The Bank–SME Relationship and the Financing of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs): A Malian Specificity[La relation banque et financement des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises (PME) : une particularité malienne]

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a central role in Mali's economic fabric by contributing significantly to wealth and job creation. According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), Malian SMEs account for 55% of the country's gross domestic product (AfDB, 2021). However, despite this strategic role, their access to bank financing remains limited. Various studies have highlighted several factors in the literature; however, certain aspects related to country specific characteristics appear to have been overlooked. The objective of this article is to identify the main factors related to SME financing and Mali's specific context. Methodologically, this research adopts an exploratory approach based primarily on the use of secondary data, supplemented by an analysis of the Malian financial system and its financing mechanisms. The results show that the main factors relate to the Malian financial system and aspects specific to SMEs. The study highlights that, generally speaking, microenterprises have greater access to bank financing than SMEs in the WAEMU region and in Mali in particular. The study could serve as a basis for examining the factors underlying this paradox. Finally, it suggests alternative approaches notably those based on the quality of the financial system, financial literacy, and managerial competence to examine the specific challenges SMEs face in accessing financing in Mali.