Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) Day

The publication focuses on four constraints faced by the extremely poor – namely that they tend to live in rural areas, work in the informal sector, live in fragile and conflict-affected regions and face gender inequality. The case studies underline the challenges the extremely poor face and identify ways to overcome them , including through the adoption of policies that maximize the contribution of trade to poverty reduction. The studies also highlight the ongoing gaps in data and research that constrain policy-making . The publication is a follow-up to “ The Role of Trade in Ending Poverty ”, co-published by the WTO and the World Bank in 2015, which examined the challenges the poor face in benefiting from trade opportunities. The country-specific approach of this new publication complements the global perspective of the previous report.This report presents eight case studies that demonstrate how the reduction in high trade transaction costs faced by small-scale traders can help red...

The availability of finance is essential for a healthy trading system. Today, up to 80 per cent of global trade is supported by some sort of financing or credit insurance. However, there are significant gaps in provision and therefore many companies cannot access the financial tools they need. Following the 2008-09 economic crisis, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have found it increasingly difficult to access this vital form of credit. The poorer the country, the greater the challenge. The lack of adequate trade finance is particularly acute in Africa and developing Asia. This publication provides a set of recommendations for addressing the gap in trade finance provision. This includes bolstering existing trade finance programmes, enhancing the trading capacity of developing countries and improving communication between all parties involved in trade finance. This report discusses the challenges faced by MSMEs in accessing trade finance and provides a set of recommendations fo...

MSMEs account for 90% of businesses, 60 to 70% of employment and 50% of GDP worldwide . As the backbone of societies everywhere they contribute to local and national economies and to sustaining livelihoods, in particular among the working poor, women, youth, and groups in vulnerable situations. MSMEs hold the potential to transform economies , foster job creation , and promote equitable economic growth if given adequate support . The MSME Day event aims to highlight their pivotal role and explore opportunities for their further advancement.

Analyses MSME-related provisions in regional trade agreements. Read the Working Paper on the  Provisions on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Regional Trade Agreements (2018)

Looks at evidence from the World Bank’s Enterprise Survey Database that digital connectivity increases the participation of MSMEs in developing countries in global value chains. Read the Working Paper on  E-commerce and Developing Country-SME Participation in Global Value Chains (2018)