OECD 2004. 1

O ECD COM PENDIUM II ON

SM E AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP RELATED ACTIVITIES

CARRIED OUT BY INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL

BODIES

OECD 2004. 2

FO RW ARD

The OECD Compendium II on SM E and Entrepreneurship-related Activities carried out by International and Regional Bodies was prepared under the direction of M me M arie-Florence Estimé, Deputy Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship, SM Es & Local Development, by Professor Bernadette M adeuf (Université Paris X, Nanterre) and by M s. Rebecca Scheel (Junior Consultant, CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division). The Compendium II has benefited from the input of M r. Paul Atkinson (Deputy Director, DSTI), M s. M arian M urphy (Administrator, CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division), M r. Jon Potter (Administrator, CFE / LEED Programme) and M r. Andreas Lindner (Principal Administrator / Statistics Directorate).

The Compendium II is an in-progress report and will therefore be updated regularly to take into account further responses, and the finalisation and commencement of activities and programmes of the responding organisations.

Please check online at www.oecd.org/cfe/sme for the latest version of the Compendium.

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TABLE OF CO NTENTS

FORW ARD ...................................................................................................................................2

LIST OF ABREVIATIONS..........................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................................7

Rationale behind the Compendium ............................................................................................7 Objectives of the Compendium II..............................................................................................8 M ethodology of the survey........................................................................................................8 Follow-up to the Compendium II...............................................................................................9 Conclusion..................................................................................................................................9 Structure of the Compendium II...............................................................................................10

PRESENTATION OF RESPONDING ORGANISATIONS......................................................21

Part I: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)...........21 Part II: International Organisations (part of the UN System)...................................................29 Part III: International and Regional Organisations and Fora....................................................43 The role of the CEI in supporting the development of SM Es within the CEI Region.............45 Part IV – Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)..............................................................57 Part V: National Foundations...................................................................................................65

SUM M ARY OF RESPONSES RECEIVED...............................................................................73

PART 1. FINANCING .......................................................................................................75 PART 2: ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND FIRM CREATION ............................................89 PART 3: EM PLOYM ENT AND HUM AN RESOURCES..............................................109 PART 4: INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY ............................................................119 PART 5: LOCAL DEVELOPM ENT (INCLUDING SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP)139 PART 6: PARTNERSHIPS, CLUSTERS, AND NETW ORKS.......................................149 PART 7: SM Es IN SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES..................................................................165 PART 8: SM ES AND GLOBALISATION ......................................................................173 PART 9: SM Es IN DEVELOPING AND EM ERGING ECONOM IES..........................187 PART 10: ENVIRONM ENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPM ENT .........................199 PART 11: W OM EN ENTREPRENEURS AND W OM EN-OW NED BUSINESSES ......207 PART 12: DATA AND STATISTICS ON SM Es..............................................................217 PART 13: ASSESSM ENT OF POLICIES AND PROGRAM M ES GEARED TOW ARD SM ES AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP.................................................................229

ANNEX 1..................................................................................................................................248

INDEX .......................................................................................................................................250

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LIST OF ABREVIATIONS

ABAC: APEC Business Advisory Board APEC: Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation ASEAN: Association of Southeast Asian Nations ADB: Asian Development Bank

AOTA: advisory technical assistance; ECGF: East and Central Asia Department/Governance, Finance, and Trade Division; ECSS: East and Central Asia Department/Social Sectors Division; ECOC: East and Central Asia Department/Operations Coordination Division; ERDI: Economics and Research Office/Development Indicators and Policy Research Division; M KGF: M ekong Department/Governance, Finance and Trade Division; M KOC: M ekong Department/Operations Coordination Division; M KSS: M ekong Department/Social Sectors Division; OED: Operations Evaluation Department; PAHQ: Pacific Department/ Operations Division; PSOP: Private Sector Department/ Operations Division; RSFI: Regional and Sustainable Development Department/Finance and Infrastructure

Division; SAGF: South Asia Department/ Governance, Finance, and Trade Division; SEGF: Southeast Asia Department/Governance, Finance and Trade Division; SEID: Southeast Asia Department/Infrastructure Division; SPRM : South Pacific Regional M ission

BCEAM : The Business Council Europe, Africa, M editerranean CEI: Central European Initiative EBRD: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development ECB: European Central Bank EC: European Commission EIB: European Investment Bank EIF: European Investment Fund EUROCHAM BRES: Association of European chambers of Commerce and Industry EURO-M ED TDS: EURO-M ED Trade, Distribution and Service Initiative FBE: European Banking Federation IDB: Inter-American Development Bank IKED: International Organisation for Knowledge Economy and Enterprise Development

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INSM E: International Network for Small and M edium-sized Enterprises ILO: International Labour Organization

IFP : InFocus Programme LED : Local Economic Development SEED: Small Enterprise Development SFP : Social Finance Programme W EDGE: W omen’s Entrepreneurship Development & Gender Equality

PECC: Pacific Economic Co-operation Council OECD: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

CFA: Committee on Fiscal Affairs CFE: Centre for Entrepreneurship, SM Es & Local Development CTP: Centre for Tax Policy and Administration DAF: Directorate for Financial, Fiscal and Enterprise Affairs DCD: Development Co-operation Directorate DEV: Development Centre DSTI: Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry ECH: Trade Directorate JW PTE: Joint W orking Party on Trade and Environment LEED: Local Economic and Employment Development Programme PGC: Public Governance Committee REG: W orking Party on Regulatory M anagement and Reform SM E & Entrepreneurship Division: Small and M edium-sized Division SW AC: Sahel and W est Africa Club TDPC: Territory Development Policy Committee

UNESCAP: Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

APTT: Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology

UNESCW A: Economic and Social Commission for W estern Asia EASL: EW CW A Assistance for South Lebanon Project PSED: Private Sector and Enterprise Development SDPD: Sustainable Development and Productivity Divison

UNECA: Economic Commission for Africa UNECE: Economic Commission for Europe

TOS: Team of Specialists RASP: Regional Advisory Services Programme

UNECLAC/CEPAL: Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean UNCTAD: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development UNDP: United Nations Development Programme UNICE: Union of Industrial and Employers’ Confederations of Europe UNIDO: United Nations Industrial Development Organisation

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W B: W orld Bank

IFC: International Finance Corporation

W ES/NUTEK: European Network to Promote W omen’s Entrepreneurship W IPO: W orld Intellectual Property Organisation YES for Europe: Yes for Europe, European Confederation of Young Entrepreneurs

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INTRO DUCTIO N

Rationale behind the Com pendium

Fostering entrepreneurship and the development of Sm all and M edium -sized Enterprises (SM Es) are two issues moving to the top of policy makers’ agendas. SM ES account for over 95% of enterprises and 60-70% of employment in OECD countries and a thriving SM E sector is essential for job creation, social cohesion, innovation and growth in advanced industrialised countries, as well as in emerging and developing economies. Entrepreneurs are agents of change and growth, acting as catalysts for the generation, dissemination and application of innovative ideas. Therefore, entrepreneurship is key to economic performance increasing productivity and competitiveness, and in particular with respect to innovative change, playing an important structural and dynamic role in all economies. Not only do SM Es and Entrepreneurship generate economic growth, they are also essential elements to improving worker skills, alleviating pockets of local poverty in inner cities or declining regions, in particular by helping specific population groups to help themselves.

These developments have given rise to a large number of activities in many international organisations, both governmental and non-governmental. Although the mandates of these international organisations differ, the need to avoid duplication of effort and to improve co-ordination and synergy among them make it highly desirable to put together an inventory of these activities and make it widely available. Consequently, in the framework of the preparation of the 1st OECD M inisterial Conference on SM Es held in Bologna, Italy in June 2000, the OECD Secretariat prepared a first Compendium which collected and classified information on the activities of international bodies and institutions, as well as NGOs, targeted at SM Es. .

Between the Bologna M inisterial and the 2nd OECD M inisterial Conference on SM Es held in Istanbul, Turkey four years later (3-5 June 2004), there has been a considerable increase in the amount of information available at the international level, reflecting new topics, new challenges, new actors and policies related to SM Es and entrepreneurship. This situation will likely continue to evolve. Consequently, there is a need for classification and guidance in a situation where no general guide (online or in print) is available.

In the context of the follow-up to the Istanbul SM E M inisterial Conference and in the framework of the OECD Bologna Process for SM E Policies, the OECD is well placed to identify and organise this information. M oreover, the creation of the new O ECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SM Es & Local Developm ent (CFE) in July 2004 offers a prime opportunity and a new momentum to launch a second, updated version of the Compendium, adapted to the information environment.

The new style Compendium II involves much more than an update of the first Compendium. Its content and structure have been redefined. In particular, the construction of the internal and external links, hyperlinks, should enable the reader to easily navigate to the original source of information and to the organisation concerned with the activity mentioned in the Compendium Its online presentation, in “HUB” form, will also make it easier to update the Compendium periodically in the future. The electronic form will be of course combined with a traditional paper presentation (to facilitate those who do not have easy access to the Internet).

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In the manner in which it is conceived, the Com pendium II is a venture that has no equivalent,1 and which, via Internet links, will provide comprehensive access to the various stakeholders in the field of SM Es and entrepreneurship. It is an ambitious project no doubt, but one which is achievable thanks to information technology and the co-operation of the organisations/institutions involved.

O bjectives of the Com pendium II

The objectives are:

- To provide a global inventory of activities carried out by international organisations and institutions (both governmental and non-governmental) in the field of SM Es and entrepreneurship.

- To provide up-to-date information to various stakeholders (governments, entrepreneurs and the business community, international organisations, and academics) on recent developments in SM E and entrepreneurship-related issues and policies;

- To facilitate synergies, co-operation and collaboration among international organisations, institutions and NGOs and to avoid duplication of activities in this field.

M ethodology of the survey

The Compendium II was prepared on the basis of an OECD survey. International and regional bodies participating in the OECD Bologna Process were invited to provide updated information on their activities related to SM Es. Altogether, over 30 international and regional organisations/institutions participated in this survey. The present version is a com pilation of the answers received to date. Some organisations have indicated their intention to respond and their answers will be incorporated in the next updated version of the Compendium online. Other organisations and bodies, which were unable to supply information for various reasons, including non-completion of their programme of work or lack of time, were invited to table separate documentation at the Istanbul SM E M inisterial Conference (June 2004) or to send the response, if possible, in the near future.

As part of the survey, the OECD also invited its own bodies to provide information on their SM E and Entrepreneurship-related activities.

1 A UNDP guide was published in 2000 but was confined to UN Organisation activities aimed at SM Es, mainly in developing countries, and has not been updated at the time of

writing.

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Follow-up to the Com pendium II

The Compendium II will be made available on the website of the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SM Es and Local Development (www.oecd.org/cfe/sme). It will be regularly updated and will include all the information received in the interim. It is therefore a work in progress. To produce a useful and valuable Compendium, this OECD initiative will require the co-operation and participation of all organisations concerned.

Conclusion

In our attempt to provide a global inventory of activities carried out by international organisations and institutions (both governmental and non-governmental) in the field of SM Es and Entrepreneurship with the Compendium II, it became clear that many activities tended to be concentrated in some thematic areas while there were few activities in other thematic areas. Some issues (such as ”Financing”, “Entrepreneurship and Firm Creation”, “Innovation and Technology” or “Clusters, Networks and Partnerships”) seem to have received more attention and given rise to more activities than other issues (such as “Local Development”, “Environment and Sustainable Development” or “W omen Entrepreneurs”). This is probably due to the perceived priorities for action and policies. But as priorities are evolving, and new challenges emerging, this will be reflected in a shift in areas of interest.

For the Compendium II to have maximum impact, users of this document would need to contact other organisations with similar activities to share details of best practices and increase synergies, while perhaps expanding their interest to other issue areas where there is little activity in order to encourage entrepreneurship and the development of SM Es in areas that have previously been ignored or overlooked.

Users are cordially invited to provide comments on the Compendium II in order to make this document a more useful tool. The OECD Secretariat will be pleased to receive your comments which should be sent to:

SM E.Division@ oecd.org

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Structure of the Com pendium II

Information on SM E and entrepreneurship-related activities of the responding organisations/institutions compiled in the Com pendium is divided into 13 categories each with the sub-issues presented below. W ithin the 13 main parts, and the subsequent sub-divisions, the Compendium II takes into account the past and current activities, the future activities and the bodies within the respondent organisation/institution that are responsible for the activities.

1. Financing

1.1. SM Es Access to Capital 1.2. SM Es Access to Equity M arkets 1.3. Financing of W omen-owned Businesses 1.4. Other Issues

2. Entrepreneurship and Firm Creation

2.1. Environment Facilitating New and Small Business 2.2. Special Financing Schemes for Firm Creation 2.3. Access to M arkets, National and International 2.4. Labour Skills and M anagement Training for New Entrepreneurs 2.5. Other Issues

3. Em ploym ent and H um an Resources

3.1. Job Creation 3.2. Labour Skills 3.3. M anagement Training 3.4. Other Issues

4. Innovation and Technology

4.1. SM Es and Innovation 4.2. Incubators and Start-up 4.3. Financing Issues (Access to Venture Capital, etc.) 4.4. Labour Skills and M anagement Capabilities 4.5. Innovative Networks (Co-operation among SM Es, with Large Firms or Public Centres at

National or International Levels) 4.6. Patents and Property Rights 4.7. Other Issues

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5. Local Developm ent (including Social Entrepreneurship)

5.1. SM E and Local Development Policies 5.2. SM E and Local Partnership 5.3. Local Partnerships Facilitating Access to Foreign M arkets (Networking for Export

Promotion, FDI and Sub-contracting) 5.4. Social Entrepreneurship 5.5. Other Issues

6. Clusters, Networks and Partnerships

6.1. Partnership with Public Sector 6.2. Partnership with SM Es 6.3. Partnership with Large Firms 6.4. Networks for International Trade and Investment 6.5. Innovative Networks 6.6. Other Issues

7. SM Es in Specific Industries

7.1. Biotechnologies 7.2. Environment Related Industries 7.3. Services 7.4. Other Issues

8. SM Es and Globalisation

8.1. Globalisation Strategies of SM Es 8.2. Financing Issues 8.3. E-commerce and Access to ICT 8.4. SM Es Networks for International Trade and Investment 8.5. Partnership with Global Firms 8.6. Other Issues

9. SM Es in Developing and Em erging Econom ies

9.1. Provision of Business Services 9.2. SM Es Linkages with Foreign Investors 9.3. SM Es Access to External M arkets 9.4. Financial and Technical Assistance (International Aid) 9.5. Other Issues

10. Environm ent and Sustainable Developm ent

10.1. SM Es in Environment Related Activities 10.2. Impact of New Regulations on SM Es 10.3. Environment Related Innovations 10.4. Other Issues

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11. W om en Entrepreneurs and W om en-owned Businesses

11.1. Financing of W omen-owned Businesses 11.2. Firm Creation by W omen: Specific Issues 11.3. W omen-entrepreneurs: Specific Issues 11.4. Other Issues

12. Data and Statistics on SM Es and Entrepreneurship

12.1. Collection of Data by Size Classes Related to Different Variables (e.g. Employment, Output, Export, Investment, etc. and by Gender)

12.2. Specific Surveys on SM Es Globalisation 12.3. Specific Surveys Related to W omen Entrepreneurship 12.4. Other Issues

13. Assessm ent of Policies and Program m es geared towards SM Es and Entrepreneurship

13.1. Financing 13.2. Entrepreneurship and Firm Creation 13.3. Employment and Human Resources 13.4. Innovation and Technology 13.5. Local Development (including Social Entrepreneurship) 13.6. Clusters, Networks and Partnerships 13.7. SM Es in Specific Industries 13.8. SM Es and Globalisation 13.9. Development of Developing and Emerging Economies 13.10. Environment and Sustainable Development 13.11. W omen Entrepreneurs and W omen-owned Businesses 13.12. Data and Statistics on SM Es

In each of these issue areas, respondents are separated into four groups depending on the nature of the organisation/institution. Part I presents the OECD’s activities; Part II presents those organisations related to the United Nations System; Part III presents international and regional organisations and fora; while Part IV presents the work of non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The organisations presented are listed on the following page.

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Part I: The OECD

Part II: Organisations related to the United Nations System

Answ ers received:

Econom ic and Social Com m ission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) Econom ic and Social Com m ission for W estern Asia (UNESCW A) Econom ic Com m ission for Africa (UNECA) Econom ic Com m ission for Europe (UNECE) Econom ic Com m ission for Latin Am erica and the Caribbean (UNECLAC/CEPAL) International Labour Organisation (ILO) United Nations Conference on Trade and Developm ent (UNCTAD)* United Nations Developm ent Program m e (UNDP) United Nations Industrial Developm ent Organisation (UNIDO) W orld Bank (W orld Bank/IFC) W orld Intellectual Property Organisation (W IPO)

Part III: International and regional organisations and forum s

Answ ers received:

APEC Business Advisory Board (ABAC)* Asian Developm ent Bank (ADB) Asia-Pacific Econom ic Co-operation (APEC) Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Central European Initiative (CEI) European Bank for Reconstruction and Developm ent (EBRD) European Central Bank (ECB) European Com m ission* (EC) European Investm ent Bank (EIB) European Investm ent Fund (EIF) Inter-Am erican Developm ent Bank (IDB)* International Network for SM Es (INSM E)

Part IV: Non-governm ental organisations (NGOs)

Answ ers received:

Association of European cham bers of Com m erce and Industry (EUROCHAM BRES) The Business Council Europe, Africa, M editerranean (BCEAM ) EURO-M ED Trade, Distribution and Service Initiative (EURO-M ED TDS) European Banking Federation (FBE) European Network to Prom ote W om en’s Entrepreneurship (W ES/NUTEK) International Organisation for Knowledge Econom y and Enterprise Developm ent (IKED) Pacific Econom ic Co-operation Council (PECC)* Union of Industrial and Em ployers’ Confederations of Europe (UNICE) Yes for Europe, European Confederation of Young Entrepreneurs (YES for Europe) *Response based on the organisation’s internet website.

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INTRO DUCTIO N

Raison d’être du com pendium

Les mesures permettant de favoriser l’entrepreneuriat et la création de petites et m oyennes entreprises (PM E) vont bientôt devenir l’une des préoccupations majeures des responsables de l’élaboration des politiques. Dans les pays de l’OCDE, les PM E représentent plus de 95 % des entreprises, et entre 60 et 70 % de l’emploi. Or, on sait que dans les pays industrialisés comme dans les économies émergentes ou en développement, la création d’emplois, la cohésion sociale, l’innovation et la croissance exigent un secteur de PM E prospère. En effet, les entrepreneurs sont des vecteurs de changement et de croissance, et jouent un rôle de catalyseur en matière de production, de diffusion et de mise en application d’idées innovantes. L’entrepreneuriat est donc essentiel pour réaliser des performances économiques car il permet d’accroître la productivité et la compétitivité par le biais, notamment, du changement induit par l’innovation, et joue un rôle structurel important pour le dynamisme de toutes les économies. Non seulement les PM E et l’entrepreneuriat sont source de croissance économique mais ils constituent aussi des facteurs essentiels d’amélioration des compétences des travailleurs et de réduction des poches de pauvreté dans les quartiers du centre des villes ou les régions en déclin, notamment en aidant des groupes de population spécifiques à se prendre en charge.

Ces faits nouveaux ont donné lieu à un grand nombre d’activités dans de nombreuses organisations internationales, tant gouvernementales que non gouvernementales. Bien que ces organisations n’aient pas toutes la même vocation, la nécessité d’éviter les doubles emplois tout en renforçant la coordination et les synergies entre elles rendait éminemment souhaitable l’établissement d’un inventaire de ces activités qui serait diffusé largement. C’est ainsi que, dans le cadre de la préparation de la Première Conférence ministérielle de l’OCDE sur les PM E qui s’est tenue à Bologne, en Italie, en juin 2000, le Secrétariat de l’Organisation a établi un premier Compendium réunissant et classant des informations sur les activités axées sur les PM E d’organismes et d’institutions internationales, ainsi que d’ONG.

Entre la conférence de Bologne et la Deuxième Conférence ministérielle de l’OCDE sur les PM E qui s’est tenue à Istanbul, en Turquie, quatre ans plus tard (du 3 au 5 juin 2004), on a vu augmenter considérablement le volume d’informations disponibles à l’échelle internationale, du fait de l’apparition de thèmes, d’enjeux, et de protagonistes nouveaux ainsi que de nouvelles mesures liées aux PM E et à l’entrepreneuriat. Il est vraisemblable que les choses continueront d’évoluer en ce sens mais, en l’absence d’instrument de référence générale (en version électronique ou papier), le besoin de classification et de repères se trouve renforcé.

Dans le prolongement de la Conférence ministérielle d’Istanbul et dans le cadre du Processus de Bologne relatif aux politiques à l’égard des PM E, l’OCDE est bien placée pour recenser et organiser ces informations. De surcroît, la création du Centre pour l’entrepreneuriat, les PM E et le développem ent local (CFE) de l’O CDE en juillet 2004 a offert une occasion unique et imprimé un nouvel élan pour établir, après actualisation, une deuxième version du Compendium, adaptée au nouvel environnement de l’information.

Le IIe Compendium « nouvelle manière » représente bien plus qu’une simple version actualisée du premier. Son contenu et sa structure ont été redéfinis. En particulier, la création de liens internes et externes (hyperliens) devrait permettre au lecteur de naviguer aisément pour retrouver la source d’une information

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ou l’organisation concernée par l’activité citée dans le Compendium. La version électronique sous forme de « plate-forme d’aiguillage » (« Hub ») permettra d’actualiser régulièrement et plus facilement cet outil dans l’avenir. Bien entendu, la forme électronique se conjuguera avec une version papier traditionnelle (pour faciliter la tâche des personnes ne pouvant accéder aisément à l’Internet).

De par sa conception, le IIe Com pendium est une initiative sans équivalent2 qui, par le biais de liens Internet, offrira un large accès aux différents acteurs intéressés dans le domaine des PM E et de l’entrepreneuriat. Il s’agit certes d’un projet ambitieux mais qui n’en est pas moins réalisable grâce aux technologies de l’information et à la coopération des organisations/institutions concernées.

O bjectifs du IIe Com pendium

Les objectifs sont les suivants :

• répertorier à l’échelle mondiale les travaux menés par des organisations et des institutions internationales (gouvernementales et non gouvernementales) dans le domaine des PM E et de l’entrepreneuriat ;

• fournir des informations à jour aux différentes parties prenantes (pouvoirs publics, chefs d’entreprise et monde des affaires, organisations internationales et universitaires) quant aux faits nouveaux concernant les questions et les politiques liées aux PM E et à l’entrepreneuriat ;

• faciliter la création de synergies, la coopération et la collaboration entre organisations internationales, institutions et ONG, et éviter que les travaux dans ce domaine fassent double emploi.

M éthodologie de l’enquête

Le IIe Com pendium a été établi à partir d’une enquête de l’OCDE. Les instances internationales et régionales participant au Processus de Bologne ont été invitées à communiquer des informations à jour sur leurs activités liées aux PM E. Au total, une trentaine d’organisations/institutions internationales et régionales ont pris part à cette enquête. La présente version est une com pilation des réponses qui nous sont parvenues à ce jour. Certaines organisations ayant fait part de leur intention de répondre ultérieurement, leurs réponses seront intégrées dans la prochaine mise à jour du Compendium en version électronique. D’autres organisations et organismes n’ayant pas été en mesure de fournir des informations pour diverses raisons, y compris l’inachèvement de leur programme de travail ou le manque de temps, ont été invités à distribuer les documents séparément lors de la Conférence ministérielle d’Istanbul (juin 2004) ou à envoyer leurs réponses, si possible à bref délai.

Dans le cadre de l’enquête, l’OCDE a également invité ses propres organes à fournir des informations sur ceux de leurs travaux qui sont liés aux PM E et à l’entrepreneuriat.

Suivi du IIe Com pendium

Ce Compendium sera accessible à partir de la page W eb du Centre pour l’entrepreneuriat, les PM E et le développement local de l’OCDE (www.oecd.org/cfe/sme). Cette page sera actualisée régulièrement et comprendra toutes les informations reçues dans les périodes intermédiaires. Il s’agit donc d’un document évolutif. Pour que le Compendium réalisé prenne toute sa valeur et son utilité, la présente initiative de l’OCDE exigera la coopération et la participation de toutes les instances concernées.

2 Le PNUD a bien publié un guide en 2000 mais celui-ci se limitait aux activités des organismes de l’ONU axées sur les PM E, principalement dans les pays en développement.

Au moment d’écrire ces lignes, ce guide n’a toujours pas été mis à jour.

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Conclusions

Tandis que nous nous efforcions de dresser un inventaire mondial des travaux menés par des organisations et institutions internationales (gouvernementales ou non) dans le domaine des PM E et de l’entrepreneuriat pour établir le IIe Compendium, nous avons dû nous rendre à l’évidence que certains domaines thématiques donnaient lieu à beaucoup d’activités mais que dans tel ou tel autre domaine, les études étaient plus rares. Certaines questions (comme « Financement », « Entrepreneuriat et création d’entreprises », « Innovation et technologie » ou « Grappes, réseaux et partenariats d’entreprises » semblent avoir fait l’objet de plus d’attention et suscité plus de travaux que d’autres (comme « Développement local », « Environnement et développement durable » ou « Femmes chefs d’entreprise »). Cela tient probablement à la manière de percevoir les priorités en matière d’action et de politiques. M ais à mesure que les priorités évolueront et que de nouveaux enjeux se feront jour, on constatera un déplacement des domaines d’intérêt.

Pour que le IIe Compendium ait un maximum d’impact, les utilisateurs de ce document sont appelés à prendre contact avec d’autres organisations exerçant des activités analogues afin de mettre en commun leurs informations sur les pratiques exemplaires et de multiplier les synergies. En même temps, ils souhaiteront peut-être élargir leurs domaines d’intérêt à d’autres aspects sur lesquels peu d’études ont été faites afin d’encourager l’entrepreneuriat et la création de PM E dans des secteurs dont, jusqu’à présent, il n’avait pas été tenu compte ou bien qui n’avaient été que survolés.

