This SME Competitiveness Outlook assesses the impact of conflict and fragility on business performance. It unveils a Fragility Exposure Index and shows that fragility as experienced by firms can be reduced by 25% if they take actions to reinforce competitiveness. These include engaging with business support organizations improving financial management and retaining skilled staff. The report finds that direct support to firms is helpful and must be complemented by reforms to promote peace and stability and improve the business environment. Humanitarian partners development agencies and capable state institutions must collaborate coordinate and have a deep understating of the context to avoid reinforcing the drivers of fragility and maximize positive outcomes.

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.

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.

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.

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.