LEGISLATION WATCH- House SMEs Committee approves Microfinance Act: The House SMEs committee approved the six amendments to the 2014 microfinance law proposed by the Financial Regulatory Authority, paving the way for a general assembly vote within days, according to Al Mal. The legislative amendments would bring dedicated SME lenders, including finance companies and NGOs, under the microfinance law. The bill would also introduce a EGP 20 mn capital requirement for SME lenders and keep the requirement for their microfinance counterparts at EGP 5 mn. They would also allow SME finance providers to be members of a rebranded Egyptian Microfinance Federation.