Les utilisateurs sont cordialement invités à faire part de leurs observations au sujet du IIe Compendium afin d’en faire un outil encore plus utile. Le Secrétariat se réjouit de recevoir les commentaires que vous voudrez bien envoyer à l’adresse suivante :

SM E.Division@ oecd.org

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Structure du IIe Com pendium

Les informations sur les activités liées aux PM E et à l’entrepreneuriat des organisations/institutions ayant répondu à l’enquête sont compilées dans ce Com pendium qui se divise en 13 rubriques dont chacune com porte les sous-rubriques énoncées ci-dessous. Dans ces 13 parties principales et dans leurs subdivisions, le IIe Compendium tient compte des travaux passés et actuels, des travaux futurs ainsi que des organes qui, au sein de l’organisation/institution répondante, sont chargés des activités relatives aux PM E.

1. Financem ent 1.1 Accès des PM E au capital 1.2 Accès des PM E aux marchés d'actions 1.3 Financement des entreprises appartenant à des femmes 1.4 Autres questions

2. Entrepreneuriat et création d'entreprise 2.1 Environnement favorable aux nouvelles et petites entreprises 2.2. Dispositifs de financements spéciaux pour la création d'entreprise 2.3 Accès aux marchés, national et international 2.4 Qualifications de la main-d'œuvre et formation à la gestion des nouveaux chefs d'entreprise 2.5 Autres questions

3. Em ploi et ressources hum aines 3.1 Création d'emplois 3.2 Qualifications de la main-d'oeuvre 3.3 Formation à la gestion 3.4 Autres questions

4. Innovation et technologie 4.1 PM E et innovation 4.2 Pépinières et jeunes pousses (start-ups) 4.3 Questions de financement (Accès au capital-risque, etc.) 4.4 Qualifications de la main-d'œuvre et capacités de gestion 4.5 Réseau d'innovation (coopération entre les PM E, avec de grandes entreprises ou des

institutions publiques à l'échelon national ou international) 4.6 Brevets et droits de propriété 4.7 Autres questions

5. Développem ent local (y com pris l'entrepreneuriat social) 5.1 PM E et politiques de développement local 5.2 PM E et partenariats locaux 5.3 Partenariats locaux facilitant l’accès aux marchés internationaux (création de réseaux de

promotion des exportations, IDE et sous-traitance) 5.4 Entrepreneuriat social 5.5 Autres questions

OECD 2004. 18

6. Grappes, réseaux et partenariats 6.1 Partenariats avec le secteur public 6.2 Partenariats avec des PM E 6.3Partenariats avec de grandes entreprises 6.4 Réseaux d'échanges et d'investissements internationaux 6.5 Réseaux d'innovation 6.6 Autres questions

7. PM E et secteurs d'activités particuliers 7.1Biotechnologies 7.2 Activités liées à l'environnement 7.3 Services 7.4 Autres questions

8. PM E et m ondialisation 8.1 Stratégies de mondialisation des PM E 8.2 Questions de financement 8.3 Commerce électronique et accès aux TIC 8.4 Réseaux de PM E pour le commerce et les investissements internationaux 8.5 Partenariats avec des entreprises mondiales 8.6 Autres questions

9. PM E et Développem ent (économ ies en développem ent et ém ergentes) 9.1 Fourniture de services aux entreprises 9.2 Liens des PM E avec des investisseurs étrangers 9.3 Accès des PM E aux marchés extérieurs 9.4 Assistance financière et technique (aide internationale) 9.5 Autres questions

10. Environnem ent et développem ent durable 10.1 PM E et activités liées à l'environnement 10.2 Impact des nouvelles réglementations sur les PM E 10.3 Innovations liées à l'environnement 10.4 Autres questions

11. Fem m es chefs d'entreprise et entreprises appartenant à des fem m es 11.1 Financement des entreprises appartenant à des femmes 11.2 Création d'entreprises par les femmes : questions spécifiques 11.3 Femmes chefs d'entreprise : questions spécifiques 11.4 Autres questions

12. Données et Statistiques sur les PM E 12.1 Collecte de données en fonction de catégories de taille de différentes variables (par exemple

emploi, production, exportations, investissement) et en fonction du sexe 12.2 Enquêtes particulières sur la mondialisation des PM E 12.3 Enquêtes particulières liées à l'entrepreneuriat féminin 12.4 Autres questions

OECD 2004. 19

13. Évaluation des politiques et des program m es axés sur les PM E et l'entrepreneuriat 13.1 Financement 13.2 Entrepreneuriat et création d'entreprise 13.3 Emploi et ressources humaines 13.4 Innovation et technologie 13.5 Développement local (y compris l'entrepreneuriat social) 13.6 Grappes, réseaux et partenariats d'entreprises 13.7 PM E et secteurs d'activité particuliers 13.8 PM E et mondialisation 13.9 PM E et Développement (économies en développement et émergentes) 13.10 Environnement et développement durable 13.11 Femmes chefs d'entreprise et entreprises appartenant à des femmes 13.12 Données et statistiques sur les PM E

Pour chacune de ces rubriques, les répondants sont divisés en quatre groupes en fonction de la nature de l’organisation/institution à laquelle ils appartiennent. La première partie présente les activités de l’OCDE ; la deuxième présente les organisations liées à la famille des Nations Unies ; la troisième partie présente les organisations et espaces de dialogue internationaux et régionaux tandis que la quatrième présente les travaux d’organisations non gouvernementales (ONG). La liste des organisations présentées figure un peu plus loin.

OECD 2004. 20

Partie I: OCDE

Partie II: Organisations related to the United Nations System

Answ ers received:

Econom ic and Social Com m ission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) Econom ic and Social Com m ission for W estern Asia (UNESCW A) Econom ic Com m ission for Africa (UNECA) Econom ic Com m ission for Europe (UNECE) Econom ic Com m ission for Latin Am erica and the Caribbean (UNECLAC/CEPAL) International Labour Organisation (ILO) United Nations Conference on Trade and Developm ent (UNCTAD)* United Nations Developm ent Program m e (UNDP) United Nations Industrial Developm ent Organisation (UNIDO) W orld Bank (W orld Bank/IFC) W orld Intellectual Property Organisation (W IPO)

Part III: International and regional organisations and forum s

Answ ers received:

APEC Business Advisory Board (ABAC)* Asian Developm ent Bank (ADB) Asia-Pacific Econom ic Co-operation (APEC) Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Central European Initiative (CEI) European Bank for Reconstruction and Developm ent (EBRD) European Central Bank (ECB) European Com m ission* (EC) European Investm ent Bank (EIB) European Investm ent Fund (EIF) Inter-Am erican Developm ent Bank (IDB)* International Network for SM Es (INSM E)

Part IV: Non-governm ental organisations (NGOs)

Answ ers received:

Association of European cham bers of Com m erce and Industry (EUROCHAM BRES) The Business Council Europe, Africa, M editerranean (BCEAM ) EURO-M ED Trade, Distribution and Service Initiative (EURO-M ED TDS) European Banking Federation (FBE) European Network to Prom ote W om en’s Entrepreneurship (W ES/NUTEK) International Organisation for Knowledge Econom y and Enterprise Developm ent (IKED) Pacific Econom ic Co-operation Council (PECC)* Union of Industrial and Em ployers’ Confederations of Europe (UNICE) Yes for Europe, European Confederation of Young Entrepreneurs (YES for Europe) *Response based on the organisation’s internet website.

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PRESENTATION OF RESPONDING ORGANISATIONS3

Part I: The O rganisation for Econom ic Co-operation and Developm ent (OECD)

The OECD groups 30 member countries sharing a commitment to democratic government and the market economy. W ith active relationships with some 70 other countries, NGOs and civil society, it has a global reach. Best known for its publications and its statistics, the OECD’s work covers economic and social issues from macroeconomics, to trade, education, development and science and innovation.

The OECD plays a prominent role in fostering good governance in the public sector and in corporate activity. It helps governments to ensure the responsiveness of key economic areas with sectoral monitoring. By deciphering emerging issues and identifying policies that work, it helps policy-makers adopt strategic orientations. It is well known for its individual country surveys and reviews.

The OECD produces internationally agreed instruments, decisions and recommendations to promote rules of the game in areas where multilateral agreement is necessary for individual countries to make progress in a globalised economy. Sharing the benefits of growth is also crucial as shown in activities such as emerging economies, sustainable development, territorial economy and aid.

The Centre for Entrepreneurship, SM Es & Local Developm ent (CFE)

In July 2004, the OECD Secretary-General created the Centre for Entrepreneurship, SM Es and Local Development, grouping the Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) Programme and the Small and M edium-sized Enterprise (SM E) & Entrepreneurship Division. The mission of the Centre for Entrepreneurship is to foster the development of an entrepreneurial society, capable of innovating, creating jobs and seizing the opportunities provided by globalisation while helping to promote sustainable growth, integrated development and social cohesion.

The OECD is a unique international forum for policy-makers looking at ways to create the right framework conditions to stimulate entrepreneurship. Its analysis covers a wide range of multidisciplinary topics that are essential for fostering entrepreneurship and firm creation. Indeed, most of what the OECD analyses is relevant to entrepreneurship. This includes work spread across a number of Directorates, such as the analysis of the macroeconomic environment, competition, taxation, intellectual property rights, innovation and use of

3 Organisations that provided their own presentation are indicated with a **, otherwise information was used from each organisation’s website in order to

present the responding organisations appropriately.

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technology, capital and labour markets, education, governance, as well as of administrative burdens and regulatory compliance costs.

The CFE’s Strategic M edium-term Priorities may be briefly summarised as follows:

• Fostering job creation and growth through the promotion of Entrepreneurship and SM Es;

• Taking an integrated approach to economic and employment development at the local level;

• Helping entrepreneurs and SM Es to meet the challenges of globalisation;

• Facilitating social inclusion at the local level;

• Promoting an evaluation culture;

• Improving the empirical base; and

• Sharing the experience.

In particular, the Centre brings together the Secretariat of two OECD bodies: the W orking Party on SM Es and Entrepreneurship (W PSM E) and the LEED Directing Committee.

The W orking Party on SM Es and Entrepreneurship (W PSM E)

The W orking Party for SM Es and Entrepreneurship (W PSM E) is be responsible for directing the work on SM Es and entrepreneurship carried out by the Centre for Entrepreneurship, SM Es and Local Development. In particular, it shall be responsible for ensuring that work on SM Es and entrepreneurship is well-integrated and consistent with the work of the Co-operative Action Programme on Local Economic and Employment Development.

M ore specifically, the W PSM E is entrusted with conducting analysis based on empirical evidence and international comparisons on issues and policies at the national and international levels pertaining to SM Es (including micro-enterprises) and entrepreneurship. This task will be accomplished through discussions within the W PSM E, through research projects and through horizontal co-operation with relevant bodies in the OECD, in particular in the framework of OECD horizontal projects, and through discussions within the W PSM E. The W PSM E shall make available to M ember countries, and when appropriate non-M ember economies, and to other W orking Parties and Committees of the Organisation, information and advice on these issues and on measures and policies for dealing with them. In particular, collaboration, including in the form of joint projects, will be pursued in areas of synergy with the LEED Programme.

The W PSM E is also entrusted with fostering the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Bologna Charter on SM E Policies and the Istanbul M inisterial Declaration, in the context of the OECD Bologna Process, i.e. the follow-up to the two Conferences of M inisters Responsible for SM E Policies in 2000 and 2004. To this effect, the W PSM E shall continue its core activities and deepen its work on issues of importance to foster SM E growth and increase their competitiveness in the context of globalisation, in particular: business environment, innovation and entrepreneurship, including women’s entrepreneurship, financing, human resources and management skills, business organisation, partnerships networks and clusters, intellectual property rights (IPRs), electronic commerce, access to international markets and environment issues. In addition, it should enhance the outreach dimension of its work and co-operation with relevant international and

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regional organisations and fora, and co-operation and information sharing with non-M ember economies, as appropriate.

Over the 2005-2006 biennium, the W orking Party will focus its work on the following areas:

• Enhancing the Role of SM Es and Global Value Chains;

• Evaluation of SM E and Entrepreneurship Policies and Programmes; (with the participation of the LEED Programme);

• SM ES and Entrepreneurship-related Statistics;

• Removing Barriers to SM E Access to International M arkets;

• Improving SM E Financing to facilitate their Growth;

• Promoting and Accelerating W omen’s Entrepreneurship (with the participation of the LEED Programme);

• Fostering Entrepreneurship: Conference on the Role of Higher Education; (organised by the CFE/LEED Programme).

The OECD Bologna Process

In June 2000, the OECD W orking Party on SM Es and Entrepreneurship organised the first m inisterial-level international conference on SM Es in Bologna, Italy, upon the invitation of and in co-operation with the Italian Authorities. One of the key outcom es of this Conference was the adoption of a docum ent, the Bologna Charter on SM E Policies, by alm ost 50 OECD M em ber and non-m em ber country governm ents. The Bologna Charter im plies a willingness on the part of governm ents to redesign SM E policies in the context of a coherent and integrated approach to econom ic growth and social developm ent both in OECD countries and in the rest of the world.

The Bologna Conference was not a “one-off event” but a groundbreaking m eeting to prom ote concrete international co-operation to better respond to SM E issues and needs in the global econom y for the benefit of all countries. The conference m arked the beginning of a long-term process, which is known as “The (OECD) Bologna Process”.

The OECD Bologna Process has the following objectives:

• To foster the entrepreneurial agenda and SM E com petitiveness at the global level through the im plem entation of the recom m endations in the Bologna Charter;

• To provide guidance to governm ents to help entrepreneurs and SM Es worldwide m eet the challenges and reap the benefits of globalisation; and

• To further deepen and im prove the high-level dialogue on SM E policies am ong policy m akers, the business com m unity, and national and international organisations and institutions.

W ithin the fram ework of the OECD Bologna Process, the Turkish M inistry of Industry and Trade hosted the 2nd OECD Conference of M inisters responsible for SM Es (“Bologna + 4”) on 3-5 June 2004, which was centred on the them e of “Prom oting Entrepreneurship and Innovative SM Es in a Global Econom y”. The m ain result of the Conference, the Istanbul M inisterial Declaration on Fostering the Growth of Innovative & Internationally Com petitive SM Es, will be instrum ental for pursuing international policy dialogue and for helping governm ents to put into place appropriate policies that support the developm ent, growth and com petitiveness of SM Es.

It currently brings together over 75 OECD and non-OECD econom ies and m ore than 50 international organisations, institutions, and NGOs.

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Local Econom ic and Em ploym ent Developm ent (LEED) Programm e

The LEED Programm e is a Co-operative Action Programme dedicated to the identification, analysis and dissemination of innovations in local economic and employment development. LEED offers participants a uniquely active approach by providing: i) continuous monitoring and assessment of current local development practices and the diffusion of related findings; ii) analysis of initiatives, strategies and partnerships between government, business and civil society with the aim of complementing public policy and supporting local economic and social development; iii) elaboration of common methodologies and analytical frameworks for carrying out reviews and studies; and iv) a critical link both between sub-national institutions, and between the OECD and sub-national bodies.

The main objectives of the LEED Programme are:

- to improve the quality of public policy in economic, labour market and social areas, implemented at the local level, through continuous monitoring and assessment of current practices;

- to promote the exchange of experience and information and the diffusion of innovation in local economic and employment development and the renewal of local economies;

- to provide assistance for member countries in the design, implementation and assessment of local development strategies, to support exchanges with non-member countries, and to serve as a critical link both between local and regional institutions, and between the OECD and sub-national bodies.

LEED’s activities are structured around six main activities, encompassing seven, transversal, on-going studies. In 2005, the programme of work will continue to focus on:

Activity 1. Decentralisation of employment policies, local partnerships and governance;

Activity 2. Entrepreneurship, self-employment and job creation;

Activity 3. Social cohesion at a local level;

Activity 4. Globalisation and local authorities;

Activity 5. Evaluation and exchange;

Activity 6. Outreach.

For more information, please see the following links:

www.oecd.org/cfe

www.oecd.org/cfe/sme

www.oecd.org/cfe/leed

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Partie I: L’Organisation de coopération et de développem ent économ iques (O CDE)

L’OCDE regroupe 30 pays membres, tous attachés à la démocratie et à l’économie de marché. Ses relations de travail avec plus de 70 autres pays, des ONG et la société civile lui confèrent une envergure mondiale. Renommée pour ses publications et ses statistiques, ses travaux couvrent tout le champ économique et social, de la macroéconomie aux échanges, à l’enseignement, au développement, et à la science et à l’innovation.

L’OCDE joue un rôle phare en favorisant la bonne gouvernance des secteurs public et privé. Grâce à sa surveillance structurelle, elle permet aux gouvernements de maintenir compétitifs les secteurs économiques clés. Par son travail sur les questions émergentes, et en identifiant les politiques les plus efficaces, elle permet aux décideurs d’adopter des orientations stratégiques. Elle est également renommée pour ses études par pays.

L’OCDE crée des instruments adoptés internationalement, des décisions et recommandations pour promouvoir de nouvelles règles du jeu là où des accords multilatéraux sont nécessaires pour garantir le progrès des nations dans une économie mondiale. M ais le partage des bénéfices de la croissance s’avère aussi crucial, comme le montrent ses travaux sur les économies émergentes, le développement durable, l’économie territoriale et l’aide.

Le Centre pour l’entrepreneuriat, les PM E et le développem ent local (CFE)

En juillet 2004, le Secrétaire général de l’OCDE a créé le Centre pour l’entrepreneuriat, les PM E et le développement local regroupant le Programme d’action et de coopération concernant le développement économique et la création d’emplois au niveau local (LEED) et la Division des petites et moyennes entreprises (PM E) et de l’entrepreneuriat. Ce centre a vocation à favoriser le développement d’une société entrepreneuriale, capable d’innover, de créer des emplois et de saisir les occasions offertes par la mondialisation tout en aidant à promouvoir la croissance durable, le développement intégré et la cohésion sociale.

L’OCDE est un espace de dialogue international sans équivalent au sein duquel les décideurs réfléchissent aux moyens de créer les conditions cadres appropriées pour stimuler l’esprit d’entreprise. Ses analyses portent sur une large palette de thèmes pluridisciplinaires essentiels pour la promotion de l’entrepreneuriat et la création d’entreprises. De fait, la plupart des questions que l’OCDE analyse ont trait à l’entrepreneuriat. Ses activités englobent des études faisant intervenir un certain nombre de Directions, comme l’analyse du contexte macroéconomique, la concurrence, la fiscalité, les droits de propriété intellectuelle, l’innovation et l’utilisation des technologies, les marchés financiers et le marché du travail, l’éducation, la gouvernance ainsi que les lourdeurs bureaucratiques et les coûts induits par le respect de la réglementation.

On peut énumérer succinctement les priorités stratégiques à moyen terme du CFE comme suit :

• encourager la création d’emplois et la croissance par la promotion de l’entrepreneuriat et des PM E ;

• adopter une approche intégrée concernant le développement économique et la création d’emplois au niveau local ;

• aider les chefs d’entreprise et les PM E à faire face aux enjeux de la mondialisation ;

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• faciliter la cohésion sociale au niveau local ; • promouvoir une culture de l’évaluation ; • étoffer la base de données empiriques, et • mettre en commun les expériences.

Précisons que le Centre met en présence les Secrétariats de deux organes de l’OCDE : le Groupe de travail sur les PM E et l’entrepreneuriat (GTPM E) et le Comité directeur du Programme LEED.

Le Groupe de travail sur les PM E et l’entrepreneuriat (GTPM E)

Le GTPM E est chargé d’orienter les travaux sur les PM E et l’entrepreneuriat menés par le Centre pour l’entrepreneuriat, les PM E et le développement local. Il lui incombe notamment de veiller à la bonne intégration et à la cohérence des études sur les PM E et l’entrepreneuriat avec les travaux du Programme LEED.

Plus précisément, le GTPM E a pour mission d’effectuer des analyses à partir de données empiriques et de comparaisons internationales sur les questions et politiques ayant trait aux PM E (y compris les micro-entreprises) aux niveaux national et international. Cette tâche sera accomplie par le biais de débats au sein même du Groupe de travail et de projets de recherche, ainsi que par la coopération horizontale avec des organes de l’OCDE compétents en la matière, en particulier dans le cadre des projets horizontaux de l’Organisation. Le GTPM E fournira aux pays membres et, s’il y a lieu, aux économies non membres ainsi qu’à d’autres groupes de travail et comités de l’OCDE des informations et des avis sur les questions précitées ainsi que sur les mesures et politiques permettant d’y répondre. Il s’efforcera de collaborer avec le Programme LEED, y compris par le biais de projets conjoints, en dégageant des synergies.

Le GTPM E a également pour tâche de favoriser la mise en œuvre des recommandations figurant dans la Charte de Bologne sur les politiques à l’égard des PM E et la Déclaration ministérielle d’Istanbul, dans le cadre du Processus de Bologne de l’OCDE, c’est-à-dire dans le prolongement des deux conférences des ministres chargés des politiques à l’égard des PM E qui se sont tenues respectivement en 2000 et en 2004. Pour ce faire, le Groupe de travail poursuivra ses activités essentielles et approfondira son étude des questions importantes concernant les moyens de favoriser la croissance des PM E et d’accroître leur compétitivité dans le contexte de la mondialisation, en particulier : environnement de l’entreprise, innovation et entrepreneuriat, dont la question des femmes chefs d’entreprise, financement, ressources humaines et compétences en gestion, organisation de l’entreprise, partenariats, réseaux et grappes d’entreprises, droits de propriété intellectuelle (DPI), commerce électronique, accès aux marchés internationaux et questions relatives à l’environnement. En outre, le Groupe devrait développer le volet « ouverture en direction des non-membres » de ses travaux et sa coopération avec les organisations et forums internationaux et régionaux compétents, ainsi que sa coopération et le partage de ses informations avec les économies non membres, en tant que de besoin.

Au cours du biennium 2005-2006, le Groupe de travail concentrera ses activités sur les thèmes suivants :

• renforcement du rôle des PM E et chaînes de valeur mondiales ;

• évaluation des politiques et programmes concernant les PM E et l’entrepreneuriat (avec la participation du Programme LEED) ;

• statistiques liées aux PM E et à l’entrepreneuriat ;

• suppression des obstacles à l’accès des PM E aux marchés internationaux ;

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• amélioration du financement des PM E pour faciliter leur croissance ;

• promotion et accélération de la création d’entreprises par des femmes (avec la participation du Programme LEED) ;

• moyens de favoriser l’entrepreneuriat : conférence sur le rôle de l’enseignement supérieur (organisée par le CFE et le Programme LEED.

Le Processus de Bologne de l'OCDE

En juin 2000, le Groupe de travail sur les PM E et l’entrepreneuriat de l’OCDE a organisé à Bologne (Italie), à l'invitation et avec le concours des autorités italiennes, la prem ière conférence internationale au niveau m inistériel consacrée aux PM E. L'un des principaux résultats de cette conférence a été l'adoption, par près de 50 pays m em bres de l'OCDE et d’économ ies non m em bres, de la Charte de Bologne sur les politiques à l'égard des PM E. La Charte de Bologne tém oigne d'une volonté des gouvernem ents de redéfinir les politiques à l'égard des PM E dans le cadre d'une approche cohérente et intégrée de la croissance économ ique et du développem ent social, aussi bien dans les pays de l'OCDE que dans le reste du m onde.

La conférence de Bologne n’était pas une m anifestation ponctuelle m ais une réunion qui a inauguré une ère nouvelle, ayant pour but de prom ouvoir une coopération internationale concrète en vue de m ieux répondre aux problèm es et aux besoins des PM E dans l'économ ie m ondiale, pour le plus grand bénéfice de tous les pays. Cette conférence constituait la prem ière étape d'un processus de longue haleine, aujourd'hui appelé « Processus de Bologne », et dont les objectifs sont les suivants :

• favoriser l’esprit d’entreprise et la com pétitivité des PM E à l’échelle m ondiale par la m ise en oeuvre des recom m andations figurant dans la Charte de Bologne ;

• énoncer des principes destinés à guider les pouvoirs publics dans l’élaboration de leurs politiques visant à aider les entrepreneurs et les PM E du m onde entier à faire face aux enjeux et à s’approprier les avantages de la m ondialisation ;

• approfondir davantage et am éliorer le dialogue à haut niveau sur les politiques à l’égard des PM E entre les décideurs, les m ilieux d’affaires et les organisations et institutions nationales et internationales.

Dans le cadre du Processus de Bologne de l’OCDE, le m inistère turc du Com m erce et de l’Industrie a accueilli la Deuxièm e Conférence m inistérielle de l’OCDE sur les PM E (« Bologne + 4 ») du 3 au 5 juin 2004, sur le thèm e « Prom ouvoir l'entrepreneuriat et les PM E innovantes dans une économ ie m ondialisée ». Le principal résultat de cette conférence, autrem ent dit la Déclaration m inistérielle d’Istanbul sur la prom otion de la croissance de PM E innovantes et com pétitives sur le plan international, contribuera à la poursuite du dialogue sur les m esures à prendre à l’échelle internationale et aidera les gouvernem ents à m ettre en place les politiques appropriées pour étayer le développem ent, la croissance et la com pétitivité des PM E.

Actuellem ent, le Processus de Bologne de l’OCDE regroupe plus de 86 économ ies m em bres et non m em bres de l’OCDE et plus de 50 organisations, institutions et ONG internationales.

Programm e d’action et de coopération concernant le développem ent économ ique et la création d’em plois au niveau local (LEED)

Le Programme LEED est un programme d’action et de coopération qui a vocation à identifier, analyser et diffuser les innovations en matière de développement économique et de création d’emplois au niveau local. Il offre à ses participants une approche particulièrement active visant à : i) suivre et évaluer en permanence les méthodes pratiquées en matière de développement local et diffuser les enseignements qui s’en dégagent ; ii) analyser des initiatives, des stratégies et des partenariats entre secteur privé, secteur public et société civile

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en vue de compléter l’action publique et d’appuyer le développement économique et social local ; iii) élaborer des méthodologies communes et des cadres analytiques pour la réalisation des examens et des études, et iv) assurer un lien essentiel à la fois entre institutions infranationales et entre l’OCDE et les organismes infranationaux.

