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SME Competitiveness Outlook

SME Competitiveness Outlook highlights needs to recognize the impact of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on inclusive economic growth to close global productivity gaps. SMEs are the missing link to sustainable economic growth and are fundamental to addressing inequality and ensuring greater inclusiveness. SME Competitiveness Outlook highlights country-specific constraints most relevant to business success by breaking them down into three key pillars: the ability of SMEs to connect, compete and change. The publication analyses these determinants of SME competitiveness at the level of companies, their business environment, and national policy.

ISSN (online): 25191225
Frequency: Annual
Language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18356/0b9ac94e-en

image of SME Competitiveness Outlook 2022

SME Competitiveness Outlook 2022

Oct 2022
Book
International Trade Centre

Our services sectors are key to an economic transformation. This report calls them ‘connected services. Transport and logistics financial services information and communication technologies and business and professional services contribute directly to economic growth – with an increasing share of output trade and jobs. These sectors also contribute indirectly making other firms more competitive by connecting them to global value chains and digital innovations. For example: in regions with high quality connected services 44% of all companies' export compared with 19% of firms where the quality of connected services is lower. Connected services spur inclusive growth that is favorable for small businesses including those led by women and young people. Yet most small firms in developing countries do not access them easily. This report explores the measures that companies business support organizations and policymakers must take to help connected services flourish – to benefit all firms foster more prosperous economies and build more inclusive societies.

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image of SME Competitiveness Outlook 2021

SME Competitiveness Outlook 2021

Jun 2021
Book
International Trade Centre

The SME Competitiveness Outlook 2021 analyses how small businesses can rebuild from the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic so they are better prepared to face the looming crisis of climate change. It provides a 20-point Green Recovery Plan to foster competitive resilient and environmentally sustainable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The report finds that firms owned by women and young people were hurt more by the pandemic and are more vulnerable to future shocks such those brought by a changing climate. It shows how business support organizations governments lead firms in value chains and international organizations can enable SMEs to strengthen competitiveness build resilience to climate hazards and contribute to safeguarding the planet.

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image of SME Competitiveness Outlook 2020

SME Competitiveness Outlook 2020

Aug 2020
Book
International Trade Centre
This publication is released at a time where the world is carefully moving out of the 'great lockdown' stemming from the coronavirus pandemic a partial or complete lockdown of the majority of economies across the globe for six weeks or longer. There are reasons to believe that this simultaneous shutdown of economic and social activities has succeeded in pre-empting what could have become a disastrous global health crisis. But the shutdown is likely to have major economic consequences that remain difficult to assess.
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image of SME Competitiveness Outlook 2019

SME Competitiveness Outlook 2019

Jun 2019
Book
International Trade Centre
Increasing annual investments in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries by $1 trilling would yield disproportionate dividends in terms of progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while also delivering healthy returns for investors. Yet less than 1% of the tens of trillions of dollars that global asset managers have under management is currently invested in developing country SMEs. This edition of SME Competitiveness Outlook explains how best to scale up private sector investment in developing country SMEs for sustainable development impact. It identifies four main streams through which investors facilitators and enterprises can form partnerships for sustainable development and it makes a strong case for investing in small businesses to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
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image of SME Competitiveness Outlook 2018

SME Competitiveness Outlook 2018

Oct 2018
Book
International Trade Centre
New technologies like advanced robotics 3-D printing big data and the internet of things are rapidly changing the way in which firms do business. A strong business ecosystem is necessary to manage this change. This year’s SME Competitiveness Outlook tells how to build it. The report combines data analysis academic insights thought leader views and case studies. It provides information and guidance for policymakers businesses and trade and investment support institutions.
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image of SME Competitiveness Outlook 2017

SME Competitiveness Outlook 2017

Nov 2017
Book
International Trade Centre
This year’s report focuses on regional trade the most common form of trade for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It contains 50 country profiles featuring detailed SME competitiveness assessments and information on each country’s export potential within and outside their geographical region. Success stories of value chain integration are provided for Ghana Hungary Indonesia Kenya and Morocco. The report provides targeted advice for policymakers businesses and trade and investment support institutions and combines data analysis case studies academic insights and opinions by thought leaders.
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image of SME Competitiveness Outlook 2016

SME Competitiveness Outlook 2016

Oct 2016
Book
International Trade Centre
Standards and regulations are an integral if easily overlooked part of our daily life. They determine whether a plug fits into a socket whether food is safe for human consumption or whether a bank is allowed to take deposits. They are also an indispensable part of international trade. Using new evidence from ITC databases this report reveals how standards and regulations are holding SME competitiveness back but crucially what SMEs and other stakeholders can do to make standards and regulations work for and not against SMEs. In this report advice targeted at SME managers is presented as well as how Trade and Investment Support Institutions and policymakers can influence the business environment to boost competitiveness and integration into global markets.
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image of SME Competitiveness Outlook 2015

SME Competitiveness Outlook 2015

Dec 2015
Book
International Trade Centre
This report looks at the missing link to inclusive growth for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which are less productive relative to large firms in the developing world than in the developed world. Based on three pillars of competitiveness "connect compete and change" the SME Competitiveness Grid presented here makes it easy to spot strengths and weaknesses of enterprises. It determines whether these reflect weaknesses at the firm level within their business environment or in the national environment. This helps countries understand the nature of their SME competitiveness and what is inhibiting them. Using firm-level data this report finds that many of the biggest gaps between small and large firms are in the "connect" pillar. It is targeted at SME experts trade and investment institutions businesses and governments. It is the first in an annual series.
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