SME rating agency SMERA has launched a new platform, Microfin Analytics, focused on providing grading, research and advisory services exclusive to microfinance institutions. It aims to provide valuable and timely insights to the MFI lenders and investors for meeting their social, financial and business objectives. Sankar Chakraborti, group CEO, Acuite SMERA Group, said the number of institutions providing micro finance services has gone up to several hundred albeit the challenges continue. Some of the major issues faced by the sector include over dependence on banking sector, over-indebtedness of MFIs, high rate of interest, concentration risk and more. SMERA has launched Microfin analytics to cater to each of these problems, he added. Mohit Jain, senior vice president – Institutional Gradings, SMERA Microfin, said Microfin Analytics has been conceived in line with the company’s constant focus on innovation and introducing best-in-class products in the industry to enable effective decision making by the participants. The product was ideated and developed on the basis of rating/grading assignments of more than 100 MFIs and with the rising demand, the learnings’ and experience. Microfin Analytics is offering a wide spectrum of services that will help this segment address various challenges.