Les principaux objectifs du Programme LEED sont les suivants :

- améliorer la qualité des politiques du marché du travail et des politiques économiques et sociales au niveau local, en contrôlant et en évaluant de façon continue les pratiques en vigueur ;

- encourager l’échange d’expériences et d’informations et la diffusion de l’innovation concernant la promotion de l’emploi et le développement économique à l’échelon local ainsi que le redressement des économies locales ;

- fournir une aide aux pays membres pour la conception, la mise en œuvre et l’évaluation des stratégies de développement local, appuyer les échanges avec les pays non membres et jouer un rôle essentiel d’intermédiaire à la fois entre les institutions régionales et locales, et entre l’OCDE et les organismes infranationaux.

Les activités du Programme LEED s’articulent autour de six thèmes principaux et englobent sept études transversales en cours. En 2005, le programme de travail continuera de se concentrer sur :

Activité 1. Décentralisation des politiques de l’emploi, partenariats locaux et gouvernance locale ;

Activité 2. Entrepreneuriat, travail indépendant et création d’emplois ;

Activité 3. Cohésion sociale à l’échelon local ;

Activité 4. M ondialisation et autorités locales ;

Activité 5. Évaluations et échanges ;

Activité 6. Ouverture en direction des économies non membres.

Pour plus d’inform ations, se reporter aux liens suivants :

www.oecd.org/cfe

www.oecd.org/cfe/sme

www.oecd.org/cfe/leed

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Part II: International Organisations (part of the UN System )

Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

(UNESCAP)

The regional arm of the United Nations Secretariat in the Asian and Pacific region, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) was established in 1947.

The main functions of UNESCAP have been defined as: promoting economic and social development through regional and sub-regional co-operation and integration; formulating and promoting development assistance activities and projects commensurate with the needs and priorities of the region while acting as an executing agency for relevant operational projects; carrying out studies, research and other activities within the terms of reference of the Commission; providing advisory services to governments at their request; and developing and executing programmes of technical co-operation.

Economic and Social Commission for W estern Asia

(UNESCW A)

The Economic Commission for W estern Asia (ECW A) was established in August 1973 as the successor to the United Nations Economic and Social Office in Beirut (UNESOB). In 1985, the Commission was re-designated as the Economic and Social Commission for W estern Asia (ESCW A), in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution, in order to acknowledge more fully the social aspect of the Commission's activities. The majority of activities under the regular programme of work are regional in dimension. There are, however, a limited number of activities that are country-specific, but have regional implications.

ESCW A promotes economic and social development through regional and sub-regional co-operation and integration, and serves as the main general economic and social development forum within the United Nations system for the ESCW A region. It formulates and promotes development assistance activities and projects commensurate with the needs and priorities of the region and acts as an executing agency for relevant operational projects. ESCW A coordinates its activities with those of the major departments/offices of the United Nations at Headquarters and of specialised agencies and intergovernmental organisations, with a view to avoid duplication and ensure complementarity, synergy and exchange of information.

Economic Commission for Africa

(UNECA)

Established in 1958, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is one of the five regional commissions under the administrative direction of United Nations (UN) headquarters. As the regional arm of the UN in Africa, it is mandated to support the economic and social development of its 53 member States, foster regional integration, and promote

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international co-operation for Africa's development. It reports to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

The Commission is organized around six substantive programme divisions: Development Policy and M anagement; Economic and Social Policy; Gender and Development; Information for Development; Sustainable Development; and Trade and Regional Integration. Five sub-regional offices contribute a sub-regional perspective to the work programme and support outreach.

SM E Developm ent in Africa

As a knowledge-based regional institution, the primary focus of ECA in the area of SM E development is to undertake analytical studies of the sector and disseminate best practices aimed at enhancing the development of SM E policies in member states. Some recent studies include:

• Review of Existing Support Services for the Improvement of Regional and Global Competitiveness of SM E in Africa- Ethiopia Case Study

• Database on a Network of Information on Selected Development M anagement Issues and Activities: A Proposal for SM Es in Africa, and

• Enhancing the Competitiveness of SM Es in Africa: A Strategic Framework for Support Services.

ECA also plays a key role in mobilizing international donor support for member states. In the second half of 2004, ECA plans to organize a “Big Table” for consultations between African government officials and the donor community on the theme “Stimulating private investments in Africa- the role of ODA”. The meeting will discuss macro and micro level constraints to private sector growth in Africa and, drawing on bilateral and multilateral efforts in this area, explore how ODA might be targeted to address some of these constraints, including weaknesses in legislative and regulatory environment, infrastructure limitations, adequacy of information base, and specialised skills to negotiate and implement business deals with external investors.

Clusters, networks and partnerships

In a few cases, ECA, in partnership with bilateral donors, has led pilot projects in informal sector development. A number of micro projects in Zambia have been successfully launched in partnership with GTZ.

ECA has also partnered other multilateral institutions such as the OECD in carrying out its research and analytical work.

W omen entrepreneurs and W omen-owned business

ECA is the designated coordinator for the implementation of the recommendations of the Africa-Asia Forum organized by the United Nations Office for Special Co-ordination of African LDCs (OSCAL), UNDP and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) on the economic empowerment and advancement of women.

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Economic Commission for Europe

(UNECE)

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) was set up in 1947 by ECO SO C. It is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations. Its primary goal is to encourage greater economic co-operation among its member States. It focuses on economic analysis, environment and human settlements, statistics, sustainable energy, trade, industry and enterprise development, timber and transport. UNECE activities include policy analysis, development of conventions, regulations and standards, and technical assistance.

UNECE has 55 member States. However, all interested UN member States may participate in its work. Over 70 international professional organisations and other non-governmental organisations take part in UNECE activities.

SM Es and Entrepreneurship Activities

UNECE produced the Report on Small and M edium-sized Enterprises (SM Es) in Countries in Transition in 2000-2001. This pioneering document presents the recent statistics on SM Es, as well as legislation and support measures for SM Es in countries in transition. The Report attests to the need to improve the framework regulatory conditions for entrepreneurship and SM Es in several countries of the region.

In the area of entrepreneurship promotion, UNECE focuses its work on good governance for SM Es. As a first step, in 2004 it organised an expert meeting on good governance for SM Es. The final objective of this new direction is the development of guidelines on business ethics for start-up entrepreneurs. UNECE will finalize its new recommendations regarding the establishment of integral management systems for industrial and services enterprises, including SM Es.

W om en Entrepreneurship Activities

UNECE organised the Second Forum of W omen Entrepreneurs, gathering over 250 women entrepreneurs from 38 countries in M arch 2003. The discussion at the Forum focused on initiatives and best practices of governments, private sector and other stake- holders aimed at improving access of women entrepreneurs to financing and new technologies. It was decided that, in addition to organizing the biennial Forums of W omen Entrepreneurs, UNECE would support the organisation of sub-regional events, explore possibilities for organising training sessions in co-operation with sub- regional groupings, such as Central European Initiative, Black Sea Economic Co-operation and Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia, and strengthen co-operation with regional commissions, especially with the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

The secretariat released the first publication in the series on women entrepreneurship entitled "W omen's Entrepreneurship in Eastern Europe and CIS Countries” (2002). It overviews trends, major problems and policy issues related to women's entrepreneurship in countries in transition.

The secretariat produced summary proceedings of the W orkshop on Policy and Regulatory Options for Promoting Industrial Restructuring in the UNECE Region and the Conference on Innovation as a Vehicle for Industrial Restructuring, organised under the auspices of the Team of Specialists on Industrial Restructuring in April 2003. This document,

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intended for government decision makers, summarises the major ideas and proposals put forward by the participants.

In the context of gender mainstreaming, challenges will be the organisation of a sub-regional UNECE Forum of W omen Entrepreneurs in Turkey, a Regional Symposium on Gender M ainstreaming in Economic Policies, and the preparation for publication of the second volume in the series on women's entrepreneurship "W omen Entrepreneurs in the ECE Region: Access to Financing and ICT."

Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

(ECLAC/CEPAL)

The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA) -the Spanish acronym is CEPAL- was established in February 1948. The scope of the Commission's work was later broadened to include the countries of the Caribbean, and thus changed its change its name to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). ECLAC is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations. It was founded for the purposes of contributing to the economic development of Latin America, coordinating actions directed towards this end, and reinforcing economic relationships among the countries and with the other nations of the world. The promotion of the region's social development was later included among its primary objectives.

International Labour Organization

(ILO)

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is the UN specialised agency that seeks the promotion of social justice and internationally recognised human and labour rights. It was founded in 1919 and it became the first specialised agency of the UN in 1946. The first annual International Labour Conference, composed of two representatives from the government, and one each from employers' and workers' organisations from each M ember State, met in W ashington, D.C. beginning on 29 October 1919. It adopted the first six International Labour Conventions, which dealt with hours of work in industry, unemployment, and maternity protection, night work for women, minimum age and night work for young persons in industry.

The ILO formulates international labour standards in the form of Conventions and Recommendations setting minimum standards of basic labour rights: freedom of association, the right to organise, collective bargaining, abolition of forced labour, equality of opportunity and treatment, and other standards regulating conditions across the entire spectrum of work related issues. It provides technical assistance primarily in the fields of: vocational training and vocational rehabilitation; employment policy; labour administration; labour law and industrial relations; working conditions; management development; cooperatives; social security; labour statistics and occupational safety and health. It promotes the development of independent employers' and workers' organisations and provides training and advisory services to those organisations. W ithin the UN system, the ILO has a unique tripartite structure with workers and employers participating as equal partners with governments in the work of its governing organs.

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Activities related to SM Es: Job Creation and Enterprise Developm ent

The Job Creation and Enterprise Development Programme is dedicated to unlocking the enormous potential of enterprises to create decent, long-lasting jobs. “Decent work” can only exist in competitive, productive, and economically viable firms. The programme seeks to enhance the positive interaction that exists between the improved competencies of managers, basic workers' rights and productivity.

W ith a view to creating “decent work” for women and men, the aim of this programme is to assist governments, employers, workers and other groups concerned with job creation and enterprise development to:

- Identify and implement policies and legal frameworks that foster competitive and economically viable small enterprises and cooperatives;

- Encourage management practices which: establish and maintain job quality, particularly within small enterprises,

- Facilitate the maintenance of social standards along supply chains promote socially sensitive enterprise restructuring;

- Foster economic opportunities for women as entrepreneurs, employees and members of cooperatives;

- Improve market opportunities for micro and small enterprises;

- Design, develop and implement strategies to enhance the competitiveness and productivity of micro, small and cooperative enterprises;

- Improve the access to business development and training services for micro- and small enterprises and cooperative enterprises;

- Strengthen association building, workers' cooperatives, Indigenous peoples, and self-help organisations to generate quality employment particularly within the informal economy; and

- Promote decent employment through local economic development programmes.

The Job Creation and Enterprise Development includes the Small Enterprise Development which comprises the following main topics: Business Development Services; Informal Economy; Job Quality; M arket Opportunities; Policy Environment; Representative Associations; and W omen’s Entrepreneurship Development

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

(UNCTAD)

Established in 1964, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is the focal point within the United Nations for the integrated treatment of trade and development and the interrelated issues in the areas of finance, technology, investment and sustainable development. UNCTAD is a forum for intergovernmental discussions and deliberations, supported by discussions with experts and exchanges of experience, aimed at consensus-building. The web section entitled "M eetings" provides details regarding intergovernmental deliberations and discussions. UNCTAD undertakes research, policy analysis and data collection in order to provide substantive inputs for the discussions of experts and government representatives. The web section entitled "Digital Library" provides details on themes covered and publications issued. UNCTAD, in co-operation with other

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organisations and donor countries, provides technical assistance tailored to the needs of the developing countries, with special attention being paid to the needs of the least developed countries, and countries with economy in transition. The web section entitled "Technical Co-operation" provides details on these activities.

The Bangkok Declaration and Plan of Action, adopted in February 2000 at the tenth session of UNCTAD, provide the main thrust for the current work of UNCTAD, which relates to:

- International trade; - Investment, enterprise and technology; - Globalization, interdependence and development; - Services infrastructure for development, trade efficiency, and human resources

development; - Least developed, landlocked and small island developing countries; - Technical co-operation activities.

UNCTAD XI

UNCTAD M ember States agreed on a Declaration that they called “The Spirit of Sao Paulo”. The decisions adopted at UNCTAD XI, in addition to the Bangkok Plan of Action, form a solid basis to build upon and are essential instruments in the M ember State’s continued commitment to support UNCTAD in fulfilling its mandate as the focal point within the UN for the integrated treatment of trade and development.

UNCTAD Activities related to SM Es: Services Infrastructure

The objective of the Division for Services Infrastructure for Development and Trade Efficiency (SITE) is to increase the efficiency of trade-supporting services and to improve the competitiveness of the enterprises of developing countries. This is done through analytical work, intergovernmental policy dialogue and implementing technical co-operation programmes in fields such as transport and trade facilitation, the application of ICT to business operations, and training and capacity building programmes.

Through its programmes of Investment, Technology and Enterprise Development, UNCTAD analyses trends in foreign direct investment and their impact on development; helps countries to promote international investment and understand the issues involved in international investment agreements; devises strategies for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises; identifies policy options and implements capacity-building programmes to encourage the use of new technologies.

These programmes are including the following topics: Foreign Direct Investment, Science and Technology, and Enterprise Competitiveness. The first and the third are of particular interest for SM Es.

UNCTAD SM E-related W ebsites:

• ASYCUDA • E-commerce and Development • E-commerce and Development Report • Human Resource Development Section for Training and Capacity Building • Review of M aritime Transport

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• Training courses of the key issues on the international economic agenda (Paragraph 166 of UNCTAD X Plan of Action)

• TrainForTrade • Transport and Trade Logistics • Sustainable Tourism for Development

United Nations Development Programme

(UNDP)

UNDP advocates for the protection of human rights and especially the empowerment of women. Through its global network, it seeks out and shares ways to promote gender equality as an essential dimension of ensuring political participation and accountability; economic empowerment and effective development planning; crisis prevention and conflict resolution; access to clean water, sanitation and energy services; the best use of new technologies for development purposes; and society-wide mobilization against HIV/AIDS.

UNDP also engages in extensive advocacy work. The annual Human Development Report 2003, commissioned by UNDP, focuses the global debate on key development issues, providing new measurement tools, innovative analysis and often controversial policy proposals. The independent team of experts who write the Report draw on a worldwide network of leaders from academia, government and civil society who contribute data, ideas, and best practices. Developing countries and their international partners use the Report to gauge results and shape new policies.

Leveraging on its extensive country office network, UNDP has over the years created a significant base of experiences and knowledge in the area of SM E development. UNDP’s efforts in this area encompass a wide spectrum of activities and initiatives that can be summarized in three major areas:

• Direct support to entrepreneurs;

• Enabling policy environment;

• Facilitating enterprise linkages and catalyzing investments.

Due to the inherent interconnections among these three broad areas and objectives, many of UNDP projects in the field of SM E development adopt an integrated approach that embrace a range of complementary activities and objectives.

Throughout its SM E work, UNDP seeks to build on established good practice for SM E support interventions, including in particular the Guiding Principles for Donor Interventions in the area of Business Development Services for Small Enterprises, developed by the Committee of Donor Agencies for Small Enterprise Development.

UNDP’s engagement in SM E development is supported by various parts of the organisation. UNDP country offices are ultimately responsible for implementation of country level activities. Several of UNDP’s Sub-Regional Resource Facilities (SURFs) also provide technical support relating to SM E issues, and at headquarters level, technical support and guidance of different kinds are provided by the Division for Business Partnerships of the Bureau for Resources and Strategic Partnerships, the various Regional Bureaux, and the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). A global knowledge network on Small Enterprise and M icrofinance is also coordinated by UNCDF. It should also be noted that UNDP, with

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support from and through UNCDF, also supports a wide range of microfinance activities. These activities will not be dealt with here.

Integrated SM E support

As mentioned above, UNDP is involved in a number of integrated programmes for SM E development. For its complexity and ample geographical coverage Enterprise Africa (EA) is probably the best example of such an integrated initiative.

It was created in 1998 with funding from UNDP and established as a non-for profit consortium of multiple partners, including 14 African governments, more than 20 multinational corporations, private foundations, business associations and multilateral and bilateral donors. The Enterprise Africa knowledge network is comprised of a multinational team of 280 African experts in a broad range of business knowledge areas, such as Banking & SM E Finance, Business Development Services, Export Development, M anagement Consulting, Industrial Engineering, M arketing and Sales M anagement, Private Sector Policy Planning and M anagement, Information & Communication Technology, Human Resource and Organisational Development, Corporate Planning and Public Relations. International professionals are also recruited on a case-by-case basis when industry-specific experience is required.

EA’s overall objective is the development and strengthening of the private sector in Africa by enhancing capacity building, corporate governance policies, innovation, market access, and information technology knowledge base. EA assists African governments in building national capacity by strengthening, re-structuring or developing Business Development Service (BDS) organisations and supporting the promotion of enabling policies for the creation of a growth-oriented private sector. It also facilitates business-to-business linkages of a regional and global nature in order to foster trade, investment, as well as the transfer of technology, management and technical know-how. Finally, EA develops innovative, solution-driven programmes in the areas of export development, SM E financing and business oriented poverty alleviation programmes.

The achievements are significant; over 4300 entrepreneurs have benefited from EA skills development services, more than 750 enterprises have been restructured and expanded, at least 725 entrepreneurs have been assisted in the elaboration of their business plan and in their initial access to capital, and over 250 SM Es have been assisted in the development of accounting and financial management systems.

EA is currently present in Botswana, Benin, Cameroon, Congo DRC, Ethiopia, Ghana, M auritius, M ozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. Future plans include 6 to 10 more countries to be added by the end of 2005.

United Nations Industrial Development Organization

(UNIDO)

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) was set up in 1966 and became a specialised agency of the United Nations in 1985. As part of the United Nations common system, UNIDO has responsibility for promoting industrialization throughout the developing world, in co-operation with its 171 M ember States. It is represented in 35 developing countries. This representation and a number of specialised field offices, for investment and technology promotion and other specific aspects of its work, give UNIDO an active presence in the field. UNIDO helps developing countries and countries with

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economies in transition in their fight against marginalisation in today's globalised world. UNIDO mobilises knowledge, skills, information and technology to promote productive employment, a competitive economy and a sound environment.

As a global forum, UNIDO generates and disseminates knowledge relating to industrial matters and provides a platform for the various actors in the public and private sectors, civil society organisations and the policy- making community in general to enhance co-operation, establish dialogue and develop partnerships in order to address the challenges ahead.

As a technical co-operation agency, UNIDO designs and implements programmes to support the industrial development efforts of its clients. It also offers tailor-made specialised support for programme development. The two core functions are both complementary and mutually supportive. On the one hand, experience gained in the technical co-operation work of UNIDO can be shared with policy makers; on the other, the Organisation's analytical work shows where technical co-operation will have the greatest impact by helping to define priorities.

The broad program m atic objectives and priorities of UNIDO are given in the Business Plan on the Future Role and Functions of UNIDO endorsed by the seventh session of the General Conference in 1997. This Business Plan grouped the activities of UNIDO into two areas of concentration: (a) Strengthening industrial capacities, including programmes in support of the global forum function and policy advice; and (b) Cleaner and sustainable industrial development. In addition, while maintaining the universal character and vocation of UNIDO, the Business Plan provided for the Organisation's activities to be focused geographically on least developed countries, in particular in Africa; sectorally on agro-based industries; and thematically on small and medium enterprises (SM Es).

UNIDO achieves these objectives through: (a) Integrated programmes (IPs) or country service frameworks (CSFs), based on combinations of its eight service modules or in (b) Stand-alone projects involving only one or two service modules.

UNIDO 's eight Service M odules are: (1) Industrial governance and statistics; (2) Investment and technology promotion; (3) Quality and productivity; (4) Small business development; (5) Agro-industries; (6) Industrial energy and Kyoto Protocol; (7) M ontreal Protocol; (8) Environment management.

W ith regard to the methods of delivery of its technical co-operation services, UNIDO is in the process of developing a set of them atic initiatives to supplement the existing modalities of integrated programmes, country service frameworks and stand-alone projects. These initiatives are intended to provide specialised assistance to developing countries and countries with economies in transition in meeting particularly pressing development needs in line with the international development agenda and UNIDO's comparative advantages in the field of industrial development.

So far, two such initiatives have been launched: The M arket Access Initiative, launched at the International Conference of Financing for Development (M onterrey, M exico, M arch 2002) and the Rural Energy for Productive Use Initiative, launched the W orld Summit for Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in September 2002.

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W ORLD BANK GROUP

The W orld Bank Group’s mission is to fight poverty and improve the living standards of people in the developing world. It is a development Bank which provides loans, policy advice, technical assistance and knowledge sharing services to low and middle income countries to reduce poverty. The Bank promotes growth to create jobs and to empower poor people to take advantage of these opportunities.

The W orld Bank is not a “bank” in the common sense. It is one of the United Nations’ specialised agencies, and is made up of 184 member countries. These countries are jointly responsible for how the institution is financed and how its money is spent. Along with the rest of the development community, the W orld Bank centers its efforts on the reaching The M illennium Development Goals, agreed to by UN members in 2000 and aimed at sustainable poverty reduction.

The "W orld Bank" is the name that has come to be used for the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). Together these organisations provide low-interest loans, interest-free credit, and grants to developing countries. In addition to IBRD and IDA, three other organisations make up the W orld Bank Group. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) promotes private sector investment by supporting high-risk sectors and countries. The M ultilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (M IGA) provides political risk insurance (guarantees) to investors in and lenders to developing countries. And the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) settles investment disputes between foreign investors and their host countries.

The variety of work on the ground: The Bank is currently involved in more than 1,800 projects in virtually every sector and developing country. These are as diverse as providing microcredit in Bosnia Herzegovina and raising AIDS awareness in communities in Guinea, supporting education of girls in Bangladesh and improving health care delivery in M exico.

W orld Bank activities related to SM Es: the SM E Departm ent

The W orld Bank Group’s Small and M edium Enterprise Department combines the market perspective of the International Finance Corporation with the policy expertise of the W orld Bank to promote local small business growth in developing nations. These merged capabilities create a powerful synergy and underscore a strategic commitment to improving lives by creating opportunities in small business.

To meet this challenge, the department has identified a four-part approach to its SM E work, which is carried out by Project Development Facilities around the world and by the department’s Capacity Building Facility (CBF), in partnership with experienced external organisations and other W BG partners.

- Better Business Environm ents: W orking at the policy-making level to ease the difficult regulatory, tax and trade climate SM Es face in the developing world. Efforts to remove barriers to entry, establish new legal infrastructure and create anti-corruption measures incorporate lessons learned from IFC’s investment activities with the W orld Bank’s policy reform dialogue. The BE team works from headquarters, together with field office staff to devise

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country-appropriate strategies. Diagnostic Tools offers practical, easy-to-use information and in-depth analysis for the development community, for intermediaries and for small business owners themselves to engage in these efforts

- Technical Assistance and Capacity Building: Improving skills and capabilities of SM Es while fostering a strong network of intermediaries—specialty financial institutions, training organisations and consultants— for maximum developmental impact.

- Access to Capital: M aking small business financing a profitable commercial endeavor for local financial institutions, and cultivating new, specialty vehicles, allowing small business owners easier access to both debt and equity funding—twin necessities for growth. Virtually all aspects of the department’s operations focus on this area, because funding access is the lifeblood of business. To assist those involved in improving SM E access to capital, our SM E Finance website offers valuable guidelines.

- Access to Inform ation Technology: Supporting the expansion of the internet’s reach even further, so that an eager entrepreneur in the most remote village can connect with the global economy, accessing state-of-the-art industry knowledge and link with new partners, suppliers and customers. In addition to the Capacity Building Facility and field office work, the department’s E-Business Initiatives stress IT projects.

W orld Intellectual Property Organisation

(W IPO)

The W orld Intellectual Property Organisation (W IPO) is dedicated to promoting the use and protection of works of the human spirit. These works -- intellectual property -- are expanding the bounds of science and technology and enriching the world of the arts. W ith headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, W IPO is one of the 16 specialised agencies of the United Nations system of organisations. It administers 23 international treaties dealing with different aspects of intellectual property protection. The Organisation counts 180 nations as member states.

In the new millennium, W IPO faces many new challenges; one of the most urgent is the need for both the Organization and its member States to adapt to and benefit from rapid and wide-ranging technological change, particularly in the field of information technology and the Internet. W hile the cornerstones of W IPO's treaty system remain the Paris and Berne Conventions, subsequent treaties have widened and deepened the protection they offer, and have encompassed technological change and new areas of interest and concern. Two recent examples are the W IPO Copyright Treaty (W CT) and the W IPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (W PPT). These treaties contain basic rules updating the international protection of copyright and related rights to the Internet age and came into force in 2002.

W IPO net

Given the strategic importance of information technology in making the international intellectual property system more efficient, W IPO is carrying out a major project to develop and establish W IPOnet - a global intellectual property information network.

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W IPO net will prom ote international co-operation by facilitating the digital exchange of intellectual property inform ation between intellectual property offices of its m em ber States. It will also provide the means to undertake operations related to intellectual property rights management, in particular, those related to the international treaties, such as the Patent Co-operation Treaty (PCT). In doing so, W IPOnet will promote the progressive development and application of global standards and guidelines, and enhance the worldwide use of strategic information for more effective protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.

W IPOnet is of particular relevance to developing countries, as it would facilitate the electronic integration of developing countries in the international digital environment, thus narrowing the information gap that exists between the developed and developing countries. To further this objective, developing country intellectual property offices will be provided Internet connectivity and basic equipment under the W IPOnet project.

Beyond national boundaries, a well-functioning intellectual property system contributes to greater stability and security for protected rights in an increasingly competitive global marketplace, allowing efficient enforcement of those rights. In addition, the system can aid in combating illegal activities such as counterfeiting and piracy.

W IPO W orldwide Academ y

W IPO believes that the human capital of developing countries is key to their realizing the full benefits of the national and international intellectual property systems. The W IPO W orldwide Academy helps to develop those human resources, setting up modern and tailor-made training programs for policy advisors, development managers, and other target groups. Its activities include: new training and teaching techniques, a Distance Learning Centre using Internet facilities, client-specific learning modules and materials, and use of modern public-access media to disseminate knowledge of intellectual property

Activities related to SM Es

Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SM Es) form the backbone of most economies and are often the driving force behind innovations and the knowledge-driven economy. Their innovative and creative capacity, however, is not always fully exploited as SM Es under-utilise the intellectual property system partly due to their lack of awareness. To redress this situation, W IPO has launched a new program which reinforces co-operation with governments in developing policies and strategies that meet the intellectual property needs of SM Es.

