Microenterprise and small business leasing - lessons from Pakistan

Although not well known in poorer countries, evidence from Network Leasing Corporation in Pakistan and from elsewhere suggests that leasing may well have a significant part to play in enabling micro and small enterprises (MSEs) to buy equipment which would otherwise be unavailable to them. Experience so far suggests that leasing is particularly useful for small and larger microenterprises, but the potential for reaching subsistence enterprises is still to be explored and remains untested. This article seeks to answer four questions: What is MSE leasing? Why is MSE leasing of particular interest? What is the experience of Network Leasing Corporation? What is the further potential for MSE leasing?