic finance models and digital banking solutions. The expo aimed to bridge the gap between banks and businesses by improving awareness of available financial options.

The event was jointly inaugurated by LCCI President Faheemur Rehman Saigol, Executive Director State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Syed Basit Ali, SBP Chief Manager Tariq Riaz, LCCI Senior Vice President Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh, Vice President Khurram Lodhi and SAARC Chamber Vice President Mian Anjum Nisar. Convener SME Banking Expo Syed Salman Ali, CEO EXIM Bank Shahbaz Syed, members of the LCCI Executive Committee, senior bank officials, business leaders and women entrepreneurs were also present.

Addressing the ceremony, Saigol said the Lahore Chamber represents more than 48,000 member companies and is the largest chamber in the country. He said sustainable economic growth and regional competitiveness were not possible without strengthening the SME sector. He cited examples of countries including China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Japan and Taiwan, which achieved growth through small and medium enterprises.

Saigol said private sector financing in Pakistan remains low at around 6.5% of GDP. He noted that the number of SME borrowers stands at about 295,000, while outstanding SME financing is around Rs686 billion, far below potential. He said these figures indicate large untapped opportunities.

He pointed out that strict collateral requirements remain a major hurdle for small businesses despite strong market potential. He urged banks to focus on cash flows, business models and market value, and to expand low-collateral financing schemes. He also called for special support for women-owned businesses through simpler procedures and dedicated desks.

SBP Executive Director Syed Basit Ali said SMEs are a top priority for the government and the central bank. He said new principle-based prudential regulations have been introduced to encourage cash-flow based lending, while work is underway with international institutions to develop viable products. He added that women’s inclusion targets under the Banking on Equality policy have been achieved and work has begun on Vision 2.0.



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Gadgets Now Awards 2025 recognise tech excellence – The Times of India

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Gadgets Now Awards 2025 recognise tech excellence – The Times of India


NEW DELHI: The Times of India Gadgets Now Awards 2025 celebrated last year’s standout gadgets at an event on Monday where technology met glamour. The event drew an eclectic gathering of distinguished guests who came together to recognise technological excellence across key categories, including smartphones, smartwatches, audio products, televisions and more.This year, the Awards that are in its 6th edition went a step further and also recognised India’s leading influencers and creators who are redefining the tech content landscape.

Gadgets Now Awards 2025 recognise tech excellence

The winners included Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which scored a double win as the Best Smartphone Editor’s Choice and Popular Choice.Apple iPhone 17 was adjudged the Best Premium Smartphone Editor’s Choice, while Samsung Galaxy S 25 won the Popular Choice in the same category.Samsung once again picked up 2 awards as Galaxy Z Fold 7 was crowned the Editor’s Choice and Popular Choice winner in the Best Foldable Smartphone category.Samsung Galaxy Book 5 Pro won the Editor’s Choice Best AI-powered gadget, while Neosapien Neo 1 was the Popular Choice winner.



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Trump’s new global tariff comes into effect at 10%

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Trump’s new global tariff comes into effect at 10%



The global levy comes in at 10%, lower than the rate the president had threatened at the weekend.



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How long will Jamie Dimon stay as JPMorgan CEO? Bank chief signals ‘few more years’ at the helm – The Times of India

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How long will Jamie Dimon stay as JPMorgan CEO? Bank chief signals ‘few more years’ at the helm – The Times of India


JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon (Photo-AP)

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon signalled he plans to remain in charge of the largest US bank for “a few years,” offering fresh clarity on leadership succession even as the lender projected strong investment banking and trading performance, Reuters reported.Speaking at the bank’s Investor Day in New York, Dimon said he does not intend to step down immediately and may continue with the firm in a different role after eventually relinquishing the chief executive position.“I’m here for a few years as CEO, and maybe a few after that, as executive chairman, pending whatever the board wants to do,” Dimon said.His remarks come amid long-running investor speculation over succession planning at JPMorgan, where Dimon has led the bank for two decades. The lender’s board, he has previously said, remains focused on preparing a deep bench of executives capable of eventually taking over leadership.Under Dimon’s tenure, JPMorgan has risen to become Wall Street’s largest bank by both assets and market value, with a market capitalisation exceeding $800 billion — eclipsing the combined value of rivals Bank of America and Citigroup.Alongside leadership commentary, JPMorgan said it expects investment banking fees and markets revenue to post strong growth in the first quarter, easing concerns that recent equity market turbulence could disrupt dealmaking activity.Investor worries had grown after a sharp sell-off in software and technology stocks — driven by fears of artificial intelligence disruption — raised doubts about mergers and acquisitions and IPO pipelines for high-growth companies.Allaying those concerns, the bank said investment banking fees are expected to rise by a mid-teens percentage, potentially reaching the high teens in the quarter.“We started the year strong. Pipelines were very good, and it was broad based. The one thing I will say in M&A (is that) there are powerful strategic drivers,” Doug Petno, Co-CEO of JPMorgan’s commercial and investment bank, said. “I think a lot of these transactions will survive the volatility and carry on.”Markets revenue is also expected to increase by a mid-teens percentage, supported by elevated trading activity during volatile market conditions, when investors hedge risks and reposition portfolios.The bank kept its forecast for annual adjusted expenses unchanged at $105 billion as it continues investing heavily in technology and artificial intelligence initiatives.JPMorgan expects to spend $19.8 billion on technology in 2026, up 10% from a year earlier.“We continue to invest in AI and we’re seeing tangible benefits in multiple areas. Machine learning and analytical AI have been driving improvements in revenue,” Chief Financial Officer Jeremy Barnum said, as quoted Reuters.UBS analyst Erika Najarian said markets increasingly view large money-centre banks as relative beneficiaries of AI disruption, adding investors are keen to understand both productivity gains and revenue opportunities from the technology.Executives said US consumers remain resilient despite elevated interest rates and economic uncertainty, helping sustain spending and credit quality.JPMorgan executive Marianne Lake said the bank had not seen deterioration among lower-income consumers and that “everything is solid” on the consumer front.The lender is targeting a return on tangible common equity of 17%, a key profitability metric measuring how efficiently tangible equity generates profits.In January, JPMorgan reported fourth-quarter earnings that exceeded analysts’ estimates as volatile markets boosted trading income. The bank beat Wall Street profit forecasts in all four quarters last year, according to LSEG-compiled data.JPMorgan shares rose 34.4% in 2025, outperforming both large-cap US banking peers and the broader equity market, while the stock traded marginally higher in post-market activity.



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