There is a vital need for quick and inexpensive ways of settling commercial disputes involving intellectual property rights, and providing private parties with an alternative to often lengthy and costly court proceedings. This need has increased in recent years with the growing importance of international trade. W IPO's Arbitration and M ediation Centre helps to meet those needs for companies and individuals anywhere in the world. The Centre maintains an extensive list of specialised mediators or arbitrators from over 100 countries, who conduct dispute resolution procedures according to rules made available by W IPO. The procedures may take place in any country, in any language, and under any law, allowing a great deal of flexibility. Indeed, because they are cost-effective, the W IPO procedures are particularly interesting for companies that are unable or unwilling to enter into expensive or protracted litigation, especially at the international level. The subject matter of disputes resolved by means of W IPO procedures has included both contractual (e.g. patent and software licenses, trademark coexistence agreements, distribution agreements for pharmaceutical products and

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research and development agreements) and non-contractual disputes (e.g. patent infringement).

The W IPO Centre is the leading dispute resolution service provider for challenges related to abusive registration and use of Internet domain names, commonly known as "cybersquatting". The Centre provides this service both for the generic top-level domains, such as .com, .net., .org, .info, and for certain country-code domains. Trademark owners can file complaints using model documents made available on the Centre website http://arbiter.wipo.int. The entire procedure is conducted on-line, resulting in enforceable decisions within two months. The administration of domain name disputes is an effective example of the Centre's focus on improving the efficiency of international dispute resolution.

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Part III: International and Regional Organisations and Fora

ASSO CIATIO N OF SO UTH EAST ASIAN NATIO NS

(ASEAN)

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok by the five original M ember Countries, namely, Indonesia, M alaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam, Laos, M yanmar, and Cambodia have all joined ASEAN.

The ASEAN Declaration states that the aims and purposes of the Association are: (i) to accelerate the economic growth, social progress and cultural development in the region through joint endeavours in the spirit of equality and partnership in order to strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of Southeast Asian nations, and (ii) to promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law in the relationship among countries in the region and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter.

ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION

(APEC)

Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation, or APEC, was established in 1989 to further enhance economic growth and prosperity for the region and to strengthen the Asia-Pacific community. APEC is the premier forum for facilitating economic growth, co-operation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region. APEC is the only intergovernmental grouping in the world operating on the basis of non-binding commitments, open dialogue and equal respect for the views of all participants. Unlike the W TO or other multilateral trade bodies, APEC has no treaty obligations required of its participants. Decisions made within APEC are reached by consensus and commitments are undertaken on a voluntary basis. APEC has 21 members - referred to as "M ember Economies" - which account for more than a third of the world's population (2.6 billion people), approximately 60% of world GDP (US$ 19,254 billion) and about 47% of world trade.

Since its inception, APEC has worked to reduce tariffs and other trade barriers across the Asia-Pacific region, creating efficient domestic economies and dramatically increasing exports. Key to achieving APEC's vision are what are referred to as the 'Bogor Goals' of free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific by 2010 for industrialised economies and 2020 for developing economies. These goals were adopted by Leaders at their 1994 meeting in Bogor, Indonesia in the 1994 Leaders' Declaration.

APEC Economic Leaders outlined the following priorities for 2004 during their meeting in Bangkok, Thailand: Promoting Trade and Investment Liberalisation; Enhancing Human Security; Using APEC to Help People and Societies Benefit from Globalisation.

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ASIAN DEVELO PM ENT BANK

(ADB)

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a multilateral development finance institution dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific. Established in 1966, we are now owned by 63 m em bers, mostly from the region.

ADB’s overarching goal is to reduce poverty in Asia and the Pacific by helping to improve the quality of people’s lives by providing loans and technical assistance for a broad range of development activities.

ADB focuses on poverty reduction emphasizing: promotion of pro-poor, sustainable economic growth; social development; and good governance. In support of these objectives, ADB concentrates on: protection of the environment; promotion of gender and development; private sector development; and regional co-operation.

CENTRAL EURO PEAN INITIATIVE

(CEI)

The Central European Initiative (CEI) is composed of 17 M ember States: Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, M acedonia, M oldova, Poland, Romania, Serbia and M ontenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine, embracing a territory of 2.4 million square kilometres and a population of nearly 260 million.

From the very beginning, the main aim of the Initiative was to help transition countries in Central in Eastern Europe in approaching the EU. Although the CEI is not a major donor organisation, it disposes of several funds which are used to promote projects in diverse sectors of activity. The accession of the five CEI M ember States to the EU in M ay 2004 has shifted the CEI interest towards the 10 M ember States staying outside the EU. By developing various projects and programmes, the CEI aims at producing concrete values for its M ember States.

Functioning and Structures

The organisation operates through various structures: the annual Summit of the CEI Heads of Government, held in parallel to the CEI Summit Economic Forum (SEF), the annual M eeting of the M inisters of Foreign Affairs, M inisters of Economic Sectors and other ministerial or high level events such as the M eetings of the Political Directors, monthly meetings of the Committee of National Co-ordinators (CNC), meetings and other activities of CEI W orking Groups covering various areas of economic, human and institutional development and co-financing of numerous other events (conferences, workshops, training courses etc.).

The above-mentioned activities are supported by the CEI Executive Secretariat (CEI-ES) and the Secretariat for CEI Projects (CEI-PS). The CEI-ES is based in Trieste and operates with the legal status of an international organisation. The Secretariat for CEI Projects has been operative at the EBRD in London since the beginning of the nineties and maintains offices both in Trieste and London. Financial support for the functioning of both Secretariats is provided by Italy.

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The representatives of the CEI Parliamentary Dimension as one of three basic pillars of the organisation, along with the Governmental and the Business Dimension, are regular participants of all high-level CEI meetings, they are involved in working group activities and develop their own within (currently seven) ad hoc committees. The country holding the CEI Presidency is also chairing the PD.

The Central European Chamber of Commerce Initiative (CECCI) represents the CEI Business Dimension and acts as a regional forum for co-operation and consultation among and between the Chambers of Commerce in all CEI M ember States. The CECCI organizes various events aimed at promoting business and entrepreneurship in the region.

CEI Funds, Technical Co-operation and Co-operation Activities

The CEI Trust Fund at the EBRD represents the most important source for financing of the CEI activities in the area of infrastructure (roads, railway, air navigation, municipal and environmental projects etc.). According to an EBRD calculation, the CEI grants for technical co-operation projects, financed by the Trust Fund, generated 250 M io € of EBRD investments amounting to a leverage of 62:1. If you include the projects “in the pipeline” (valued at another 100 million Euro), the ratio between EBRD investments and CEI “seed money” equals 80:1.

In 2002, the CEI Co-operation Fund, consisting of contributions from all M ember States, became operational. Since then, nearly 150 co-operation activities (seminars, workshops, training courses, conferences etc.) amounting to more than 1,2 M io € were co-financed through this Fund in various fields and in various member countries. Although projects in the field of culture still prevail, in the recent period an increased number of co-operation activities have emerged in other areas as well, such as education, SM Es, agriculture and science& technology.

In order to facilitate the participation in CEI events of representatives and experts from CEI M ember States with lower incomes, the CEI disposes of the Solidarity Fund based on voluntary contributions from member countries. Since its establishment in 1998, the Fund enabled more than 100 representatives and experts to take part in various seminars, workshops, training courses or other kinds of events organised or sponsored by the CEI.

A total of 17 CEI W orking Groups (W Gs) are active in several areas. Each W orking Group is composed of the representatives (experts from various ministries and other governmental as well as non-governmental institutions) from all M ember States and is chaired by either one or (mainly) two chairpersons. W Gs usually meet once or twice a year.

In addition, the CEI-ES offers the logistic and adminstrativeadministrative support to the Corridor V Secretariat which became operative on the premises of the CEI Executive Secretariat in Trieste in October 2004 with the task of accelerating the development of the Corridor connecting northern Italy with Central and Eastern Europe.

The role of the CEI in supporting the developm ent of SM Es within the CEI Region

From the very outset of their co-operation the CEI M ember States have paid particular attention to the development of SM Es and entrepreneurship. In the process of economic transformation of CEI transition countries, SM Es have a crucial role both in the privatisation process and in the creation of favourable employment conditions.

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Activities of the CEI W orking Group on SM Es

The CEI W orking Group on SM Es (the body in charge of the development of CEI priorities in the SM E sector) has mainly concentrated on the transfer of best practices and experiences from the most developed CEI countries to the countries in transition. The two main examples of the CEI W G on SM Es efforts are:

- The “Declaration on Small and M edium-sized Enterprises at the Dawn of the 21st Century” jointly prepared by the W G on SM Es and the UNECE, adopted by the CEI M inisters of Economy on the occasion of the CEI Summit Economic Forum in Budapest (22-25 November 2000).

- The contribution in strengthening co-operation with the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe and SP Investment Compact.

The CEI W G on SM Es is currently supporting the preparation of some of projects such as:

- IDEA Interactive Database for Enterprises and Associations – An interactive platform to promote and develop Business Support Services in the CEI Countries. The project aims at building an on-line system designed to give a comprehensive view of the real services supplied by local business support organisations to SM Es in the CEI Countries.

- Clusters in the CEI region. The project aims at identifying interests in creating communication among and organisation of potential clusters, in order to organise joint activities among the existing clusters in the CEI Countries, identify and select the lead partners and organise the Club of Clusters in the CEI Countries. A CEI publications on the project results is envisaged.

Activities in co-operation with international and regional organisations

The CEI has established close co-operation with international and regional organisations in the SM E sector. Co-operation has been strengthened with the UNECE, which has offered to the CEI, in the framework of the CEI-ECE M em orandum of Understanding, its expertise in basic analysis on SM E development in Europe as well as organisational services both for CEI and joint events.

A strong link has also been established with the Croatian Institute for International Relations (IM O) and the O ECD/LEED Program m e. In 2002 the CEI Secretariats and the CEI W G on SM Es delegates nominated CEI delegates to the LEED Directing Committee in order to enhance this co-operation as much as possible. In 2003, on the occasion of the 6th CEI Summit in W arsaw, Poland, the CEI and the OECD launched the CEI-LEED Local Developm ent Network of Advisors (LDN), a network of experts, points of reference, national or local institutions involved in CEI countries, aimed at fostering local development by strengthening local expertise. Last year, the CEI co-financed together with the OECD/ LEED Programme three workshops.

The CEI has also actively co-operated with the EBRD for the establishment of the Business Advisory Services (BAS) in CEI Countries. The “EBRD/TM G Business Advisory Services in CEI M ember States” Programme is a proven multi-donor programme co-funding specific consultancy projects with small and medium-sized enterprises, improving their quality and competitiveness. By using simple procedures and a cost-effective structure, the BAS allows effective support of a large number of enterprises, focusing on practical inputs with clear objectives such as financial information systems, market research and

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development, quality management systems, engineering studies, and business plans. The Programme is predominantly using (>80% ) local accredited consultants, thereby enabling an increase in the ability and competence of the local consultancy industry. Up to now the CEI, by using the CEI Fund at the EBRD provided by Italy, has supported the BAS Programme in Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as in Bulgaria and M acedonia. It is planned to extend the duration of the EBRD/TM G BAS programme in CEI countries where BAS offices are already operating and to establish BAS offices in other CEI countries with a new emphasis on the “internationalisation” of SM Es.

CEI Co-operation Activities in the SM E sector

In order to facilitate the implementation of CEI priorities in the SM E sector, the CEI either organises or sponsors a great number of programmes and projects every year (which frequently take the form of workshops, seminars, training courses, conferences) called CEI Co-operation Activities, in partnership with various international institutions and CEI national organisations.

The CEI Sum m it Econom ic Forum (SEF) and SM Es

CEI activities are usually presented and new project ideas discussed at the annually held CEI Summit Economic Forum. On that occasion special attention is traditionally given to SM Es. This is the main annual opportunity for the whole Central European region to establish business contacts and either offer or request co-operation on projects. The event is linked to the CEI Sum m it M eeting of the Heads of Governm ent and to the Round Table of the CEI M inisters of Econom ic Sectors. It usually attracts industry leaders, senior government officials from the 17 CEI member countries, national/international organisations, financial institutions, other regional initiatives together with businessmen and senior experts (around 1500 participants).

Up to now, the CEI Summit Economic Fora succeeded in creating, among SEF participants a CEI network where hundreds of participating organisations are invited to present their business offers and requests to the CEI in order to obtain assistance in finding partners and financial sources. This is the CEI M atch-m aking Program m e. Its strategic objective is involving the private sector in regional co-operation, giving practical assistance to entrepreneurs of the CEI region as well as promoting cross-border co-operation.

CECCI: The Central European Cham ber of Com m erce Initiative

In the framework of the CEI, the national Chambers of Commerce of all CEI countries have set up a multilateral co-operation with the aim to create a network to improve business investment and joint projects as well as transfer experience and best practice particularly to SM Es. The collaboration between the Presidents of the Chambers of Commerce of CEI M ember States is guaranteed by the annual Conference of the Presidents of CECCI which takes place in the CEI Summit Economic Forum framework. The co-operation within the framework of the CECCI aims at the following main objectives:

- administrative and legislative simplification of the context in which businesses operate and improvement of access of companies especially SM Es to research programmes and to technological innovation;

- providing support to companies in expanding their activities across national borders; promotion of entrepreneurship and improvement of business support services through the exchange of best practices.

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TH E EUROPEAN BANK FO R RECO NSTRUCTIO N AND DEVELO PM ENT (EBRD)

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development was established in 1991 when communism was ending in Central and Eastern Europe and ex-Soviet countries needed support to nurture a new private sector in a democratic environment. Today, the EBRD uses the tools of investment to help build market economies and democracies in 27 countries from Central Europe to Central Asia.

The EBRD is the largest single investor in the region and mobilises significant foreign direct investment beyond its own financing. It is owned by 60 countries and two intergovernmental institutions. But despite its public sector shareholders, it invests mainly in private enterprises, usually together with commercial partners.

It provides project financing for banks, industries and businesses, both new ventures and investments in existing companies. It also works with publicly owned companies, to support privatisation, restructuring state-owned firms and improvement of municipal services. The Bank uses its close relationship with governments in the region to promote policies that will bolster the business environment.

The mandate of the EBRD stipulates that it must only work in countries that are committed to democratic principles. Respect for the environment is part of the strong corporate governance attached to all EBRD investments.

Through its investments, the EBRD promotes structural and sectoral reforms, competition, privatisation and entrepreneurship, stronger financial institutions and legal systems, infrastructure development needed to support the private sector, and adoption of strong corporate governance, including environmental sensitivity.

EURO PEAN CENTRAL BANK

(ECB)

The European Central Bank and the national central banks together constitute the Eurosystem, the central banking system of the Euro area. The main objective of the Eurosystem is to maintain price stability: safeguarding the value of the euro. The European Central Bank is committed to performing all central bank tasks entrusted to it effectively.

The European System of Central Banks (ESCB) is composed of the European Central Bank (ECB) and the national central banks (NCBs) of 12 EU M ember States. The "Eurosystem " is the term used to refer to the ECB and the NCBs of the M ember States which have adopted the euro. The NCBs of the M ember States which do not participate in the euro area, however, are members of the ESCB with a special status – while they are allowed to conduct their respective national monetary policies, they do not take part in the decision-making with regard to the single monetary policy for the euro area and the implementation of such decisions. In accordance with the Treaty establishing the European Community and the Statute of the European System of Central Banks and of the European Central Bank the primary objective of the Eurosystem is to maintain price stability. W ithout prejudice to this objective, the Eurosystem shall support the general economic policies in the Community and act in accordance with the principles of an open market economy.

The basic tasks to be carried out by the Eurosystem are: to define and implement the monetary policy of the euro area; to conduct foreign exchange operations; to hold and manage

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the official foreign reserves of the M ember States; and to promote the smooth operation of payment systems.

In addition, the Eurosystem contributes to the smooth conduct of policies pursued by the competent authorities relating to the prudential supervision of credit institutions and the stability of the financial system. The ECB has an advisory role vis-à-vis the Community and national authorities on matters which fall within its field of competence, particularly where Community or national legislation is concerned. Finally, in order to undertake the tasks of the ESCB, the ECB, assisted by the NCBs, shall collect the necessary statistical information either from the competent national authorities or directly from economic agents.

The process of decision-making in the Eurosystem is centralised through the decision-making bodies of the ECB, namely the Governing Council and the Executive Board. As long as there are M ember States which have not yet adopted the euro, a third decision-making body, the General Council, shall also exist.

TH E EUROPEAN CO M M ISSIO N

On 21 January 2003 the Commission adopted a package of documents outlining policy towards small and medium-sized enterprises across Europe, the so-called SM E package. The package analyses how the M ember States, the candidate countries and the European Commission are implementing the principles embodied in the European Charter for Small Enterprises. The Commission has recently taken several initiatives to support SM Es. In this context, the newly nominated SM E Envoy has a crucial role as co-ordinator.4

EU policies towards SM Es

At Com m unity level, alm ost every policy has an SM E dim ension. SM Es’ special needs and concerns are incorporated into most Community policies and programmes. The report on the activities of the EU for SM Es gives a more detailed description of all EU activities having an influence on SM Es, be it in the framework of enterprise policy or other Community policies. For example, the Structural Funds are spending some €16 billion on SM E-targeted projects in the period 2000-2006. In addition, this Community aid is triggering large matching support from national funds. SM Es are also an important target for the Sixth Framework Programme for RTD. For 2002-2006, nearly €2,2 billion have been allocated to support SM Es’ research and innovation efforts, certainly making the Sixth Framework Programme one of the largest support instruments in the world for SM Es’ research. For the reader who wants to find out more, the report contains very extensive references to documents and numerous links to websites, and it also gives contact details of responsible Commission officials.

The SM E Envoy

To take more into consideration the SM E interests in EU policies and initiatives and to favour a more horizontal and co-ordinated approach to SM E issues, a SM E Envoy was

4 Please see: European Com mission (2003), Commission Staff W orking Paper “Creating an

Entrepreneurial Europe: The Activities of the European Union for Small and M edium-sized Enterprises (SM Es)”. [SEC(2003) 58] available at: http://europa.eu.int/com m/enterprise/entrepreneurship/promoting_entrepreneurship/doc/2003sec58_en.pdf.

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nominated one year ago. He has a dual function, maintaining dialogue and collecting feedback from outside the Commission, and contributing to improving the awareness of SM E interest inside the Commission. The SM E Envoy’s report assesses his first year of activity, looking at achievements and potential for future development. Among the successes are a more favourable treatment for SM Es under the new Capital Adequacy Framework, the so-called Basel II Agreement, and more SM E-friendly measures in some Community programmes.

The SM E package is composed of the following four reports that can be found in the web pages indicated below:

1. The 2003 implementation report on the European Charter for Small Enterprises in the EU M em ber States

2. The 2003 implementation report on the European Charter for Small Enterprises in the candidate countries

3. The report on the EU activities in favour of sm all and m edium -sized enterprises

4. The report of activity of the SM E Envoy of the European Commission

The 2003 Implementation Report on the European Charter for Small Enterprises in the EU M ember States was drawn up in accordance with the Decision on the M ultiannual programme for enterprise and entrepreneurship, and in particular for SM Es 2001-2005. The M ulitannual programme focuses on new economy challenges to SM Es and constitutes a tool to progress towards the objectives set by the European Charter for Small Enterprises in the EU M ember States, in the EEA EFTA countries and in the candidate countries. This report is intended to support the 2003 Report on the implementation of the European Charter for Small Enterprises.

The report is the sixth report of its kind, and it summarises recent developments since 2000, covering 2001 and most of 2002. The objective of the report is to give an overview of the activities of the European Union for SM Es and present how the SM E dimension has been incorporated in Community policies and programmes. A very wide range of different policies, programmes and instruments is presented, all benefiting SM Es in a direct or indirect way. The report’s structure corresponds to areas of the European Charter for Small Enterprises, with the addition of a few other policy areas not covered by the Charter, but which are of relevance for SM Es.

The Structural Funds are the EU’s main instruments for financial support to SM Es, and some €16 billion is being spent on SM E-targeted projects in the period 2000-2006. Approximately one third of this Community aid to SM Es is dedicated to advisory services and to share business services, such as incubators, networking and clusters. In addition, this Community aid is triggering large matching support from national funds. Agricultural and rural development policies also have a bearing on SM Es.

For more information, please see the following websites:

- DG Enterprise W ebsite - Promoting Entrepreneurship and SM Es - Improving Business Support M easures - Business Support Networks - Crafts, Small Businesses, Target Groups - W omen Entrepreneurs

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- Study “Young Entrepreneurs, W omen Entrepreneurs, Co-Entrepreneurs and Ethnic M iniority Entrepreneurs in the European Union and Central Eastern Europe”

- Publication of the ProW omEn Network - DG Enterprise activities are presented at the Entrepreneurship Action Plan: - W ork on female entrepreneurs

EIB GRO UP

Together the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund now form what is called the "EIB Group".

EURO PEAN INVESTM ENT FUND (EIF)

The European Investment Fund (EIF) was founded in 1994 as a joint venture between three shareholder groups: European Investment Bank, European Commission and European financial institutions. Its main task was to provide financial institutions with infrastructure and SM E guarantees. The EIF began its involvement in venture capital in 1997, as part of the European Commission's "Growth and Employment" initiative.

In June 2000, the EIF's Statutes were restructured and its shareholding structure was modified (with the European Investment Bank becoming majority shareholder) so as to endorse the role of the EIF as the exclusive vehicle for venture capital of the European Investment Bank (EIB).

The EIF's activity is centred upon two areas, venture capital and guarantees. EIF's venture capital instruments consist of equity investments in venture capital funds and business incubators that support SM Es, particularly those that are early stage and technology-oriented. EIF's guarantee instruments consist of providing guarantees to financial institutions that cover credits to SM Es. Through the leverage effect of its venture capital and guarantee instruments, the EIF is able to contribute to the development of SM Es in the EU M ember States and the Candidate Countries. This contribution is in line with the Conclusions of the ECOFIN Council of 7 November 2000, which emphasised the new role of the EIF as the EU specialist financial institution for SM Es. Both instruments implemented by the EIF for SM Es are complementary to the Global Loans provided by the European Investment Bank to financial intermediaries in support of SM E financing. EIF's instruments are implemented on commercial terms.

Note that EIF does not invest in SM Es directly, but instead always works through financial intermediaries. These intermediaries are given full delegation of activity: the EIF is not involved in individual investment/credit decisions. SM Es in search of finance are requested to contact an EIF intermediary in their country/region for information on eligibility criteria and application procedures.

Alongside venture capital, the EIF is equally dedicated to providing portfolio guarantees for all types of institutions involved in the financing of SM Es. For its venture capital and guarantee activity, the EIF uses either its own funds or those available within the framework of mandates entrusted to it by the EIB or the European Union.

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EURO PEAN INVESTM ENT BANK (EIB)

The task of the European Investment Bank, the European Union's financing institution, is to contribute towards the integration, balanced development and economic and social cohesion of the M ember Countries.

To this end, it raises on the markets substantial volumes of funds which it directs on the most favourable terms towards financing capital projects according with the objectives of the Union.

Outside the Union the EIB implements the financial components of agreements concluded under European development aid and co-operation policies.

For more information concerning the EIB, please see: The EIB, the European Union's financing institution ; M ission statement; The EIB Group.

INTER-AM ERICAN DEVELO PM ENT BANK

IDB (IDB GRO UP)

The IDB Group is the main source of multilateral financing for economic, social and institutional development in Latin America and the Caribbean. It also plays a leading role in regional integration.

Headquartered in W ashington, D.C., the IDB Group includes three institutions:

- Inter-Am erican Developm ent Bank

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) supports economic and social development and regional integration in Latin America and the Caribbean. It does so mainly through lending to public institutions, but it also funds some private projects, typically in infrastructure and capital markets development.

- Inter-Am erican Investm ent Corporation

The Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC) is a multilateral financial organisation that promotes economic development in Latin America and the Caribbean by financing small and medium-scale private companies.

- M ultilateral Investm ent Fund

The M ultilateral Investment Fund (M IF) is an autonomous fund managed by the IDB. It supports private sector development, mainly in the micro-enterprise sector.

The Bank supports SM Es at the national and local levels through activities that help develop financial and business service markets; support innovation and technology diffusion; promote clusters and productive chains; encourage entrepreneurship; and improve the business environment and regulatory framework. During the past ten years, the Bank has approved more than $12 billion in financing for a wide variety of projects to support the sector.

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IDB SM Es related activities are mainly conducted in the Sustainable Developm ent Departm ent:

- Enterprise Developm ent Strategy

The m ain objective of the Bank's strategy for enterprise development is the elimination of the market distortions and other restrictions to the development of companies, through: the creation of impartial rules regulation and institutional reform, eliminating barriers that restrain SM E development; the reduction of disadvantages faced by SM Es in accessing inputs such as financing, qualified labour, information, technology and management skills and in reducing transaction costs.

The recently created Division of M icro, Sm all and M edium Enterprise (M SM ), is the result of the merging of the M icro Enterprise Unit with the Small and M edium Enterprise Advisory Group.

The principal m ission of SDS/M SM is to provide intellectual and technical leadership to other departments of the Bank, including the Inter-American Investment Corporation and the M ultilateral Investment Fund, as well as both public and private sector institutions of regional member countries in the area of enterprise development with special attention to M icro, Small and M edium Enterprises. The principle of its action is geared towards knowledge management of enterprise development issues.

SDS/M SM supports the preparation of Enterprise Development Strategies at the country level and the elaboration of policies to improve enterprise competitiveness in the new, open economic environment; shares experiences and technical knowledge; analyzes international best practices and ways to adapt them to the national context of the countries of the region.

SDS/M SM 's m ain functions are: co-ordination of policies and strategies; support to other departments of the Bank in the identification and preparation of operations; quality promotion of the Bank's projects; and the diffusion of best practices.

- Best Practices and Policies Forum

The IDB aims to bring together information and advice on policies and programmes which enhance the participation of SM Es in the economy in Latin American and Developing countries. W ith this in mind, the Inter-American Development Bank is funding a web site dedicated to the dissemination of best practices in SM E policies. The site is hosted by the LANIC and is accessible through the following link: LANIC SM E Forum

- SM E O bservatory

The available information regarding the role SM Es play in the economy in the countries of the region is scarce, of uneven quality and distribution and is virtually impossible to compare across countries or with other regions. This problem has already been faced in other countries with greater development and better availability of statistical information. The European Union has since 1992 a European SM E Observatory, which methodology and output is greatly useful for Latin America (Additional information may be found at the website of the European SM E Observatory)

The general objective of the Latin American SM E Observatory project is precisely the creation of a sustainable mechanism of analysis of the role of SM Es in Latin American countries, its evolution across time and the impact they have on the economic transformations of the region.

