Asia’s economic miracle is often associated with large, multi-national companies. While these organizations are important drivers of the region’s growth, SMEs (small and medium enterprises) have played a key role. However, unlike larger companies SMEs struggle with finance as a limiting factor rather than a lever for value generation.The research work summarized in this paper aims to explore the issue of finance in SME supply chains. On the demand side we look into the common financial challenges faced by these organizations in terms of access to finance, ease of availability, cost, control etc. On the supply side, we explore the challenges faced by financial institutions in helping SMEs. We use the case study approach to take a closer look at real-life scenarios that illustrate the key constraints restricting the growth of SMEs. Some of the successful attempts and innovations are discussed, and suggestions are made for developing a more holistic approach to make SMEs more competitive in the global environment.