Q: To what extent has the demand-side for Islamic finance from small and medium sized enterprises [SMEs] changed in recent years?
Adnan Ahmed Yousif: Nowadays, SMEs are considered the backbone of the economy. They contribute to sustainable gross domestic product growth, exports and employment in many countries. When it comes to the demand by SMEs for Islamic finance, it highly depends on the potential penetration of Islamic banks within the SME sector, the preference of SMEs for Islamic financial products, as well as the enabling environment.