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NTERNATIO NAL NETW O RK FO R SM Es

(INSM E)

“M aking Innovation H appen”

The International Network for Sm all and M edium Sized Enterprises – INSM E – is a non profit Association, open to international membership. It aims at fostering transnational co-operation and public and private partnership in the field of innovation and technology transfer (TT) to small and medium sized enterprises (SM Es). It was established in February 2004 thanks to a financial grant from the Italian Government.

Since adequate access to innovation in a global economy is a key factor for enterprises to be competitive, INSM E stimulates SM E innovation processes and competitiveness by promoting and strengthening innovation services and transnational technology transfer provided by intermediaries and their networks.

INSM E’s main goals are:

- To create a perm anent forum for promoting, on a regular basis, an open, strengthened multilateral political dialogue between diverse stakeholders involved in the area of innovation and technology transfer to SM Es; particular importance is given to the development of “North-South” interactions and co-operation;

- To become a new partner and an effective m eans for launching operational activities, on a bilateral or multilateral basis, including the instigation of joint pilot projects between M embers of the Network so as to exchange know-how and enforce synergies and economies of scale, to indirectly support the competitiveness of SM Es at local, national or international level, and also to enhance services from M embers to M embers.

INSM E is founded on the ideas and principles discussed at the first O ECD M inisterial Conference on SM Es and Globalisation “Enhancing the Competitiveness of SM Es in the Global Economy“ (Bologna, 13 – 15 June, 2000) and during 2004 the INSM E Association was granted the O ECD’s m oral sponsorship and consultative status by UNIDO’s Industrial Development Board.

INSM E’s activities are co-ordinated by the Italian Institute for Industrial Promotion (IPI, www.ipi.it), which hosts the Association’s Secretariat in its headquarters in Rome, Italy. During 2005 INSM E will request legal recognition as an Association according to Italian law. The Association does not have offices abroad, but relies on its M embers and Partners worldwide for local support.

As of April 2005 the Association counts 65 M em bers from 31 countries, out of which are 12 OECD and 19 non OECD member countries. INSM E aims to increase the number of M embers to 80 by the end of 2005 and also hopes for the increased participation from countries outside the European Union and the formal involvement of international organisations and NGOs such as: the African Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the Andean Community (CAN), that have already voiced interest in collaborating with the Association.

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INSM E does not want to overlap with already existing formal or informal networks and initiatives that offer support for SM E innovation and technology transfer and those that enhance the links between research and industry which are spread across the EU and abroad. On the contrary, INSM E aims at joining forces and collaborating with other institutions worldwide so as to maximise efforts, foster better diffusion of inform ation to SM Es, increase cross border opportunities for knowledge sharing and networking and partnering for its M embers with a view to “M aking Innovation Happen“.

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Part IV – Non-Governm ental Organisations (NGOs)

THE ASSO CIATIO N OF EURO PEAN CH AM BERS OF COM M ERCE (EURO CH AM BRES)

Created in 1958, one year after the birth of the European Communities, EUROCHAM BRES is the Brussels based Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry. EUROCHAM BRES has member organisations in 41 countries representing a network of 2,000 regional and local Chambers with over 17 million member companies. M ore than 80% of these enterprises are SM Es. Chamber members employ over 120 million employees.

EUROCHAM BRES is the sole European body that serves the interests of every sector and every size of European business-due to the multi-sectoral membership of Chambers - and the only one so close to business, as a result of the Chambers’ regional focus.

EUROCHAM BRES forms one of the key pillars of business representation to the European institutions. Its mission is: to represent the needs, aspirations and opinions of its members; to promote European integration; to provide information on European Union policies and programmes; to promote economic and trade relations between the European Union and non European countries; and to assist its members in upgrading and adapting the services they provide to their member enterprises in view of the rapid changes of the European Union.

BUSINESS CO UNCIL OF EUROPE, AFRICA AND TH E M EDITERRANEAN (BCEAM )

BCEAM was founded in 1973 by seven European associations, which represent investors in Africa. Through its members BCEAM represents some 1,500 European Union companies with interests in the African continent, from the M aghreb to South Africa, and representing over 3,000,000 employees. Their activities cover the complete range of commerce and industry, including agriculture, mining, transport, banking and the service sectors.

The BCEAM brings together European investors and other operators engaged in economic activity in the African continent, and it works for a close co-operation between the European private sector and African countries, in particular the private sector. It is the only organisation that comprehensively represents the range of business activities undertaken in Africa by European Union companies. At present BCEAM groups all existing EU. Employers' Associations of private sector specialised on developing economics relationships with African countries.

The organisation assists and advises those who are operating or who wish to operate in Africa, cooperating with the private sector associations and African governments in their plans to attract potential investors. BCEAM cooperates with the Institutions of the European Union: the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Development Fund (EDF), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Economic and Social Committee, the Centre for the Development of Enterprises (CDE), the European Development Finance Institutions (EDFI) and other relevant organisations. BCEAM also ensure the necessary

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liaison with other professional European groups, such as UNICE (Union of industries of the European Union).

The BCEAM aims to be the principal private sector interlocutor of the EU institutions and of African countries on matters affecting the interests of the EU private sector in Africa. Accordingly it has played an important part in the preparation for the Barcelona Agreement in 1995 and the Cotonou Agreement signed in 2000 and continues to monitor and advise on aspects of their implementation which affect the private sector.

The Business Council Europe-Africa M editerranean consists of 7 national European business associations. One of those is Afrika-Verein. Geman African Trade Expert-Consult (GATE-Consult) is the service branch of Afrika-Verein, the German African Business Association with a 100 years of experience in promoting trade and investment between Africa and Germany.

EURO -M EDITERRANEAN TRADE, DISTRIBUTIO N AND SERVICE INITIATIVE (EM ED-TDS)

EM ED-TDS (or EM ED) is a pilot development of a B2B platform aims to create an Agrifood e-M arket network in the Euro-M editerranean region. This e-M arket network will at first interconnect the 15 project's partners and enable their members’ enterprises to widen their market and operate on an international scale. The EM ED Partners are the National Chambers of Commerce and/or Business Associations in Trade and Services of: Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Hellas, Israel, Italy, M alta, M orocco, Palestinian Authority, Portugal, Spain, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey.

EM ED aims to create a B2B e-market platform that will:

- Establish, in the EM ED partner countries, a distributed e-market network that is expandable internally as well as externally;

- Prepare the partners and their member companies to offer information, products and services on the EM ED network;

- Facilitate the global visibility and the dissemination of information, products and services of the Euro-M ed TDS members and their associates on a global scale;

- Improve the ability of the Partner’s institutions to contribute to a national visibility and awareness of e-market practices and promote and disseminate the use of such practice to their members.

- Promote better and wider human understanding in the region through co-operation, both institutional and via common trading practices and networks.

- Assist the emerging markets of the southern M editerranean countries in gaining a wider market coverage and foster mutual co-operation.

EURO PEAN BANK ING FEDERATIO N

(FBE)

Set up in 1960, the European Banking Federation (FBE ) is the united voice of the banks of the European Union (EU) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries. The FBE represents over 4000 banks, large and small, with almost 20 000 billion euros in assets.

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The Federation maintains an ongoing dialogue with the European institutions, with the aim of ensuring that the experience and the views of banks are taken into consideration in the shaping of relevant policies. The FBE has played a crucial role in the European consultation process over the last four decades. In its early years the EU concentrated on the integration of trade in goods, rather than services. As a result, banking as such was not directly affected to any great extent, but it was only natural that banks, like any other business, should express their strong views on proposals to achieve economic integration, e.g. in matters such as company law and taxation. Click for more information on FBE’s consultative committees and working groups.

EURO PEAN NETW O RK TO PRO M O TE W O M EN S ENTREPERENEURSH IP (W ES)

The European Network to promote W omen's Entrepreneurship (W ES) is a network created on a Swedish initiative in October 1998 and launched officially in June 2000. The network is composed of 16 m em bers, from all the countries of the European Union, except Luxemburg, plus Iceland and Norway. The delegates in the network represent central national governments and institutions with the responsibility to promote female entrepreneurship.

W ES aims to promote women's entrepreneurship by raising the visibility of existing women entrepreneurs; creating a climate that is favourable to woman entrepreneurs; increasing the number of new women entrepreneurs and increasing the size (scale) of existing women run businesses The means for the W ES to achieve this is to be a discussion partner towards the European Union and to exchange information, knowledge and good practice between its member countries.

Previous activities 2002 – 2003

- General networking meetings in co-operation with representatives from the Commission DG Enterprise

- The meetings have been opportunities to discuss entrepreneurship policy in different countries, benchmark and share information on support systems, support measures and legislation for women entrepreneurs or would-be entrepreneurs.

- In order to strengthen the visibility of the work carried out so far to promote women entrepreneurship at EU level, the members of the network were closely involved in the project carried out by the Commission in order to gather information about existing support measures for women entrepreneurs and identifying good practices. The information collected is included in the publication “Good Practices in the Promotion of Female Entrepreneurship” and in the database “Female entrepreneurship”.

- At the “European Forum Female Entrepreneurship” organised in M arch 2003 by the Commission, the results of the survey were presented and several cases of good practices were explained and debated. As a follow-up to the Forum DG Enterprise has also organized a workshop on “Access to finance for women entrepreneurs” in November 2003. The aim of this workshop was to inform about support systems for financing businesses led by women entrepreneurs and to explore innovative ideas for future actions.

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The future work of W ES will focus on updating its contacts with the new and candidate countries that are not yet part of W ES. W e will also update the contacts with all members and continue the work with focus on the areas that the members find most useful and necessary. The working methods will continue to be general meetings, but also work in smaller groups on targeted areas. M embers of W ES

LES FEM M ES CH EFS D’ENTREPRISES M ONDIALES

(FCEM )

FCEM is an association that brings together the women heads of enterprises and CEOs worldwide. Founded in France in 1945 by M adame Foinant, the association rapidly extended beyond Europe’s border. Today, the FCEM network comprises over 40 countries across the world. FCEM continues to grow, each year with new request to adhere to this unique network.

FCEM is a non-profit, non-governmental, apolitical and non-religious association. Its activities concentrate at the national and international levels with a view to promote the development of women’s entrepreneurship and national associations for women heads of enterprises by : reinforcing the visibility of women as heads of enterprises; defending the interests of women’s entrepreneurship to national governments and in international settings; promoting solidarity, fraternity and cultural understanding; sharing experience; facilitating the development of businesses, partnerships and trade; improving its competences in this field; and inciting youth enterprise creation.

FCEM organises congresses and meetings in every region with a priority for developing and transitions economies. FCEM supports and participates in events organised by national associations that are members of FCEM .

FCEM launched projects with a focus on developing information and communication technology: plate-forme Internet FCEM -C and Go Associative and B2B for the benefit of national member associations and individual women entrepreneurs. Other promotion activities include the creation of award « Yvonne Edmond Foinant » in 2001 to distinguish national FCEM associations for their efforts to promote women’s entrepreneurs and the establishment of a FCEM day (third Friday of M ay).

Since the 51st W orld FCEM Congress in October 2003, the following activities and actions have been reinforced: enlargement and extension of FCEM adherents throughout the world; consolidation of the visibility and recognition of FCEM ; encouragement of ICT use by national member associations and individual women entrepreneurs; and development of collaborative activities with international institutions.

INTERNATIO NAL O RGANISATIO N FO R K NOW LEDGE ECO NO M Y AND ENTERPRISE DEVELO PM ENT (IK ED)**

Legally speaking IKED is a non-profit association under Swedish law. In practice, however, IKED is operating as an international organisation which offers countries and organisations around the world membership and partnership arrangements in addressing issues connected with the knowledge-based economy. IKED specialises in addressing cross-cutting horizontal aspects of that agenda, facilitated learning on what comprehensive reforms are needed to generate better conditions for entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity and developed and developing countries alike. IKED also strives to link the primary actors

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forming the knowledge-based economy, including: government, industry, civil society, and academia.

The core platform of IKED is the Nordic region, consisting of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Outside the Nordic area, IKED now has an international network consisting of nodes in 25 countries, which have entered a spectrum of formal and informal partnerships with IKED. Arrangements for co-operation are continuously developed.

IKED has established formal or informal co-operation with a number of international organisations. It has engaged in joint activities with the Nordic Council of M inisters, the Baltic Development Forum, the Network for Small and M edium Sized Enterprises (INSM E), Global Knowledge Partership (GKP), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the W orld Bank.

IKED’s core sponsors are in the hosting region and the Nordic countries. It receives contributions and programme–specific support from member institutions and co-operating international and national organisations.

PACIFIC ECO NO M IC CO -OPERATIO N CO UNCIL

(PECC)

Established in 1980, The Pacific Economic Co-operation Council (PECC) now has 25 M ember Committees, including two associate members, from all over Asian-Pacific region. Each M ember Committee comprises tripartite, senior representatives. Tripartite and independent, PECC is a unique partnership of senior individuals from business and industry, governm ent, academ ic and other intellectual circles. All participate in their private capacity and discuss freely on current, practical policy issues of the Asia-Pacific region.

PECC is policy oriented, pragmatic and anticipatory. Its work program aims for better co-operation and policy coordination in areas including trade, investment, finance, HRD, and all major industrial sectors. PECC is the only non-governmental official observer of APEC since the APEC's formation in 1989.

PECC has provided information and analytical support to APEC ministerial meetings and working groups. Also it channels and facilitates private sector participation in the formal process.

Activities related to SM Es

PECC SM E Network has been working closely with the APEC Small and M edium Enterprises W orking Group and has produced a "Profile of SM Es and SM E Issues in APEC 1990-2000" published in 2002.

Currently the SM E Network is working on two main projects: "Im pedim ents to International SM E Activity: Evidence and Proposed Fram ework for M onitoring" discussion paper delivered in February 2003 at an APEC SM E W orking Group M eeting in Genting Highlands, M alaysia. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Australia is the leader of the project and funded by APEC and The APEC Entrepreneur Consortium .

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UNIO N OF INDUSTRIAL AND EM PLOYERS’ CO NFEDERATIO NS OF EURO PE (UNICE)

UNICE is the voice vis-à-vis the institutions of the European Union of the more than 20 million small, medium and large companies active in Europe today. They generate the resources which are the basis for the well-being and living standards of society. Employment in Europe depends largely on their success.

Created in 1958, UNICE's membership now consists of 38 central industrial and employers' federations from 32 European countries. Its priority mission is to ensure that common interests of the companies it represents are heard, understood and taken into account.

Through its numerous contributions and position papers developed consensually in its 6 policy committees (economic and financial affairs, external relations, social, industrial and company affairs and an Entrepreneurship & SM E Committee) and working groups, UNICE is a key partner in the construction of a competitive Europe for growth, jobs and prosperity. Entrepreneurship, Innovation, employment, better regulation, international trade and investment are five of its main priorities.

UNICE is based in Brussels, co-ordinating the work and meetings attended by more than 1.500 experts from member federations and a very large number of companies active in all European sectors.

UNICE is a social partner and its role is enshrined in the Treaty establishing the European Community.

YES FO R EUROPE, EURO PEAN CO NFEDERATIO N OF YO UNG ENTREPRENEURS (YES)

YES for Europe, the European Confederation of Young Entrepreneurs is the main association of young entrepreneurs through Europe representing 35.000 members. As such, it is the largest dynamic network of entrepreneurs in Europe that aims at improving the economic and social performance of European entrepreneurship.

YES for Europe has been launched in 1988 by seven national groups of young entrepreneurs (from Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan and Portugal). They met in Capri (I) during the National Convention of CONFINDUSTRIA Giovani Imprenditori and signed the "International Young Entrepreneurs Charter" (so called "Capri Charter") establishing the fundamental principles. Their collective actions were based upon: a free world trade, an independent free enterprise system, the recognition of social charges, free competition rules, protection of the environment. The social role of an entrepreneur must contribute to economical, political and social developments of the society. Having established these basic principles, a first set of rules was effectively laid down in the YES Constitution signed in Vienna in early 1990.

However, YES for Europe has continued to be a "de facto" association. In order to complete its development into a functioning confederation, six national associations of young entrepreneurs (Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy and Portugal) decided in early 1991 to create a European confederation of young entrepreneurs in Brussels under Belgian Law. Further, in late 1993, a Brussels Secretariat General has been established in order to intensify the lobbying activities of YES for Europe at EU level and to improve the exchange of information on European initiatives to the YES members. In the past three years YES for

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Europe has passed from 6 to 10 members involving associations located not only in the EU countries but also coming from the M editerranean area (Cyprus, Turkey).

YES O bjectives

YES for Europe maintains an ongoing dialogue with the Institutions of the European Union in order to: ensure that European Union initiatives reflect the entrepreneurial spirit in Europe; promote policy measures which will facilitate business activities for young entrepreneurs; participate, in collaboration with public authorities, to the simplification of the business environment of enterprises; ensure that the conditions for establishing enterprises in the European Union remain homogeneous and favourable; compare and assess the impact of the Internal M arket measures on enterprises in the M ember States; foster easier access to inform ation on European policy for sm all and m edium sized enterprises (SM Es) across Europe; encourage policy which would favour co-operation between different generations of entrepreneurs; take a more active part in political debates and economic projects which aim to promote Europe world-wide.

M oreover, YES for Europe fosters business co-operation and networking activities between young entrepreneurs by: promoting exchange of professional experiences; developing a network of business regional co-ordinators in Europe which will enliven co-operation and support transnational projects; establishing synergy within all the existing networks in Europe which encourage business co-operation between entrepreneurs; organising major meetings between young entrepreneurs, such as the YES for Europe Annual Summit.

Furthermore, YES for Europe has established links with entrepreneurial organisations in Europe and elsewhere in order to: support the creation of young entrepreneurs’ organisations in developing countries; foster exchanges and relationships between young entrepreneurs all over the world.

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Part V: National Foundations

W ith International Activities Supporting SM Es & Entrepreneurship

AFRICA

Ghana:

Leaders of Tomorrow Foundation

The Foundation’s team of experienced professionals offers training and consultancy programmes to individuals and organisations. One of its programmes on Entrepreneurship seeks to equip and motivate young people to be able to make the decision to enter into and succeed in self-employment.

W est & East Africa:

TechnoServe

TechnoServe is a non-profit organisation that was founded in 1968 by a Connecticut businessman Ed Bullard. To help entrepreneurial men and women in poor rural areas of the developing world to build businesses that create income, opportunity and economic growth for their families, their communities and their countries. TechnoServe locates emerging entrepreneurs and nurtures them through training, mentoring and networking. It helps entrepreneurs to identify customer needs by tapping into market information that is immediately useful for their purposes. The Foundation also develops entrepreneurs' capacity to assemble capable managers, create sound business plans, raise financing and penetrate markets.

ASIA-PACIFIC

Australia:

Global Access Partners (GAP)

GAP is a network which initiates high-level discussion on commercial, social and global issues and concerns through forums, conferences, missions and advisory boards.

Japan:

National Federation of Credit Guarantee Corporation (CGC)

CGC is a public institution that has local branches in Japans regions and its five major cities. The Corporation endeavors to make it easier for SM Es to access financing by providing guarantees on businesses loans.

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National Life Finance Corporation

As a government financial institution, National Life Finance Corporation (NLFC) contributes to economic prosperity in Japan by providing various kinds of business loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SM Es), and to individuals in the form of consumer loans.

The Shoko Chukin Bank

The Bank, affiliated to the Japanese government, raises funds independently to provide support and financial assistance to SM Es.

The Takeda Techno-Entrepreneur Foundation

The Takeda Foundation was established as a private sector initiative to encourage engineering intellect and knowledge, as well as entrepreneurship. The Foundation’s research grant program, the Takeda Techno-Entrepreneurship Award, supports R&D activities that will have practical applications in the near future. The Takeda Fellowship & Scholarship Award provides funding for students and researchers who are involved in the creation and application of engineering intellect and knowledge. Both programs were established as a means of stimulating and supporting entrepreneurial research. The Foundation also conducts survey and research activities with a long-term perspective. International symposiums and conferences are be held as part of this program. In addition, the Foundation disseminates information on its activities to a broad range of individuals and organisations in Japan and overseas.

Korea:

International Network of Korean Entrepreneurs

The Korea Center for Free Enterprise (CFE)

Center for Free Enterprise propagates research, education, publications and holds events concerning market economy principles and related issues.

Korea Federation of Small and M edium Business

The Korean Federation of Small and M edium Business is a network of national and regional co-operatives and co-operative Federations. Its main activities including conducting survey and policy research, providing support for creation of SM Es, co-ordinating programmes for fair trade of SM Es and co-operation between large enterprises and SM Es. The Federation also provides training and information resources for entrepreneurs and SM ES.

Korea Venture Business Association

Small Business Corporation

Singapore:

NUS Entrepreneurship Centre

NUS Entrepreneurship Centre (NEC) is a university-level centre of the National University of Singapore and a division of NUS Enterprise. The main missions of the centre are to nurture the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation among the NUS community

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through education and outreach programs, and to advance knowledge of technological venturing practice through research.

EUROPE

European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and W orking Conditions (Eurofound)

Eurofound is a European Agency set up by European Council to contribute to the planning and design of better living and working conditions in Europe. Foundation carries out research and development projects to provide data and analysis for informing and supporting the formulation of EU policy.

Austria:

Austrian Business Service (AW S)

AW S has a service-oriented customer centre for support issues and programmes that enables a coherent business promotion strategy, modernisation of the promotion instruments and the reduction of administrative costs. AW S has two main promotion priorities: start-ups and SM Es, especially those oriented towards innovation and technology implementation.

Austrian Institute for SM E Research

The Institute conducts social and economic research focussing on small and medium-sized enterprises (SM Es), with the aim to provide data and information as a basis for decision-making. Target groups are enterprises and their advisors, institutions responsible for economic policy and business promotion, and other research organisations.

Belgium:

The European Foundation for M anagement Development (EFM D)

The EFM D is a global, membership driven organisation, based in Brussels that exploits its networking skills, promotes worldwide co-operation and sets quality standards and values in management education for the service of entrepreneurs.

Fondation Roi Baudouin

Fondation Roi Baudouin is a European Foundation that provides financing and information in order to promote individual and group projects that share its values of social justice.

Finland:

SM E Foundation

SM E Foundation develops and promotes business management skills, principally for small and medium sized enterprises. It has activities in three different areas: development of consulting services: (training, method development, projects); promotion of research on SM Es; information service (newsletter, database of consultants, publications).

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Foundation for Finnish Inventions:

The Foundation for Finnish Inventions supports and helps private individuals and small entrepreneurs residing in Finland to develop and exploit invention proposals nationally and internationally. It assists individuals and entrepreneurs by advising, evaluating, financing, developing and marketing projects in different areas of technology.

Germany:

Institut für M ittelstandsforschung Bonn

An institute for SM E Research.

Institut für M ittelstandsforschung M annheim

This Institute is a research institute for SM Es belonging to the Land Baden-W ürttemberg and the University M annheim.

RW I Essen

An independent economic research institute with strong SM E sector (crafts, women entrepreneurship, immigrants etc.)

University of Cologne,

Prof. Dr. Sternberg is responsible for the German GEM report (Department of Economic and Social Geography at the University of Cologne).

ZEW M annheim

Center for European Economic Research, it also specialised in SM Es with a European link.

Institut für W irtschaftsforschung Halle

Halle Institute for Economic Research

KfW -M ittelstandsbank

Ireland:

First Step

First Step’s Back to W ork Fund, in co-operation with the Department of Social and Family Affairs, provides small-scale seed capital for the long-term unemployed who find it difficult to raise capital. First Step also supports projects where the promoters come from socio-economic disadvantaged backgrounds. First Step is not an alternative to commercial bank finance, but rather a lender to those who cannot access finance through normal channels.

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Small Firms Association

The Small Firms Association (SFA) is the national organisation exclusively representing the needs of small enterprises in Ireland. The SFA provides economic, commercial, employee relations and social affairs advice and assistance.

Poland:

Kalisz Business Incubator Foundation

The Business Incubator Foundation is a non-governmental partner for the Local Government of Kalisz. The Foundation is primarily active in two areas: help for small companies and people starting their own business activity and tasks connected with accession of Poland into the EU.

Slovak Republic:

National Agency for Development of Small and M edium Enterprises (NADSM E)

NADSM E promotes initiation, development and growth of SM Es by stimulating the SM E sector growth, improving the competitiveness of SM Es, aiding the penetration of new markets and facilitating SM E access to capital.

Switzerland:

The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship

The Schwab Foundation provides a global platform to promote social entrepreneurship as a key element to advance societies and address social problems in an innovative and effective manner. The foundation provides information, networking, research and teaching, and awards for entrepreneurs

Fondation EM A (EM A Invest)

The EM A Foundation is a non-profit organisation that aims to offer the emerging countries better access to capital, technologies, markets, and to international media. EM A is also a club for discussion and reflection including a network of companies, associations and individuals which agree with the EM A values and goals. Anyone who has projects can propose to EM A a development and research contract

RUIG-GIAN (Réseau Universitaire International de Genève/ Geneva International Academic Network)

The GIAN is an international research network founded by the University of Geneva, the Graduate Institute of International Studies (GIIS) and the Graduate Institute of Development Studies (GIDS). Promoting practical and "action-oriented" research and training activities is a specific characteristic of this academic network. Five themes are accorded priority by the GIAN: sustainable development, social equity, globalisation and international commerce, intercultural relations and dialogue, humanitarian law and human rights. The GIAN provides financial support to research projects undertaken by teams comprised of representatives from academic institutions and international organisations.

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Turkey:

TOSYÖV

Turkish Foundation for Small and M edium Business - was founded in Ankara on February 21, 1989 for the purpose of providing support and service to more than 200.000 Small and M edium Enterprises (SM Es) in Turkey. The aims of TOSYÖV are to provide: adequate financial resources; appropriate investment opportunities; suitable equipment with advanced technology (tools, materials, apparatus); training, consultancy and services to produce high quality in goods and services; training activities pertaining to contemporary management and administration; and a large organisational network for SM E in Turkey.

