This episode of our podcast series with the Asian Development Bank’s Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program (TSCFP) explores why women-led SMEs across Asia continue to face barriers in accessing trade finance, and how banks are working to address these challenges.

We examine the key obstacles, including limited familiarity with trade finance instruments, documentation complexity, collateral constraints, and gaps in financial literacy, as well as the impact these issues have on liquidity, risk management, and growth for women entrepreneurs operating in international markets.

To unpack what is changing in practice, we hear from Eleanor Hill, Treasury Editor at Trade Treasury Payments, alongside Lyda Vannak of FTB Bank in Cambodia and Unengerel Chuluunbat of Golomt Bank in Mongolia, who share insights on education, tailored products, and partnerships helping to expand access and build a more inclusive trade finance ecosystem.