The credit portfolio of the financial system aimed at micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) experienced an average growth of 10.5% between 2017 and 2022, which shows the support of banks for this economic segment, which contributes around 40% of the gross domestic product (GDP) and generates about 2.2 million jobs.
According to the Report on financing for MSMEs in Dominican banks, published by the Superintendency of Banks (SB), the amount owed by MSMEs to banks amounted to RD$358,351 million at the end of 2022. This is equivalent to 22.2% of the total amount of the credit portfolio of the financial system and 42.3% of the total balance of commercial credits destined to the private sector.
This level of growth in recent years is partly explained by the monetary easing measures applied by the authorities to stimulate economic activity.
In this sense, the real growth of the portfolio to MSMEs in 2022 was 15.1%, higher than that registered in the same period of the previous year (3.7%).
The SB report also shows that the three main financial entities with loans for MSMEs had a joint portfolio of RD$265.596 million in December 2022, equivalent to 74% of the total system portfolio.
Regarding the composition of the balance owed by type of currency, as of December 2022, MSMEs increased the level of exposure in foreign currency, from having 28.4% of their portfolio in US dollars in December 2021, to 31.9% at closing of 2022.
When dealing with the economic activity they carry out, 82% of the total balance owed is allocated to companies in the commerce, manufacturing, accommodation and services, financial activities, real estate and construction sectors.
On the other hand, the SB report also highlights the recent growth in bank financing for MSMEs headed by women, whose portfolio expanded 31% between 2019 and 2022, to settle at RD$66,215.9.
Risk
The report shows that the overdue portfolio of MSMEs amounted to RD$3,710 million as of December 2022, registering a delinquency level of 1.4%, with a decreasing trend since March 2020 and below pre-pandemic levels.
The delinquency level of MSMEs is four percentage points above that registered for the rest of the commercial debtors.