TTGV

TTGV is a non-profit organisation establish jointly by the private and public sectors in order to raise the industrial sector's awareness of R&D and to support technology development projects of the Turkish Industry through the funds provided by The Undersecretariat of Treasury from the resources of the W orld Bank.

KGF

Credit Guarantee Fund (KGF) is an institution to facilitate craft's and SM E'S access to finance. It is not a direct supply of finance to SM Es with no or less access to regular bank loans, but a supplementary and mediating link between the banks and SM Es offering loan guarantees and supplementing banks' lending role.

United Kingdom:

The Foundation for Small and M edium Enterprise Development

The Foundation works with small and medium businesses and their stakeholder networks locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. Its activities include policy research, advice and stimulation, development of networks between businesses and their stakeholder networks, building capacity and capability in business support and development agencies, and assistance in management and business development of SM Es. Its activities are concentrated around four distinct customer groups: the small business, its development, management and learning challenges; the medium business, its formation, development and emergence; the stimulation and development of a culture of enterprise, particularly via education and supported learning; the SM E support and policy network.

Prince’s Youth Business Trust

This non-profit organisation provides mentoring, training and financial assistance to young entrepreneurs from 14-30 year olds.

LATIN AM ERICA

Fundación para el Desarrollo Sostenible en América Latina (FUNDES)

FUNDES is a network of private organisations and enterprises over 11 countries in Latin America that provides access to financing and know-how in order to promote entrepreneurial development and firm creation

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NORTH AM ERICA

Canada:

Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF)

CYBF is a non-profit organisation that provides, mentoring, learning resources and start-up financing to young entrepreneurs from 18-34 year olds

IRAP

The National Research Council's Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) is Canada's premier innovation assistance program for small and medium-sized Canadian enterprises (SM Es). IRAP provides SM Es with value-added technological and business advice, financial assistance and a range of other innovation assistance.

United States:

Edward Lowe Foundation

The Edward Lowe Foundation is an operating foundation, providing services and expertise. Specifically, the Foundation assist groups of second-stage business owners and the organisations that serve them.

Ewing M arion Kauffman Foundation

The Ewing M arion Kauffman Foundation works with partners to encourage entrepreneurship in the United States focussing its actions and financial grants on entrepreneurship and education.

The Foundation for Enterprise Development/ Beyster Institute

The Beyster Institute is non-profit education, training and consulting organisation dedicated to advancing the use of entrepreneurial employee ownership internationally.

Foundation for Entrepreneurship and Strategic Partnering (FESPA)

FESPA offers individualised programs to assist companies that want to start or expand their trade with the United States or Latin America. FESPA’s membership is composed of a distinguished group of business executives, SM E, owners/managers, government officials, professors, students, and other interested individuals who are directly involved or are committed towards the professional development of local companies and international commerce within the environment of a globalising economy.

The M aureen and M ike M ansfield Foundation

The M aureen and M ike M ansfield Foundation is an independent organisation that promotes understanding and co-operation among the nations and peoples of Asia and the United States. One of the foundation’s programmes focuses on Entrepreneurship in Asia. On April 16, 2003, the M ansfield Foundation and the Global Forum of Japan co-sponsored a daylong U.S.-Japan dialogue on Entrepreneurship in Asia. The programme, which was held at the International House of Japan in Tokyo, convened two panels of leading entrepreneurship experts to discuss the state of new enterprise development in China, Korea, Hong Kong and Japan.

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The National Dialogue on Entrepreneurship

The Public Forum Institute began work under a grant from the Ewing M arion Kauffman Foundation to develop a National Dialogue on Entrepreneurship to improve awareness of the value of entrepreneurship. NDE reaches out to national and regional policymakers and to begin a dialogue on the role and value of entrepreneurship in the United States. NDE’s activities include holding regional forums, conducing research and disseminating information, and holding events and activities to support entrepreneurship, including minority and women entrepreneurs.

National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB)

NFIB's purpose is to impact public policy at the state and federal level and be a key business resource for small and independent business in the United States.

The NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation

The NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation, an independent non-profit organisation, is NFIB's education arm. By promoting the lessons of free enterprise in the classroom, the Young Entrepreneur Foundation hopes to build the next generation of small-business owners and entrepreneurs.

The National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE)

NFTE's mission is to teach entrepreneurship to low-income young people, ages 11 through 18, so they can become economically productive members of society by improving their academic, business, technology and life skills.

The Skoll Foundation

The Skoll Foundation endeavours to advance systemic change to benefit communities around the world by investing in, connecting and celebrating social entrepreneurs.

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SUM M ARY OF RESPONSES RECEIVED

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PART 1. FINANCING

Access to financing has been identified as one of the most significant impediments to the growth and survival of SM Es, including innovative ones. SM Es are a very heterogeneous group, and yet they generally tend to have a high risk profile due to limited market power, the lack of management skills, the absence of adequate accounting track records and insufficient assets. Additionally, high administrative costs and uncertainties about future performance often make SM E financing unattractive to potential funding sources. SM Es often have a limited access to resources for long-term credit and risk capital, which are necessary for starting up, expanding or upgrading a business. In sum, the greater variance in the profitability, survival and growth of SM Es compared to larger firms accounts for their specific problems with regard to financing. If SM Es are able to raise capital, they may still encounter higher interest rates, as well as credit rationing due to shortage of collateral.

Financing issues differ considerably between existing and new firms, as well as for those that grow slowly and those that grow rapidly. The expansion of private equity markets, including informal ones, has greatly improved access to venture capital for start-ups and SM Es, but considerable differences remain among countries. In some countries, the lack of well-developed capital markets and an adequate regulatory system restricts access and deters the development of risk capital, an increasingly important source of financing for innovative SM Es.

In addition to the general concern of financing SM Es, there remain specific obstacles linked to the stages of development, such as in developing economies, or to the characteristics of the SM Es themselves (Such as, newly created SM Es, innovative SM Es or women-owned businesses).

Therefore, the question of financing appears equally as a separate sub-issue under other headings [e.g. Part 2) Entrepreneurship and Firm Creation; Part 4) Innovation and Technology; Part 9) SM Es in Developing and Emerging Economies; Part 11) W omen Entrepreneurs and W omen-Owned Businesses].

The following sub-issues are presented separately in this section:

1.1. SM Es Access to Capital 1.2. SM Es Access to Equity M arkets 1.3 Financing of W omen-owned Businesses 1.4 Other Issues

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PARTIE 1. FINANCEM ENT

Force est de constater que l’accès au financement représente l’un des obstacles les plus importants à la croissance et à la survie des PM E, même de celles qui se montrent innovantes. Les PM E constituent un groupe très hétérogène et pourtant, elles présentent généralement un profil de risques important en raison de leur puissance commerciale limitée, d’un manque de compétences en gestion, de la faiblesse des informations comptables appropriées et de l’insuffisance de leurs actifs. En outre, le niveau élevé des frais administratifs et les incertitudes quant aux performances futures rendent souvent le financement de PM E peu attrayant pour les bailleurs de fonds potentiels. Ces entreprises n’ont souvent qu’un accès limité aux ressources que constituent les crédits de longue durée et le capital-risque, nécessaires à leur démarrage, leur expansion ou leur valorisation. En résumé, les problèmes de financement spécifiques aux PM E tiennent aux écarts de rentabilité, de taux de survie et de croissance, plus marqués pour ces entreprises que pour des entreprises plus grandes. Et même si les PM E sont capables de lever des fonds, elles peuvent se trouver confrontées à des taux d’intérêt plus élevés ainsi qu’à un rationnement du crédit pour insuffisance de garantie.

Les problèmes de financement diffèrent considérablement selon que l’entreprise est bien établie ou qu’elle est nouvelle, et que sa croissance est lente ou rapide. L’expansion des marchés des souscriptions privées, y compris les marchés informels, a très sensiblement amélioré l’accès au capital-risque des jeunes pousses et des PM E. Pour autant, des différences considérables subsistent selon les pays. Dans certains d’entre eux, l’absence de marchés financiers bien établis et d’une réglementation appropriée restreint l’accès au financement et décourage le développement du capital-risque ; or, celui-ci constitue une source de financement de plus en plus importante pour les PM E innovantes.

Outre la problématique générale du financement des PM E, des obstacles spécifiques demeurent, qui sont liés à la localisation des PM E, comme dans le cas des économies en développement, ou aux caractéristiques des PM E elles-mêmes (PM E venant d’être créées, PM E innovantes ou entreprises appartenant à des femmes, par exemple).

En conséquence, la question du financement apparaît plusieurs fois sous forme de sous-rubrique distincte dans d’autres sections [par exemple : 2) Entrepreneuriat et création d’entreprise, 4) Innovation et technologie, 9) PM E et développement (économies en développement et émergentes), 11) Femmes chefs d’entreprise et entreprises appartenant à des femmes].

Les sous-rubriques suivantes sont présentées séparément dans la présente section :

1.1 Accès des PM E au capital

1.2 Accès des PM E aux marchés des actions

1.3 Financement des entreprises appartenant à des femmes

1.4 Autres questions.

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(OECD)

CFE/ SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

1) The OECD Budapest W orkshop on “Entrepreneurship in a Global econom y: Strategic Issues and Policies” was organised by the W PSM E on 8-10 Septem ber 2003 was an exceptional occasion to bring together SM E policym akers, experts and academ ics to review recent research; identify the key issues; and identify policy recom m endations, including recom m endations related to an im portant cross-cutting issue, i.e. Financing SM Es. 2) In addition, as part of the 2nd OECD M inisterial Conference on SM Es, a M inisterial M eeting was held entitled, W orkshop 2: Tools for SM E Innovation, Panel 1. Financing for SM Es: Innovative Solutions 3) Background Paper prepared for the Istanbul M inisterial Conference on SM Es entitled : Financing Innovative SM Es in a Global Econom y Future activities : OECD Conference on “Better Financing for Entrepreneurship & SM E Growth” on 27-30 M arch, 2006 in Brasilia, Brazil. In Istanbul, M inisters recognised “the need to im prove access to financing for SM Es on reasonable term s. while SM Es’ financing requirem ent differ at each stage of their developm ent, policies should aim to ensure that m arkets can provide financing for credit-worthy SM Es and that innovative SM Es with good growth prospects have access to appropriately structured risk capital at all stages of their developm ent… ”. There is need for further discussion and for continuing to seek and apply m ore innovative solutions, tools or initiatives for facilitating SM E access to the financing needed for their growth.

CFE / LEED Program m e Rom e Conference 2003 and publication (2004) on ‘”Financing Entrepreneurship in Distressed Urban Areas” London Conference 2002 and publication (2003) on “Private Finance and Econom ic Developm ent” Future activities: Conference and publication on ”M icrofinance and Local Developm ent”

CTP W orking Party No. 2 on Tax Policy Analysis and Tax Statistics of the Com m ittee on Fiscal Affairs.

W P2 of the CFA discussed a paper prepared by the Industry Division of DSTI on "Entrepreneurship and Growth: Tax Issues" in Novem ber 2001. Future work: The work program m e of W P2 of the CFA includes horizontal work on tax issues with other OECD Directorates.

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DCD DAC/POVNET DCD/COH

DAC Guidelines on Support of Private Sector Developm ent (1995) Prom oting SM Es for Developm ent prepared for the 2004 Istanbul M inisterial

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT)

Developm ent and m aintenance of the Asia-Pacific Business e-Coach (www.business-asia.net) and Tech M onitor (www.techm onitor.net) on Technology Financing Future activities: To m odify and upgrade the Asia-Pacific web-portal www.technology4sm e.com to im prove regional m atch-m aking services, including the provision of project developm ent support for SM E-oriented technology financing projects

UNESCW A Private Sector and Enterprise Developm ent (PSED) Team at the Sustainable Developm ent and Productivity Division (SDPD)

A study was prepared on “Financial Schem es for Sm all and M edium Enterprises in M em ber Countries of the ESCW A Region” (2001)

UNECE UNECE CEI Focal point

Preparing CEI networking m atch-m aking contacts and project opportunities Future activities: Continuation of preparing CEI project-guide m ethodology

UNECLAC/CEPAL Division of Production, Productivity and M anagem ent

Resource m obilisation through m icro credit in Argentina, Brazil, Colom bia and M exico. Analysis of present situation and technical assistance to m unicipalities. 2002-2004

ILO Cooperative Branch/LED Program m e Social Finance Program m e (SFP)

Guarantee funds with Croatian banks within the fram e work of a Local Econom ic Developm ent Program m e (with EU, UNDP, UNOPS) Guarantee fund m anagem ent m anual (English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese) Future activities: Roll out training courses using the guarantee fund m anual

UNIDO Sm all and M edium Enterprises Branch UNIDO Agro-Industries and

Although UNIDO does not provide significant financing to SM Es, it works to increase SM E access to financing in a variety of its program m es: -In m any projects, SM Es are assisted in establishing links with banks and other lenders, in obtaining business planning or loan packaging services that can facilitate loan approvals, or provide with training or other assistance that im proves product quality, productivity, or otherwise im proves the business, and m akes them better candidates for financing.

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Sectoral Support Branch Energy and Cleaner Production Branch

-In environm ental projects, SM Es are helped to obtain credits from local and regional financial institutions for the im plem entation/ transfer of environm entally sound technology. This includes the training of SM E staff to develop bankable projects for funding. Future Activities: Continuation of present activities

W orld Bank/IFC IFC’s regional Project Developm ent Facilities conduct m ost of this work. The Global Financial M arkets Departm ent’s FM TA Unit coordinates Access to Finance technical assistance work.

IFC has done significant work in changing the policy environm ent for leasing, m ostly in the form er Soviet Union and in the Balkans. It has also done som e work on credit bureaus, secured lending, bank downscaling, and m icrofinance. Future activities: IFC plans to continue the sam e work and expand it to other regions.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB

SPRM ECGF SAGF SEGF SAGF ECOC SEGF

SAM 1785: Sm all Business Developm ent UZB 1799: Sm all and M edium Enterprise Developm ent SRI 1894/1895/1896: Sm all and M edium Enterprise Sector Developm ent Program INO 1978: Sm all and M edium Enterprise Export Developm ent PAK 2066/2067: SM E Sector Developm ent PRC 3493: Developm ent of a Sm all and M edium -sized Enterprise Credit System (AOTA) INO 4041: Sm all and M edium Enterprise Export Developm ent (AOTA)

APEC -A survey of Start-up Com panies and Venture Capitals; the Need and Availability of M icro-Finance Service for M icro-Enterprise: Bringing M ulti-Level Good Practices into Local Contexts; -APEC Forum on “Venture Capitals; Role in Science Parks and Business Incubators”; -APEC Sem inar on “Securing Initial Equity Funding for Start-up Com panies—The Birth and Growth of SM Es in a Knowledge-based Econom y”; -The M eeting on Exchange of Inform ation on SM Es’ Overseas Investm ent

ASEAN ASEAN SM E Agencies W orking Group (SM EW G) ASEAN

1. On-going exchange of policy experiences, success stories and good practices in enhancing SM Es access to finance, and in raising SM E awareness of different sources of finance in ASEAN. 2 Consideration of the feasibility of financial regionalisation schem e to widen and deepen the financial supply base and the investor base Future activities: 1. The first m eeting of national Credit Guarantee Corporation in ASEAN, which special focus on SM E financing in Bangkok, Thailand, during M arch

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2004. 1. Feasibility study on SM E credit rating and related m ethodologies

EBRD To prom ote SM E/M SE business the EBRD uses several financing instrum ents including credit lines for SM Es, m icrofinance banks, equity funds, leasing, and technical assistance for institutional developm ent and resolution of investm ent clim ate issues. As the Bank cannot take all elem ents of this fram ework itself, it works closely with m ultilateral and bilateral partners

EIB GROUP EIB Group http://www.eib.org/ EIB – global loans http://www.eib.org/ EIF – guarantees and venture capital/private equity http://www.eif.org/ EIF – guarantees for credit enhancem ent & credit insurance EIF – M AP m andate: SM E Guarantee Facility http://www.eif.org/ Directorate for Lending Operations – Europe in co-operation with the Bank’s Project Directorate. EIB GROUP EIF is the EIB Group’s specialised institution for SM E finance. For this reason, all EIF operations are dedicated to SM Es; the EIF Guarantees Division and Venture Capital Divisions 1 & 2 m anage the operational side of EIF’s activity. The EIF Guarantees Division m anages the guarantees side of EIF’s activity.

The EIB Group is able to provide both m edium and long-term financing via its global loans and equity through venture capital financing. This covers the spectrum of resources necessary for the developm ent of SM Es in a changing econom y. Applying its policy of diversifying interm ediary banks in order to fine-tune its response to the needs of SM Es and other sectors, the EIB granted global loans for less developed regions (in Italy, the United Kingdom and Germ any's eastern Länder) and specific policy areas (such as the environm ent, energy savings and the audiovisual industry). It also carried out a num ber of securitisation operations com plem enting its standard global loans in Italy, Spain and France, thereby expanding the range of its techniques for facilitating banking sector support for SM Es. W ithin the EIB Group, EIF is specialised in two principal instrum ents, which, through their leverage effect, play a strategic role in the developm ent of SM Es in the EU and in the Acceding and Accession Countries: SM E portfolio guarantees; and venture capital. EIF's guarantee instrum ents consist of providing guarantees to financial institutions that cover credits to SM Es; EIF's venture capital instrum ents consist of equity investm ents in venture capital funds and business incubators that support SM Es, particularly those that are early-stage and technology-oriented. To fund its operations, EIF draws on either its own resources or those available within the fram ework of m andates entrusted to it by the EIB, the European Com m ission, and the Germ an Federal M inistry of Econom ics and Labour. EIF guarantees provide access to capital (debt finance) via two m ain products: credit enhancem ent and credit insurance. EIF offers these products to a wide range of financial institutions, which are then able to expand their capacity for SM E lending and reduce final losses on their SM E loan books and hence their risk provisioning. In credit enhancem ent transactions (guarantees for securitisation), banks and leasing com panies transfer their credit risk to the capital m arkets, achieving capital relief and freeing up capacity for new SM E loans or leases. For credit insurance and re-insurance instrum ents, EIF m anages budgetary resources on behalf of the European Com m ission: the SM E Guarantee Facility under the M ultiannual Program m e for Enterprise or “M AP 2001-2005”. Under the SM E Guarantee Facility, EIF provides loan portfolio guarantees and counter-guarantees in relation to a portfolio of SM E loans or leases. The SM E Guarantee Facility includes principally two windows: guarantees for SM E loans; and guarantees for m icro-credits for loans up to EUR 25 000 and m icro-enterprises with up to 10 em ployees.

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EIB GROUP

Future activities: The current M AP m andate will last until 2005. Negotiations are already underway with DG Enterprise of the European Com m ission for an extension of the m andate, from 2006-2010.

EC

European Code of Conduct for Banks and SM Es In M arch 2002, work began on preparing a possible European Code of Conduct for banks and SM Es as requested by the Industry Council in Decem ber 2001. The project involves the three m ain European banking associations (the Banking Federation of the European Union, the European Savings Banks Group, the European Association of Co-operative Banks) and the three m ain SM E organisations (UNICE, UEAPM E, Eurocham bres), plus the European Federation of Accountants, with the Network of European Funding Institutions as observers. The Com m ission services reviewed a num ber of existing codes of conduct both within the EU and beyond. After two m eetings on strategy, a com m ittee with one representative each of SM Es, banks and the Com m ission was given the task of preparing an outline of the code. Financial instrum ents: Progress was m ade over the last few years to im prove the availability of finance and credit for SM Es through the provision of loans, guarantees and venture capital. The European financial institutions, the European Investm ent Bank (EIB) and the European Investm ent Fund (EIF), have increased their operations for SM Es. Furtherm ore, the financial instrum ents foreseen under the Growth and Em ploym ent Initiative have been extended under the M ulti-annual program m e for enterprise and entrepreneurship, which gave them a new legal basis. The latter includes four schem es: the European-Technology-Facility-Start-up, the SM E Guarantee Facility, the Seed Capital Action and the Joint European Venture program m e (JEV).

FBE The FBE Secretariat co-ordinates the FBE’s work in this field.

The FBE participated in the Third Round Table of Bankers and SM Es. The Round Tables were established on the initiative of the EU Com m issioner for Enterprise Policy in response to the Com m ission’s concern about the financing problem s being experienced by SM Es. The final report was published on 19 June 2000. M ore recently, the FBE has participated in work co-ordinated by the Com m ission to draft a voluntary Code of Conduct for relations between banks and SM Es, which could be used to spread principles of good practice around the EU. Future activities: The FBE will continue to collaborate with the European Com m ission, other EU Credit Sector Associations and the EU-level representatives of the SM E sector to prom ote bank/SM E relations.

INSM E

Them atic W orking Group on “W hy is raising external finance especially challenging for innovative SM Es and Interm ediaries?”, e-discussion dedicated to innovation finance and venture capital, public-private partnerships and how to strengthen venture industries (see sub-issue 4.3) Survey on “Business incubation and venture capital”: This survey is an international survey on synergies and challenges carried out by a study group am ong som e INSM E M em bers, com posed of researchers from the Institute for Industrial Prom otion (IPI) and the International Organisation for Knowledge Econom y and Enterprise Developm ent (IKED). The survey was inspired by the discussion originated in the INSM E Them atic W orking Groups on Venture Capital and on Innovative Enterprises. Data collection was based on a questionnaire distributed to 50 incubator m anagers worldwide, chosen

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from both IPI and IKED's consolidated contacts or new contacts from the INSM E Newsletter.

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

Participation in the European Com m ission Round Tables on Banks and SM Es, M icro credit Report, Basel II and Code of Conduct between banks and SM Es Roundtables with experts, m eeting with m em bers of the Basel Com m ittee; and various conferences. Future activities: Ongoing. Special focus on preparing SM Es for the changes

EURO-M ED TDS Secretariat

Proposal for a M editerranean SM Es Financial Facility

IKED See response 13.1

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1.2 SM E ACCESS TO EQUITY M ARKETS

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTION

ACTIVITIES

ORG ANISATION FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

See 1.1

CFP See 1.1

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT)

Inform ation on venture financing was included in Business e-coach CD Rom and Asia Pacific Tech M onitor. Future activities: To m odify and upgrade the Asia-Pacific web-portal www.technology4sm e.com to im prove regional; web-based e-coaching, m atch-m aking, and project developm ent support for venture financing projects

ILO SFP

Case studies on m icro-equity (India) Future activities: Policy im plications of using m icro-equity

UNIDO Industrial Prom otion and Technology Branch Sm all and M edium Enterprises Branch

Since 1999, UNIDO has cooperated with the European Venture Capital Com pany "Afrique Initiatives" in investm ent project identification in countries such as Burkina Faso, Cam eroon and Niger. Facilitate equity investm ent in SM E by com bining equity funding with technical assistance, through a “Technical Sem inar cum M entorship”. Pilot has been undertaken in Nigeria in the wood industry, and the generic concept will be adapted to other industry sectors and countries. Future activities: In Cam eroon, Afrique Initiatives will invest in a project proposed by UNIDO in Decem ber 2003. UNIDO and Afrique Initiatives developed a technical paper on the m ethodology used in Cam eroon in June 2004. In Niger, it is proposed to develop “Niger Initiatives”, a venture capital structure to invest in SM Es. “Afrique Initiatives”. The design of the system in Niger as well as the projects’ identification will be undertaken within the UNIDO Niger Integrated Program m e, which will focus on the agro pastoral sector. Expansion of the concept is planned. In Nigeria, follow-up to the equity investm ent in SM E in the wood industry and introduction of the approach to the food and dairy sector will take place. In Ghana, the approach will be introduced, starting with two sectors.

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W orld Bank/ IFC Technical assistance is conducted by various Project Developm ent Facilities. Investm ents in funds are m anaged by IFC’s Private Equity and Investm ent Funds Departm ent.

Som e of IFC’s investm ents are in private equity funds which target SM Es. A few of the Project Facilities also support SM E equity funds.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB ECGF PSOP ECOC

PRC 3930: Developm ent of Sm all and M edium Enterprise Alternative Financing M echanism (AOTA) REG 7184: ASEAN-PRC-SM E Investm ent Fund THA 7156: Thailand SM E Investm ent and Restructuring Fund PRC 3534: Developm ent of Financing Policies and M echanism s for Sm all and M edium -sized Enterprises (AOTA)

APEC See 1.1

EIB Group EIF Venture Capital Divisions 1 & 2 m anage the venture capital/private equity side of EIF’s activity. EIF – venture capital/private equity http://www.eif.org/ EIF – M AP m andate: ETF Start-up Facility http://www.eif.org/ EIF –BM W A m andate: ERP-EIF Facility http://www.eif.org/

Since 2000, EIF has been the vehicle for carrying out all the EIB Group's equity investm ent in specialised venture capital funds. By providing early-stage capital, these funds assist the gestation and developm ent of technology-oriented businesses in the Union and in the Acceding/Accession Countries. EIF’s investm ent strategy revolves around three m ain them es: -Support for European high technology (biotechnology, new m aterials, ICT); -Participation in funds furthering the objective of regional developm ent in the Union (Southern Europe and the Acceding and Accession Countries); -Backing for funds operating on a pan-European scale. For its venture capital activity, EIF m anages budgetary resources on behalf of the European Com m ission under the M ultiannual Program m e for Enterprise, or “M AP 2001-2005”, for seed capital investm ents (ETF Start-up Facility). EIF also operates a venture capital m andate for the Germ an Federal M inistry of Econom ics and Labour (BM W A), under which EIF invests in early to m id-stage funds focusing on Germ any-based high-tech com panies (ERP-EIF Facility). Future activities: -EIF activities are ongoing. -The current M AP m andate will last until 2005. Negotiations are already underway with DG Enterprise of the European Com m ission for an extension of the m andate, from 2006-2010. -The ERP-EIF Facility has been signed in Decem ber 2003, therefore is about to be im plem ented.

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NON-GOVERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

Basel II: roundtables with experts, m eeting with m em bers of the Basle Com m ittee; and various conferences. Future activities: Ongoing. Special focus on preparing SM Es for the changes.

IKED See response 13.1 *IKED is preparing a global project on strengthening the collaborations between venture capital and incubators. This project is undertaken in co-operation with IPI and INSM E.

