HKMA Business Credit-Scoring Pilot Boosts SME Loan Access

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) is piloting a business credit-scoring system under its Commercial Data Interchange (CDI) scheme to improve SME access to finance. Chief Executive Eddie Yue said early trials with nine banks have shown the model can streamline loan applications and cut costs.

Since CDI’s 2022 launch, over 50,000 applications have been supported, with approved SME loans totalling HKD41.9bn (USD5.3bn). SMEs account for 98% of Hong Kong enterprises. The HKMA is also partnering with Shenzhen to advance cross-border finance solutions and is integrating government data into trade finance systems. Logistics data is being digitised, including a blockchain-enabled cargo platform at Hong Kong International Airport.