IsDB Vice President, Others Call for Swift Action on MSME Digital Empowerment of Member Countries

Sunday Okobi in Algiers

As the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group launched its 2025 Annual Meetings in Algiers yesterday with a high-level side event titled: ‘Digital Solutions for Empowering MSMEs and Fostering Socio-Economic Development’, the IsDB Vice President (Operations) Dr. Rami Ahmed, has stressed the urgency of digitally empowering MSMEs among member countries, including Nigeria, calling it “not only timely, but a development prerequisite.”

He stressed on the central role MSMEs play in job creation, innovation, and inclusive growth, especially in vulnerable communities.
In his key remarks, he said: “Together, let us transform digital potential into tangible progress and ensure that MSMEs are placed at the heart of our digital development journey.”

The session gathered prominent leaders from government, finance, and technology sectors to explore ways to accelerate digital inclusion and support the growth of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in member countries.

In alignment with the Bank’s realigned strategy for 2023–2025, Dr. Ahmed reaffirmed IsDB Group’s commitment to supporting MSMEs through flagship initiatives, including the Technology Deployment Cooperation Program (TDCP) and the HerfatiProgram.
He reiterated that these programmes are aimed at modernizing MSMEs, improving market access, and enhancing entrepreneurial capacity, especially among underserved and disadvantaged communities.

At the event which was moderated by Mrs. May Ali Babiker, director of the IsDB’s Cooperation and Capacity Development Department, she opened the session by emphasizing the transformative role of digital solutions.

Babiker stressed that: “MSMEs are the backbone of our economies, and digital empowerment is no longer a luxury it’s a necessity.”

Babiker noted emphatically the importance of partnerships, knowledge-sharing, and targeted digital capacity development to bridge access gaps and unlock economic potential.

While delivering his national perspectives, the Algerian Minister of Knowledge Economy, Startups, and Microenterprises, His Excellency Nourredine Ouadah, outlined the government’s efforts to develop a conducive ecosystem for MSME digital transformation, including supportive infrastructure and startup-friendly policies.
On her own, Ms. Dayu Dara Permata, the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Pinhome (Indonesia), shared her experience scaling digital platforms to empower MSMEs.
Drawing from her background with Gojek and Pinhome, she emphasized the need to address barriers such as digital literacy and market access, particularly for women and rural entrepreneurs.
The Director-General of Al Salam Bank, Algeria, Dr. Nasser Heider, who spoke on the role of Islamic banking in expanding inclusive digital financial services, underscored that digital transformation must be designed to leave no one behind, particularly underserved communities.

Furthermore, Mr. Adil Alsharif, officer-in-Charge and Director-General of the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD), highlighted how development institutions can play a catalytic role through funding, technical support, and programmes tailored to the realities of Least Developed Member Countries (LDMCs), where internet infrastructure and digital literacy remain key challenges.
The panel discussions also addressed the practical application of digital tools from mobile banking and e-commerce platforms to AI driven analytics and their capacity to improve MSME productivity, competitiveness, and employment generation.
Some of the highlights of the session included that governments of member countries must enable digital ecosystems through infrastructure, regulation, and incentives; digital tools can significantly reduce poverty and create economic resilience in underserved areas; tailored capacity-building programmes are essential to bridge the digital divide and ensure MSMEs are not left behind; and inclusive digital platforms offer scalable solutions for income generation and community development.
The event reflected the IsDB Group’s strategic focus on innovation, inclusive growth, and partnerships, as outlined in its Realigned Strategy 2023–2025.