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1.3 FINANCING OF W OM EN-OW NED BUSINESSES

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

ORG ANISATION FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

See 1.1

CFE / LEED Program m e Brjiuni Conference 1999 and Ljiubliana Conference 2003

DCD DCD/GENDERNET DCD/POL

DAC Guidelines on Gender Equality and W om en's Em powerm ent in Developm ent Co-operation Gender Tipsheets DAC Source Book on Concepts and Approaches Linked to Gender Equality

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNECE Please see Table 11

UNESCAP Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT)

A section on wom en’s entrepreneurship developm ent was created as part of the CD Rom , including business financing in India. Future activities Expansion of the W om en Entrepreneurship Developm ent section to include content for and from other countries, subject to availability of donor funding

ILO InFocus Program m e on Boosting Em ploym ent through Sm all Enterprise Developm ent (IFP/SEED) W om en’s Entrepreneurship Developm ent & Gender Equality (W EDGE) team Social Finance Program m e (SFP) Cooperative Branch/LED Program m e

Review of financing and business support needs of growth-oriented wom en entrepreneurs in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Kenya (with African Dev. Bank) Establishm ent of a village bank owned by a wom en cooperative in M anica Province (M ozam bique) within the fram ework of the Program m e for Hum an Developm ent at the Local Level (with Italy, UNDP, UNOPS) Future activities: Pilot program m e com bining loan facilities, access to BDS and capacity building for M FIs and associations of wom en entrepreneurs – KENYA (2004-2005)

UNIDO Agro-Industries and Sectoral Support Branch

Increasing the productivity of wom en entrepreneurs by organising them into groups large enough that local leasing firm s can be induced to establish leasing schem es on incom e generating agricultural equipm ent and tools for the entrepreneurs. Future activities: Continuation of present activities

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB REG 5950: Financial Services for Poor Hom es

APEC See 1.1 ASEAN SM EW G

See answer under 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4

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NON-GOVERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

Collection of best practices am ong cham bers regarding support m easures Future activities: Special focus within EUROCHAM BRES W om en Network.

EURO-M ED TDS Secretariat

Future activities: Prom otion of and inform ation about the policies for financing W om en - owned businesses

IKED Future activities: -IKED is in the process of preparing an international project focusing on enhancing the skills in wom en owned SM Es (W SM Es), in order to create further econom ic growth possibilities. This project will also include a dedicated focus on W om en Entrepreneur’s access to financial sources. See also 11.3 -IKED and GKP have given a joint proposal to organize a Plenary Panel on W om en Entrepreneurship and ICT: Policy & Program m e Im plications for W om en SM Es in Training, Advocacy Strategy and Growth. At the W orld Knowledge Forum on the 29th of M arch, 2004.

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1.4 OTHER ISSUES

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

UNITED NATIONS O RG ANISATIONS

UNECE Regional Advisory Services Program m e (further as RASP) – Regional Adviser on Entrepreneurship and SM Es

Regional advisory services on financing credit union in Kyrgyzstan in 2002 Future activities: (i) Advise to the M inistry of Econom y and Transport of Hungary to im prove the m icrocredit schem e in 2004 (ii) Providing Regional advisory services at the request of SEE & CIS Governm ents

ILO SFP

M icro-leasing M anual Future activities: Roll out training courses on M icro-leasing

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB PAHQ

Secured Transactions/ Land Titling Regim es FSM 1873/1874: Private Sector Developm ent Program

ECB The ECB publishes statistics related to the financing of SM Es on a regular basis (available on the ECB web-site http://www.ecb.int) For m ore details see 12.4

EC M icro-lending A joint working group on m icro-lending with experts from the M em ber States, candidate countries, SM Es, banking and SM E organisations m et in July and October 2002. Twenty three experts from the EU M em ber States and candidate countries participated in the exercise. Each expert was invited to present exam ples from his country or financial institution. As part of the exercise, a questionnaire was sent to the experts in Septem ber, the replies to which will be used to produce an interim report. The final report will be presented before the end of 2003. See 2.1 and 2.4.

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

IAS for SM Es. Consum er credit directive. Extension of Lam falussy procedure. Future activities: Continuation of present activities

YES for Europe (TUGIAD) Banking and Finance Com m ittee

Every year “TUGIAD Econom y Prize Com petition” is organised. All the participating projects are published and discussed in a panel Future activities: Panel on “individual retirem ent” is to be organised on 24 Feb 2004

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PART 2: ENTREPRENEURSH IP AND FIRM CREATIO N

Entrepreneurship is increasingly considered key to economic performance, and in particular, with regard to innovative change, playing an important structural and dynamic role in all economies. Encouraging entrepreneurship is increasingly recognised by governments as an effective means of creating jobs, increasing productivity and competitiveness; and poverty alleviation and social assistance, by helping underprivileged groups to help themselves.

However, there is no universally accepted definition of entrepreneurship, and the concept of “entrepreneurship” may be applied broadly or in a narrow sense. Since it seems impossible to cover here the whole span of entrepreneurial activity in the economy, the focus will be put on a segment of the entrepreneurship spectrum – the pre-start-up, start-up, and early-post-start-up phases of entrepreneurial activity. In most countries, either developed or developing, it is now a largely accepted that in order to build a more entrepreneurial society, government policies should facilitate the emergence of a larger pool of entrepreneurs.

To reach this greater dynamism in the creation and expansion of businesses, what seems particularly important is to create a conducive business environment, which could be called an Entrepreneurial Business Environment (EBE). Creating a business environment conducive to entrepreneurship and enterprise creation in which innovative young firms have scope to expand rapidly once they have been created, requires a broad range of mutually reinforcing and supportive policies. These include sound fiscal and monetary policies, which are essential to provide a basis for a stable macroeconomic environment. They also include structural policies that determine the overall economic framework in which the business sector operates, such as those affecting labour markets, tax design, competition, financial markets and bankruptcy laws. Fostering entrepreneurship also requires education and training (including lifelong training) in entrepreneurship and creativity as the preferred instruments for encouraging entrepreneurial behaviour in societies, and evidence suggests that such programmes can have an impact on entrepreneurial activity and firm performance.

The issue of entrepreneurship and firm creation is of particular interest for developing and emerging economies; it is also related to the role of women as entrepreneurs, and to local development. It constitutes therefore a cross-cutting issue and may be dealt with in other sections.

The following sub-issues are presented separately in this section:

2.1 Environment Facilitating New and Small Business 2.2 Special Financing Schemes for Firm Creation 2.3 Access to M arkets, National and International 2.4 Labour Skills and M anagement Training for New Entrepreneurs 2.5 Other Issues

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PARTIE 2. ENTREPRENEURIAT ET CRÉATIO N D’ENTREPRISES

L’entrepreneuriat est de plus en plus considéré comme un déterminant majeur des performances économiques, s’agissant notamment des progrès dus à l’innovation. L’importance de son rôle structurel et du dynamisme qu’il impulse dans toutes les économies n’est plus à démontrer. Les pouvoirs publics admettent chaque jour davantage qu’il constitue un instrument efficace pour: créer des emplois, augmenter la productivité et la compétitivité, mais aussi lutter contre la pauvreté et atteindre des objectifs sociétaux, en ce sens qu’il aide certains segments de la population à se prendre en charge.

Toutefois, la notion « d’entrepreneuriat » n’a pas d’acception universellement reconnue, et peut être considérée aussi bien au sens large que dans un sens plus restreint. Comme il est impossible d’envisager ici tout l’éventail des activités entrepreneuriales, on se bornera à examiner certaines dimensions de cette notion (les phases de pré-démarrage, de démarrage et la période suivant immédiatement le démarrage d’une activité entrepreneuriale). Dans la plupart des pays, développés ou en développement, il est aujourd’hui généralement admis que pour bâtir une société plus « entrepreneuriale », les pouvoirs publics devraient faciliter la création d’un « vivier » plus vaste d’entrepreneurs.

Pour dynamiser davantage la création et l’expansion d’entreprises, il semble particulièrement important de mettre en place un environnement propice à la création d’entreprises que l’on pourrait appeler « environnement de création d’entreprises » (EBE). La mise en place d’un tel environnement au sein duquel les jeunes entreprises innovantes auraient la possibilité de prendre rapidement de l’ampleur exige une large palette de mesures de soutien qui se renforcent mutuellement. Au nombre de ces mesures figurent des politiques budgétaires et monétaires saines, indispensables à la stabilité de l’environnement macroéconomique. S’y ajoutent des politiques structurelles déterminant le cadre économique général dans lequel opère le secteur des entreprises, comme celles qui touchent au marché du travail, au régime fiscal, à la concurrence, au marché des capitaux et à la législation sur la faillite. Encourager l’entrepreneuriat exige aussi des programmes d’éducation et de formation (y compris la formation tout au long de la vie) dans les domaines de l’entrepreneuriat et de la créativité. De tels efforts sont à privilégier pour encourager les comportements entreprenariaux au sein de la société. D’ailleurs, certaines observations font penser que ces programmes peuvent avoir une incidence sur l’activité entrepreneuriale et les performances des entreprises.

L’entrepreneuriat et la création d’entreprises sont des questions qui intéressent tout particulièrement les économies en développement et émergentes. Ces questions sont aussi liées au rôle des femmes en tant que chefs d’entreprise et au développement local. Elles ont par conséquent une dimension transversale, et pourront être traitées dans d’autres sections.

Les sous-rubriques suivantes sont présentées séparément dans la présente section :

2.1 Environnement favorable aux nouvelles et aux petites entreprises ; 2.2 Dispositifs de financement spéciaux pour la création d’entreprises ; 2.3 Accès aux marchés national et international 2.4 . Qualifications de la main-d’œuvre et formation à la gestion des nouveaux

chefs d’entreprise ; 2.5 Autres questions.

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O RG ANISATION FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

1) W ith regard to entrepreneurship, defined in this context as the pre-start-up, start-up and early post start-up phases of business, the W orking Party gives attention to issues and policies relating to this them e at the national level, including the role played by fram ework conditions for a business environm ent (e.g. regulatory, innovation, com petition, taxation issues) conducive to “sustainable” growth, and the uptake and use of inform ation and com m unications technologies (ICT). 2) Background Paper prepared for the Istanbul M inisterial Conference on SM Es entitled : Fostering Entrepreneurship as a Driver of Grow th in a Global Econom y

DCD DAC/POVNET and CIM E

DAC Guidelines on Support of Private Sector Developm ent (1995) Prom oting SM Es for Developm ent prepared for the 2004 Istanbul M inisterial. W orkshop on Synergies between ODA and FDI –for the OECD Investm ent for Developm ent Project Future activities: Follow up to W orkshop on Synergies between ODA and FDI –for the OECD Investm ent for Developm ent Project

ECH JW PTE (not in charge of SM E activities, but in charge of project)

Nine case studies have been undertaken so far to look at m arkets for environm ental goods and services in developing and newly-industrialising countries. Am ong the issues: whether governm ent policies are fostering or hindering the developm ent of dom estic suppliers, including SM Es. Future Activities: W e m ay undertake additional case studies; to be determ ined.

GOV/REG The bodies overseeing the work on Regulatory M anagem ent and Reform (insofar as their activities relate to regulatory environm ent facilitating new and sm all business): Special Group on Regulatory Policy W orking Party on Regulatory M anagem ent and Reform , a subsidiary of the Public Governance Com m ittee (PGC)

(2003) From Red Tape to Sm art Tape – Adm inistrative Sim plification in OECD Countries provides governm ents with an overview of tools and institutional m easures used to reduce adm inistrative burdens. The report looks at practices such as one-stop shops, licensing and perm it reduction program m es as well as various IT driven m echanism s. The report includes seven country case studies (Australia, France, M exico, Netherlands, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States); (2001) Businesses’ Views on Red Tape: Adm inistrative and Regulatory Burdens on Sm all and M edium -Sized Enterprises - a m ulti-country business survey of alm ost 8 000 SM Es in 11 countries (Australia, Austria, Belgium , Finland, Iceland, M exico, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.); The OECD Regulatory Reform Program m e aim s at im proving the overall quality of regulatory environm ent in m em ber and non-m em ber countries. In setting fram eworks for well-functioning m arkets it prom otes an enabling environm ent for new and sm all business. (1997) The OECD Report on Regulatory Reform and its recom m endations set a benchm ark for the Regulatory Reform country reviews to help design and im plem ent regulatory policies in m em ber countries through effective and m arket-oriented regulatory, com petition, trade and investm ent regim es and institutions. Twenty OECD m em ber countries had been reviewed by the end of 2003. All reviews includes assessm ents of regulatory practices relevant for SM Es, including m easures to reduce adm inistrative burdens.

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GOV/REG Territorial Developm ent Policy Com m ittee (TDPC)

(1998 and 2000) Surveys of M em ber countries’ regulatory fram eworks and capacities resulted in a set of regulatory capacity indicators (i.e. indicators for regulatory transparency, for com m unication and for political com m itm ent to regulatory reform ). The indicators aim at assessing countries’ com pliance with “best-practices” for ensuring regulatory quality, and thus a m arket-friendly regulatory environm ent. W ork to analyse the im pact of adm inistrative regulations and to dissem inate good practices to reduce adm inistrative burdens on business and citizens resulted in the following publications: (2003) Reducing Regulatory and Adm inistrative Burdens, the paper outlining SM E-relevant findings of work carried out under the auspices of OECD’s W orking Party for Regulatory M anagem ent and Reform . Further inform ation on the OECD Regulatory Reform Program m e is available at: www.oecd.org/regreform Future activities: The Secretariat is considering launching new work on m ethodologies to m easure, com pare and benchm ark adm inistrative burdens. OECD Regulatory Reform Program m e continues its series of country reviews. Additional work to assess the im plem entation of recom m endation of these reviews was launched in 2003. In 2004 work on Regulatory Capacity Indicators will continue in co-operation with the European Com m ission, and result in a revised set of Regulatory Quality Indicators, and the launching of a country Survey based on these indicators. The new survey will cover OECD M em ber Countries and non OECD EU M em ber States. W ork on territorial developm ent, which focuses on the principal econom ic policies to prom ote growth in regions, includes system atic analysis of the business environm ent for SM Es. (The 2003 OECD High-Level M eeting on territorial policy identified this issue as one of the key challenges in regional policy). OECD national territorial reviews place SM E policy in the wider developm ent policy fram ework and show how national and local sectoral initiatives are integrated in practice in rural and urban settings. As of late 2003, reviews in 7 countries (Canada, Hungary, Italy, Korea, M exico, Switzerland and the Czech Republic) have been com pleteted. Them atic analyses of urban and rural policy in over 10 regions have also been com pleted. Future activities: OECD national territorial reviews of Finland, France and Japan to be com pleted in 2004. Them atic reviews of the m etropolitan regions of Pusan and M exico City to be com pleted in 2004. Conference: “New Approaches to Rural Policy: Lessons from Around the W orld” organized with the Federal Reserve Bank to be held in the US in M arch 2004 includes issues of rural enterprise policy and entrepreneurship.

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SW AC SW AC Developm ent Perspectives Unit “M edium and Long-term Developm ent Perspectives and New Partnerships”

Identify m arket led co-operation between Asian and W est African entrepreneurs in specific clusters. Future activities: Facilitate new business opportunities in this field

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT)

Content concerning the m anagem ent of new and sm all businesses was developed in the form of Business e-Coach CD RO M . Future activities: Plans to develop the website www.business-asia.net to facilitate new and sm all businesses by providing easy access to country-specific policies, program s and procedures in the national section and also by providing inform ation on the m anagem ent of such businesses by m odifying the existing Business e-Coach CD ROM content and integrating it with the business-asia.net website.

UNECE (i) RASP & Regional Adviser on Entrepreneurship and SM Es (ii) RASP and Regional Adviser on Entrepreneurship and SM Es, W orking Party on Industrial Restructuring and Enterprise Developm ent (W P.8) (iii) Team of Specialists (TOS) on Youth Entrepreneurship

(i) The UNECE elaborate draft and assisted in form ulation of “Declarations on SM Es at the Dawn of the XXI Century” within the fram ework of CEI and BSEC (adopted by the CEI M inisterial M eeting in Budapest in 2000 and Istanbul in 2001, respectively) (ii) The UNECE organized an Expert M eeting on Good Governance for SM Es in 2003 in Geneva (iii) The UNECE is preparing a guide on “How to Prom ote Youth Entrepreneurship” Future activities: (i) The UNECE will assist to the Executive Secretary of the CIS in form ulation and adoption of sim ilar Declaration for the CIS countries (ii) UNECE docum ent will be elaborated on Good Governance for SM Es (iii) Finishing the elaboration of guide on “How to Prom ote Youth Entrepreneurship

UNECLAC/CEPAL Division of Production, Productivity and M anagem ent ECLAC Buenos Aires

SM E creation and developm ent in Island Countries (Haiti and Netherlands Antilles). Production of m edia m aterial on good practices. 2000-2002 Fram ework conditions and growth of econom ic activities in Argentina, in 2003

ILO IFP/SEED

The ILO seeks to strike a balance between rem oving barriers to growth whilst workers’ protection is ensured. In so doing, a num ber of tools and m ethodologies are offered to the ILO’s constituents, including governm ents: -Assessing the influence of the business environm ent on sm all enterprise developm ent – an assessm ent guide. This guide offers a step-by-step approach to rapid yet system atic assessm ents of the policy and regulatory environm ent, which can support constituents’ efforts to advocate for an enabling environm ent. -Survey kit – how to m easure the influence of national policies, laws and regulations on em ploym ent in M SEs

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ILO

The kit contains a generic questionnaire that can be m odified to suit the conditions of the survey country. It contains guidelines on sam pling, and recom m endations for the organisation, m anagem ent and quality control of the survey. These tools have been used in Pakistan, Viet Nam , Chile, Guinea, South Africa, Tanzania, Peru, Nepal, India, Egypt, Iran, Paraguay, etc. -Policies and strategies for SM E developm ent – how to design program m es to im prove the enabling environm ent for SM Es. (English & French) This is a training program m e delivered by the ILO’s International Training Centre in Turin. It aim s at im proving policy-m akers’ skills to analyse, design and im plem ent policies and strategies for the developm ent of SM Es in close consultation with relevant stakeholders. Providing a conducive local clim ate for M SEs – how local and provincial authorities can facilitate growth and reduction of poverty by creating an enabling environm ent for sm all businesses. (Vietnam ese & English) Future activities: -National policy advice -Inputs to national em ploym ent strategies and PRSPs -Global database on good practice of how labour legislation is adapted to needs of M SEs

UNDP A significant num ber of UNDP projects offer direct support to entrepreneurs by providing various types of non-financial business developm ent services through establishm ent and support to business centres and business incubators (UNDP supported business centres exist in Bulgaria, Ecuador, East-Tim or, Ethiopia, Fiji, Jam aica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Rwanda, Turkey etc.) UNDP has supported several activities directed to creating a stable policy environm ent for SM Es and private sector developm ent in developing econom ies: the new Vietnam Enterprise Law represents one recent exam ple ; (one m ain result of the new law is the reduction of paperwork necessary to set up a new enterprise as well as the num ber of licenses and the consequent collection of fees).

UNIDO Sm all and M edium Enterprises Branch

Industrial policy and SM E policy activities have, as their objectives, the developm ent of an environm ent conducive to industrial developm ent, to private sector developm ent, and to the growth and creation of enterprises. UNIDO has worked with num erous countries in the various aspects of industrial and SM E policy form ulation. A num ber of individual activities are involved, including: developing Public Private Sector Partnerships to insure private sector participation in policy form ulation, im plem entation, m onitoring and evaluation; developing coherent and harm onised fram eworks of industrial and SM E policies; m onitoring the needs of the SM E sector and the im pact on it of various policies; and building the capacity of governm ent agencies, private sector associations, and institutions to participate in the policy form ulation and im plem entation process. Support to the creation of new firm s is undertaken through business incubation, in which entrepreneurs are provided office, production, or other space and given access to services and inform ation, including training. UNIDO has helped m any countries assess their interest in developing an incubator program m e, and has assisted in preparing feasibility studies and business plans for the establishm ent and operation of individual incubators. Im provem ents to the com pany registration process are supported by the establishm ent of a cross-departm ental one-stop-shop. The one-stop-shop shortens the licensing period with im proved transparency and sim plicity of the m echanism and im proved inform ation dissem ination. Future activities: Continuation of present activities and future activities with incubators will be lim ited to workshops and other global forum activities.

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W orld Bank/ IFC Private Enterprise Partnership, Central and Eastern Europe Departm ent.

IFC conducted sm all-scale privatisation program m es in the form er Soviet Union.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB SEGF M KGF

INO 3417: Sm all and M edium Enterprise Developm ent (AOTA) LAO 4279: Advisory Assistance on Private Sector Developm ent

APEC - APEC Sym posium on Em erging Enterprises and Corporate Governance: New Econom y and Old Rules; -From Incom e Generation to Patent Creation— Incubating Innovative M icro-enterprises; -Publication: “From Incom e Generation to Patent Creation— M apping out APEC Best Practices Guidelines for Industrial Clustering: ‘-Innovation Forum “International Business Co-operation in the Sphere of Innovative Entrepreneurship”; -Sem inar on Entrepreneurship Developm ent.

ASEAN SM EW G

1. On-going exchange of policy experiences, success stories and good practices in fostering SM E start-ups and developm ent within ASEAN. 2. On-going dialogue between SM E support agencies and private sector bodies. 3. SM E Policy Sem inars for Cam bodia, Lao PDR, M yanm ar and Viet Nam Future activities: 1. Feasibility study of establishing a one-stop SM E office

CEI CEI W orking Group on SM Es (Body in charge of the developm ent of CEI priorities in the SM E sector) is assisting the im plem entation of projects extending the CEI Business Advisory Service Program m e The CEI co-operated with the EBRD for the establishm ent of the Business Advisory Services (BAS) in CEI Countries. The “EBRD/TM G Business Advisory Services in CEI m em ber States” is a proven m ulti-donor program m e co-funding specific consultancy projects with SM Es, im proving their quality and com petitiveness. Up to now the CEI has supported the BAS program m e in Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria and M acedonia; It is planned to extend the duration of the EBRD/TM G BAS program m e (reference to EBRD BAS)

EIB GROUP EIF – M AP m andate: M icro-credit Guarantee window of SM E Guarantee Facility http://www.eif.org/ EIF – M AP m andate: Loan Guarantee window of SM E Guarantee Facility http://www.eif.org/

In the fram ework of the “SM E Guarantee Facility”, the M icro-credit Guarantee window supports Sm all Enterprises. Particular attention should be given to financing of entrepreneurs starting up their business. Under this window, the EIF issues partial guarantees (directly or indirectly) to cover portfolios of m icro-loans for borrowers with insufficient security. It supports entrepreneurs and m icro-enterprises with up to 10 em ployees, guaranteeing m icro-loans of up to EUR 25 000. Its objective is to encourage financial interm ediaries to becom e m ore involved in that area by offering loans of a sm aller am ount which have proportionally higher unit handling costs. In the fram ework of the “SM E Guarantee Facility”, the Loan Guarantee window supports sm all and m edium -sized enterprises (SM Es) with growth potential. Under this window, the EIF issues partial guarantees (directly or indirectly) to cover portfolios of loans. Its objective is to reduce the particular difficulty such enterprises face in having access to financing because of the relatively higher risk they represent (e.g. sm all or newly-

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EIB GROUP EIF – M AP m andate: ETF Start-up Facility http://www.eif.org/

established com panies) and the insufficient security. Also under the M ultiannual Program m e for Enterprise, EIF m anages the “ETF Start-up Facility”, supporting the financing of business incubator activity, seed capital funds, sm aller funds, funds operating regionally or focused on specific industries or technologies (see page 2, “EIF – M AP m andate: ETF Start-up Facility”). Future activities: The current M AP m andate will last until 2005. Negotiations are already underway with DG Enterprise of the European Com m ission for an extension of the m andate, from 2006-2010

EBRD Policy dialogue is intended to focus on im proving the business clim ate for SM Es/M SEs generally, but with a priority on addressing policies and regulations which create im pedim ents to m icro and sm all lending. Policy dialogue related work to SM Es is carried out by the Group for Sm all Business, the Legal Transition Team of OGC, the Office of the Chief Econom ist (OCE), the relevant ROs, country team s, and country co-ordinators in FI. In the countries concerned, the EBRD has also ensured that its work is co-ordinated with that of other international finance FIs and bilateral and m ultilateral donors.

EC Restructuring, bankruptcy and a fresh start In 2002, the Com m ission built on the Sem inar on Business failure in Noordwijk in M ay 2001 and a study on the legal and social consequences of insolvency launched in Novem ber 2001 and com pleted in sum m er 2002. On the basis of these, the Com m ission, in the fram ework of the Best Procedure, started a working group gathering experts from the M em ber States. This group discusses the results from the study, with a view to establishing benchm arks and guidelines for im plem enting change on restructuring, bankruptcy and a fresh start. In 2002, to raise awareness for the need for action to avoid insolvency, a guide entitled “Helping businesses to overcom e financial difficulties”, highlighting the key results was m ade available in all the Com m unity languages. Better regulation The Better Regulation Package 44, adopted by the Com m ission on 5 June 2002, aim s at reform ing the way in which the institutions, individually or jointly, are legislating at the European level, and how the M em ber States im plem ent and apply this legislation at the national level. This am bitious package responds to the request of the Lisbon European Council and aim s at sim plifying and im proving the regulatory environm ent. It constitutes a political reply to the criticism expressed regularly by som e national authorities and stakeholders against an allegedly excessive, less appropriate and too heavy Com m unity legislation. The Com m ission has decided to set the exam ple in developing a new culture of “legislative quality” within its services, by launching a series of actions.

INSM E Them atic W orking Group on Innovative Enterprises: e-discussion room s available on the INSM E portal where users can discuss also on environm ent facilitating innovative new enterprises Future activities: INSM E-API (Tunisian Agency for the Prom otion of Industry) Training Program m e on “ Supporting the creation and developm ent of innovative enterprises” in Tunis, Tunisia 21- 23 Novem ber, 2005.

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NON-GOVERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS All Cham bers offer all kind of services and training.

EURO-M ED TDS Secretariat

Future activities: Dissem ination of inform ation

IKED -IKED has provided external and independent reviews of the Swedish as well as the Norwegian fram ework conditions for growth and innovation. For m ore inform ation see response 13.2. Future activities: -IKED is presently investigating the possibilities of undertaking external and independent reviews of the fram ework conditions for growth and innovation in a num ber of different countries. For m ore inform ation about such sim ilar policy reviews already provided by IKED please see response 2.1 or response 13.2.

