The disparities in industrial productivity between rich and poor nations remain stark. For instance, MVA per capita was only $114 in LDCs compared to $4,938 in Europe and Northern America, in 2018. With a relatively small amount of capital investment and a predominantly local resource base, small-scale industries generate a substantial amount of employment and self-employment. However, one of the biggest challenges those industries face is access to loans or lines of credit for everyday business activities. Adequate financing is crucial for those industries to grow, since it allows them to innovate, improve efficiency, expand to new markets and create new job opportunities. While 31.5 per cent of small-scale industries (manufacturing and services) worldwide benefit from loans or lines of credit, regional differences stand out.