Yes for Europe (ANJE) ANJE Secretary General

ANJE has pressed the Portuguese governm ent for the existence of a one-stop shop to start a com pany – Centro de Form alidades de Em presas Future activities: ANJE is now pressing the Portuguese governm ent to be possible to start a com pany in 48 h

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O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

See 2.1

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT)

Building venture financing chain including business angels, governm ent seed funds and venture capital firm s in India and applying it in selected business incubators. Future activities: Building a virtual environm ent at www.technology4sm e.com facilitating start-up business financing in Asia-Pacific (regional) and selected countries (national).

UNESCW A ESCW A Assistance for South Lebanon Project (EASL)

ESCW A started, in 2002, a m icro-credit schem e for m icro and sm all business in the form erly occupied areas of South Lebanon. This schem e is linked to vocational training program m es and sm all business training Future activities: The work will continue under this schem e

ILO SFP

M icrofinance for start-ups out of unem ploym ent (OECD countries) Future activities: Launch of schem es in Eastern Europe

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC See 2.1

ASEAN SM EW G

On-going exchange of policy experiences, success stories and good practices in the provision of incentives and business developm ent services (BDS) in favor of SM Es within ASEAN. Future activities: 1. Feasibility study of SM E credit rating including related incentives and inform ation reference system

EIB Group Sam e as 2.1. All schem es are targeted at supporting SM Es in their seed and start-up phases, via investm ents in venture capital funds or guarantees covering loan and m icro-loan portfolios.

EC

European Social Fund support to strengthen entrepreneurship The European Social Fund (ESF) is one of the four Structural Funds SM Es are a specific target group for ESF support in all M em ber States across all the policy fields of the ESF and across all the pillars of the European Em ploym ent Strategy. There are two principal types of intervention aim ed at SM Es. The first is training and hum an resource developm ent activities,(which is described, under heading 3.2) The second type of intervention consists of activities related to prom oting entrepreneurship.. In 2000-2006, the ESF will contribute just under €8 billion to prom ote entrepreneurship across the EU. The types of activities which are focussed exclusively on SM Es include a ‘network of entrepreneurs’, the m odernisation of work organisation, support for ICT,

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EC

entrepreneurship and the im provem ent of com petitiveness/productivity. The ETF Start-up Facility was launched in 1998 under the Growth and Em ploym ent initiative and extended within the fram ework of the M ultiannual program m e for enterprise and entrepreneurship. The Facility supports the establishm ent and financing of SM Es in their start-up phase by investing in relevant specialised Venture Capital Fund and Business Incubators. The ETF Start-up facility is m anaged on a trust basis by the European Investm ent Fund (EIF). Seed Capital Action The Seed Capital Action (SCA) was launched in 2001 within the fram ework of the M ultiannual program m e for enterprise and entrepreneurship. It aim s to stim ulate the supply of capital for the creation of innovative new businesses with growth and job-creation potential, including those in the traditional econom y, through support for seed funds, incubators or sim ilar organisations in which the EIF participates. The action provides support for the long term recruitm ent of additional investm ent m anagers to reinforce the capacity of the venture capital industry to cater for investm ents in seed capital. The Seed Capital Action is m anaged on a trust basis by the European Investm ent Fund (EIF).

NO N-GOVERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

All Cham bers offer all kind of services and training. Brochure: European best Cham ber practises for facilitating m em ber’s access to finance. Future activities: continuation of present activities

YES for Europe (ANJE) ANJE Secretary General

ANJE pressed the Portuguese governm ent for the existence of a Fund for Young Entrepreneurs – SIJE Future activities: The m aintenance of the fund plus the set up of a fund of funds is a priority in ANJE Agenda

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O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

See 2.1 Future activities: It is proposed to carry out an OECD study on Rem oving Barriers to SM E Access to International M arkets. As highlighted in the Istanbul M inisterial Declaration on fostering the growth of innovative and internationally com petitive SM Es, there is a need to reduce unnecessary barriers to SM Es’ access to international m arkets. These barriers are, in particular, im peding the international expansion of a sm all but im portant group of potential high growth SM Es that could contribute very significantly to the next generation of wealth and job creation at regional and global levels. m any of the problem s facing SM Es internationalising are known (e.g. the high costs of getting quality inform ation about the m arkets they want to enter; difficulties getting finance; protectionist regulatory fram eworks; lack of m anagem ent experience; problem s finding trustworthy partners; heightened uncertainty; corruption; etc This activity will build on a current APEC project and be carried out in co-operation with the APEC SM E working group.

DCD DAC/POVNET

DAC Guidelines on Strengthening Trade Capacity for Developm ent DAC Guidelines on Poverty Reduction

ECH JW PTE (not in charge of SM E activities, but in charge of project)

Nine case studies have been undertaken so far to look at m arkets for environm ental goods and services in developing and newly-industrialising countries. Am ong the issues: the extent to which foreign governm ent policies are hindering exports from DC suppliers, including SM Es, and steps being taken to allow environm ental services, such as water supply and solid waste collection, to be provided by the private sector. Future Activities: W e m ay undertake additional case studies; to be determ ined.

SW AC SW AC’s Developm ent Perspectives Unit

See 2.1

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT)

Business e-Coach CD RO M with som e national and regional (Asia-Pacific) issues was developed. Future activities: Plans to provide access to the key players at the national as well as regional (Asia-Pacific) level through the www.business-asia.net website. The website would have a Regional section providing general inform ation on the m anagem ent of SM Es and a National section that would have country specific inform ation that will help entrepreneurs reach out to key players in other m arkets.

UNECE (i) TRADE Division

(i) UNECE created trade facilitation organisations (PRO Organisations) in CITs (ii) W orkshop on “Practical Aspects of Trade Finance in CIS Countries with Special Reference to Problem s Encountered by SM Es” was held in M insk (Belarus) in 2001

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UNECE (ii) UNECE in co-operation with the Governm ent of Belarus

Future activities: UNECE will carry out a study of established PRO Organisations

UNECLAC/CEPAL Industrial Developm ent, Unit, ECLAC-M exico

Future activities: Strengthening Com petition in Central Am erican Isthm us: National Policies and Institutions, Regional Coordination and Participation in International Negotiations. Two year project, starting M arch 2004

UNIDO Sm all and M edium Enterprises Branch Agro-Industries and Sectoral Support Branch Investm ent and Technology Prom otion Branch Energy and Cleaner Production Branch

-Access to m arkets is a central feature of UNIDO’s overall technical co-operation program m e. Access to m arkets includes not only m arketing support, but also assistance in developing products that can be sold in national and international m arkets. This requires assistance to upgrade production capabilities and to provide appropriate quality infrastructure, in the form of standards, certification, testing laboratories, and quality m anagem ent skills: -An Export Consortia Prom otion program m e provides support to enable SM Es to jointly m arket products or services to m arkets that they would be incapable of selling to alone. -In various projects, including the leather upgrading projects, assistance is provided to SM Es in product design and developm ent. For exam ple, local staff is trained to perform CAD for footwear that are m ore sellable in foreign m arkets, and SM E m anagem ent is given opportunities to visit international m arkets through participation in international trade fairs. -In order that firm s can m eet the stringent im port requirem ents of the EU and other countries, technical co-operation projects provide support in upgrading standards institutions, establishing or im proving certification bodies, and building the capacity of testing laboratories to provide the services that exporters require. -M arket access, especially to international m arkets, often requires developm ent of im proved, environm entally sound products. Technical co-operation projects are used to assist local com panies in fulfilling environm ental regulations at the national and international level, through the use of a m arket analysis of the target m arkets and a structured review of the potential of the environm entally sound technology. Future activities: Greater em phasis will be given to increasing capacity at local level to foster the developm ent of new, sustainable products

W orld Bank/ IFC IFC’s Project Developm ent Facilities; SM E Departm ent’s Linkage Unit.

IFC has im plem ented linkage program s which give local SM Es access to m arket opportunities created by investm ents. It also has linked local SM Es to W estern m arkets in Russia, Belarus, and Bangladesh. Future activities: IFC is increasing work in specific sectors to give SM Es broader access to m arkets, such as in the wood and IT sectors. It will expand linkage program s.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB SEGF

INO 1738: Industrial Com petitiveness and Sm all and M edium Enterprise Developm ent Program

APEC See 2.1

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ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

ASEAN SM EW G

1.On-going exchange of policy experiences, success stories and good practices in enhancing SM E access to m arkets, national and international. 2. Prom otion of SM E trade fairs and exhibitions, national and international Future activities: 1. Feasibility study of establishing of Regional Trading House 2. ASEAN-India Conference on SM Es Going International, New Delhi, M arch 2004

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS International Affairs Directorate

M any Cham bers organise trade fairs and events Future activities: Continuation of activities

EURO-M ED TDS Secretariat

M onthly Newsletter Online m onthly review of international business opportunities Future activities: M onthly Newsletter. Online m onthly review of international business opportunities

YES for Europe (ANJE) ANJE Bruxelas (www.anje.pt/anje_consult)

ANJE has a delegation in Brussels to help its m em bers in accessing m arkets in Belgium , Germ any, France, Luxem bourg, Netherlands and the United Kingdom Future activities: ANJE will cover the whole EU countries

YES for Europe (TUGIAD)

Panel on IT at CeBIT International Fair

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ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

See 2.1

EDU CERI Governing board IM HE Governing Board

See 3.2

SW AC SW AC’s Unit #1

See 2.1 Future activities: Facilitating W est African private sector dialogues with Asian entrepreneurs, see 2.1

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Trade and Investm ent Division, with support from the Governm ent of Japan

A num ber of com prehensive m anagem ent training courses have been held over the past few years for entrepreneurs in LDCs and countries with econom ies in transition, particularly within the Greater M ekong Subregion (2001-2003) and Central Asia (2000). Future activities: 1) Training on Enterprise developm ent including wom en entrepreneurs 2) M anagem ent training courses for entrepreneurs in LDCs and countries with econom ies in transition, including a project on capacity building of business developm ent, services providers in the greater M ekong sub-region (2005-2006)

UNESCW A Private Sector and Enterprise Developm ent (PSED) Team at the Sustainable Developm ent and Productivity Division (SDPD)

ESCW A produced a Training of Trainers’ guide on “Start your Own Business”. Training for new entrepreneurs was provided in several ESCW A m em ber countries: Om an (19-25 April 2001), Qatar (11-15 M ay 2002), and several courses in Lebanon (1998-2003) Future activities: ESCW A assistance to m em ber countries continues upon request

ILO IFP/SEED Cooperative Branch/LED Program m e

-Start Your Business (SYB) training for m icro and sm all business starters, being used in m ore than 80 countries and currently supported through projects in m ore than 20 countries, incl. Croatia, Serbia & M ontenegro, M ozam bique and South Africa. -Generate Your Business Idea, workshops to help business starters identify a suitable business opportunity, used as a precursor to SYB Future activities: -Continuation of world-wide capacity building in SYB and GYB. -Enhancing linkages to other support services, such as finance. -Em bedding SYB and GYB in integrated SED program m es.

UNDP UNDP has been and is currently involved in the creation of num erous training centres directed to individual entrepreneurs and SM Es. These centres offer education on a broad range of subjects such as business m anagem ent, m arketing, business m odels, technical training on specific industries like solar energy, CAD-CAM technology, environm ental m anagem ent. ((UNDP training program m es exist in Bulgaria, Ecuador, East-Tim or, Ethiopia, Fiji, Jam aica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Rwanda, Turkey etc.

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ACTIVITIES

UNIDO Industrial Prom otion and Technology Prom otion Branch Agro-Industries and Sectoral Support Branch

The Enterprise Developm ent Program m e com bines entrepreneurship developm ent and investm ent prom otion support. Local institutional capacities are built up (e.g. Arab Regional Centre for Entrepreneurship and Investm ent Training, in Bahrain, and the Advisory Centre for Industrial Developm ent, in M ozam bique) and a package of services including entrepreneurship training, counselling, access to financing and, where feasible, business incubation support services or technology parks, are provided to potential and existing entrepreneurs so as to facilitate New Enterprise Creation and Enterprise Upgrading. Extensive vocational training program m es in specific sectors are being conducted for African SM Es, often in conjunction with m anagerial or entrepreneurship program m es. Future activities: Expansion to other countries is being planned.

W orld Bank/ IFC IFC’s Project Developm ent Facilities.

M anagem ent and entrepreneurship training is offered by m ost Project Facilities. Future activities: IFC will continue m anagem ent training program s for SM Es.

W IPO Focal point: SM Es Division

National and regional training program s on various issues relating to innovation and intellectual property (IP) rights for entrepreneurs, SM Es, business consultants and SM E support institutions. National events often conducted in co-operation with the national IP office and/or other national SM E support institutions. For inform ation on forthcom ing events, see: www.wipo.int/sm e Future activities: Continuation of present activities

O THER INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB SAGF ECSS

SRI 3822: Enabling Sm all and M edium Enterprise Growth KYG 1786: Skills and Enterprenuership Developm ent

APEC See 2.1

ASEAN SM EW G

1. ASEAN Plus Three (China, Japan and Republic of Korea) sem inars and workshops on various technical areas for SM Es 2. Technical Assistance from ASEAN-6 in favor of Cam bodia, Lao PDR, M yanm ar and Viet Nam Future activities: 1. Sim ilar sem inars, workshops, and technical assistance schem es will be continued.

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ACTIVITIES

EBRD Business Support incorporates the work of the Turn-Around M anagem ent (TAM ) Group and the Business Advisory Service team s which operate under the auspices of the Turnaround M anagem ent Group (TM G) The TAM Program m e, launched in 1993 provides direct and fully funded assistance to SM E in transition countries. TAM supports econom ic reform by transferring industry specific m anagem ent and technical know-how, and conveying the principles of m anagem ent, organisation, productivity, entrepreneurship and responsible corporate governance. TM G delivers the “standard” TAM and BAS program m es to 26 and 11 countries, respectively. M ore than 80 per cent of TAM and BAS projects achieve or exceed the expected im pact, which is m easured by changes in the enterprise status, em ployee num bers, productivity, sales im provem ents, trading position, etc.

EIB Group EIF – M AP m andate: M icro-credit Guarantee window of SM E Guarantee Facility http://www.eif.org/

M entoring for entrepreneurs is a key feature under the “M icro-credit guarantee window” of the SM E Guarantee Facility to ensure success. However, as com m ercial banks or prom otional institutions do not have the expertise to provide m entoring support, certain institutions benefiting from EIF’s m icro-credit guarantees have chosen to work with specialised NGOs in this area.

EC Developm ent and im plem entation of European entrepreneurship training curricula The Com m ission published in 2002 the results of a Finance-Innovation-Technology (FIT) project on the developm ent and im plem entation of European entrepreneurship training curricula. The exercise resulted in the description of 40 lessons for the im plem entation of entrepreneurship training curricula, as well as a selection of good practice exam ples. Entrepreneurship Education Toolkit on Private Equity and Venture Capital Under the auspices of the Gate2Growth Initiative the Com m ission has supported the developm ent of the European Venture Capital Association (EVCA) Entrepreneurship Education Toolkit on Private Equity and Venture Capital. The toolkit is an 8-m odule course syllabus, provided in a ‘ready-to-use’ form at. It will be available for European universities and institutions of higher education to help them teach a one sem ester class explaining the basics of private equity and venture capital. It is also designed to help technical universities to better exploit their research results and to explain the role of venture capital and private equity as a convenient m eans to spin-off research. See 1.4

INSM E See 3.3

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EURO-M ED TDS Secretariat

Training Activities: 1-Pilote course on the prom otion of foreign trade in services (4-28 M arch 2002) 2-Training course for Services Business W om en (20Sept – 2 Oct 2003) Future activities: Creation of EM SE, Euro-M editerranean School of Services Econom y, for young entrepreneurs of the Euro-M editerranean area

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ACTIVITIES

YES FOR EUROPE Secretariat

-FONDAZIONE TALIERCIO E-M ANAGER PROJECT This project is to prom ote “the M anagerial Skills Survey” developed by Fondazione Taliercio in Italy to European level. It has involved the following partners: -CONFINDUSTRIA: Confederation of Italian Industry (Italy), FEDERM ANAGER: Federation of Italian Industrial M anagers (Italy), UNICE: Union of Industrial and Em ployers' Confederations of Europe (Belgium , European Union), CEC: European Confederation of Executive and M anagerial Staff (Belgium , European Union), CESI: Centre d’Etudes Supèrieures Industrielles (France), YES for Europe: Young Entepreneur for Europe (Belgium , European Union), QCA: Qualification and Curriculum Authority (United Kingdom ), DE BAAK: M anagem ent Centre of the VNO-NVF Confederation of em ployers’ (Netherlands). -The survey m easures the m anagerial skills of the participating m anager and gives the opportunity to com pare him self or herself with other m anagers in the sam e sector or different sectors, or within the sam e country or with m anagers from different countries. M anagers from Austria, Belgium , France, Germ any, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and UK participated in the survey. Future activities: To continue the prom otion of the survey and create a m anagem ent training course.

YES for Europe (ANJE) - Academ ia dos Em preendedores (www.anje.pt/academ ia) - Dir. Form ação (www.anje.pt/form acao2)

ANJE has an Academ y for Entrepreneurship that develops sum m er courses about entrepreneurship. Also the Training Directorate of ANJE presents training courses for entrepreneurs in order to im prove their capacities Future activities: ÂNJE is in negotiations with several universities to develop a m asters on entrepreneurship

YES for Europe (TUGIAD) Entrepreneurship Com m ittee

1. Lectures on “Strategic M ergers”, “Global Com petition” and “M arketing” to M BA students of M arm ara University (M U) 2. M eetings with the representatives from the “Entrepreneurship and M anagem ent Clubs” of the universities Future activities: 1. Next academ ic year courses on “Entrepreneurship” at M U. The lecture notes of this course will be published as a book. 2. A Certificate Program m e on Entrepreneurship

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ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

ILO InFocus Program m e on Boosting Em ploym ent through Sm all Enterprise Developm ent (IFP/SEED)

-Review of entrepreneurship education program m es -Pilot testing of entrepreneurship education course “Know About Business (KAB) ” in Africa and Central Asia -Review of effective practices of youth entrepreneurship program m es -Review of youth entrepreneurship Future activities: -Revision and prom otion of KAB entrepreneurship education course -Prom oting “decent” entrepreneurship culture am ong youth, fam ilies and com m unities -Capacity building for prom otion of youth entrepreneurs

UNDP UNDP has been involved in the developm ent of num erous business incubators during the last 11 years. They provide services in the areas of consulting and training, initial access to financing, m arket research. Som e of the m ost notable program m es led by UNDP include the ones carried out in Belarus, Bulgaria, (Jobs Opportunity through Business Support-JOBS) China, Egypt (BEST- Business Entreprise Support Tools) Georgia, India, Kyrgyzstan, M orocco, Pakistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

UNIDO Energy and Cleaner Production Branch

As part of the process of im proving m unicipal waste m anagem ent, activities are undertaken to support persons who previously earned incom e from the old waste disposal process. W e build the capacity of local institutions to assist these individuals, using various enterprise developm ent activities, in developing businesses in waste sorting, waste recycling, and other activities m ade possible to them by the new waste disposal system . Future activities: Expansion of the program m e to new countries.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

CEI Under the auspices of the CEI, the national Cham bers of Com m erce of all CEI countries

have set up a m ultilateral co-operation, the CECCI, Central European Cham ber of Com m erce Initiative, guaranteed by the annual Conference of the Presidents of CECCI (taking place in the CEI Sum m it Econom ic Forum fram ework). This co-operation aim s at sim plifying the adm inistrative and legislative context, im proving the access of SM Es to research program m es, providing support to com panies expanding their activities across national borders, prom oting entrepreneurship and im proving business support services through the exchange of best practices.

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

YES for Europe Secretariat YES for Europe

YES Forum (Istanbul - Turkey, 16-17 Novem ber 2001): ‘New M odels for the New European Business Environm ent’. Presentations from representatives of the business sector, EU officers and other experts of Business M odels and on Young Entrepreneurs and the new Business Environm ent. Organised visits in Turkish com panies of different sectors. Business-to-business m eetings in the sector of industry, inform ation technology, services and agriculture. Around 100 young entrepreneurs from all over Europe attended the event. -YES Sum m it (Brussels – Belgium , 21-22 Novem ber 2003): ‘Entrepreneurship in a new Europe’. Debates with representatives of the business sector and EU officers on Entrepreneurship after the im plem entation of the EU Enlargem ent, the adoption of the

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ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

EU Constitution. Analysis of European issues affecting Entrepreneurship (Innovation, Taxation, Fam ily Business, Cultural Richness, Infrastructures, Labour Laws). Around 150 young entrepreneurs from all over Europe attended the event. YES Info Days (Brussels – Belgium ). A free two-day training course intended for young entrepreneurs, aim ed at a better understanding of the functioning of the European Institutions and of existing program m es and policies for enterprises. They included visits to the European Institutions and sem inars with EU officers.

YES for Europe (ANJE) Academ ia dos Em preendedores

ANJE has developed several projects both a national level as well as European level to prom ote entrepreneurship in schools. -Road-Show Schools -School for Life Future activities: Currently ANJE is developing a new project to develop a m ore sustainable presence in secondary schools through an association.

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PART 3: EM PLOYM ENT AND HUM AN RESO URCES

SM Es account for 60-70% of jobs in most OECD countries. They also account for a disproportionately large share of new jobs. Some evidence also points to the importance of the age of the business, rather than size, in job creation. However, less than half of start-ups survive for more than five years and only a fraction develop into the high-growth firms that make important contributions to job creation. High job turnover rates pose problems for employment security. Small firms also tend to invest less in training and rely relatively more on external recruitment to raise competence and competitiveness. Additionally, SM Es tend to devote proportionately fewer resources than large firms for training their staff. Yet, it is imperative for SM Es and entrepreneurs themselves to keep updating their skills in order to remain competitive. SM Es are also held back by a lack of understanding of employment regulations, such as issues relating to termination of employment contracts, training of personnel, engagement of a foreign employee, etc.

The general question concerning employment and human resources at the heart of SM Es can be an acute problem for those SM Es that are exposed to a deficit of human resources or competences; such is the case for SM Es located in developing or emerging economies, for newly created SM Es, for innovative SM Es, and for those directed by women. Therefore, the issue of training also appears as a sub-issue under other headings [such as, Part 2) Entrepreneurship and Firm Creation, Part 4) Innovation and Technology, Part 9) SM Es in Developing and Emerging Economies, Part 11) W omen Entrepreneurs and W omen-owned Businesses].

The following sub-issues are presented separately in this section:

3.1 Job Creation 3.2 Labour Skills 3.3 M anagement Training 3.4 Other Issues

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PARTIE 3 : EM PLOI ET RESSO URCES H UM AINES

Les PM E représentent entre 60 et 70 % des emplois dans la plupart des pays de l’OCDE. Elles comptent aussi pour une part plus que proportionnelle des nouveaux emplois. Or, certaines observations montrent que ce n’est pas la taille mais l’âge de l’entreprise qui intervient dans la création d’emplois. Toutefois, moins de la moitié des jeunes pousses survivent au-delà de cinq ans et seule une fraction d’entre elles se muent en entreprises à forte croissance contribuant de façon sensible à la création d’emplois. En outre, les taux élevés de rotation des emplois posent des problèmes pour la sécurité de l’emploi. Par ailleurs, les petites entreprises investissent généralement moins que les grandes dans la formation et tablent plutôt sur les recrutements externes pour améliorer leurs compétences et leur compétitivité. De surcroît, elles consacrent généralement un volume de ressources relativement moins élevé que les grandes entreprises à la formation de leurs salariés. Pourtant, il est impératif que les PM E et les entrepreneurs eux-mêmes actualisent constamment leurs compétences pour rester compétitifs. Enfin, les PM E sont aussi freinées par leur méconnaissance des réglementations de l’emploi, notamment des questions liées à la résiliation d’un contrat de travail, à la formation du personnel, à l’embauche d’un salarié étranger, etc.

La question générale de l’emploi et des ressources humaines au sein des PM E peut constituer un grave problème pour celles qui connaissent un déficit de ressources humaines ou de compétences. Ce problème touche notamment les PM E situées dans les économies en développement ou émergentes, celles qui viennent d’être créées, les PM E innovantes et celles qui sont dirigées par des femmes. C’est pourquoi le thème de la formation revient sous forme de sous-rubrique dans d’autres rubriques [comme Partie 2) Entrepreneuriat et création d’entreprises, Partie 4) Innovation et technologie, Partie 9 ) PM E et développement (économies en développement et émergentes), et Partie 11) Femmes chefs d’entreprise et entreprises appartenant à des femmes].

Les sous-rubriques suivantes sont présentées séparément dans la présente section :

3.1 Création d’emplois 3.2 Qualifications de la main-d’œuvre 3.3 Formation à la gestion 3.4 Autres questions

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ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD)

CFE See responses in Table 1 and 5

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNECE UNECE-CEI-UNIDO co-operation

Training Course on “Technology M anagem ent for W om en Entrepreneurs from CEECs” in Trieste in 2001

ILO InFocus Program m e on Boosting Em ploym ent through Sm all Enterprise Developm ent (IFP/SEED)

-See 2.1 above -“Better Services, M ore Jobs” – job creation in infrastructure creation and services delivery Future activities: -Enabling SM Es and co-operatives to support youth em ploym ent

W orld Bank/ IFC IFC’s Project Developm ent Facilities

IFC m easures job creation of m any of its projects. Future activities: continuation of present activities

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB See 3.2 Not specifically targeted to SM Es

APEC -Im plem entation & Program m e Enhancem ent APEC-IBIZ ;

-United States Voluntary Visitor Program m e for APEC SM E Governm ent Officials ; -APEC Forum on Cross-Cultural Understanding of Im plem entation of Standards and Accreditation in Supply Chain M anagem ent; -Consum er Education and Protection Initiative.

ASEAN SM EW G

On-going indirect work on job creation (e.g. 1.1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 etc)

EIB Group Support for job-creating investm ent is one of the EIB's and EIF’s priorities.

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BRES EU Affairs Directorate

Participation in Varese tripartite social sum m it 2003, drafting a contribution to the W im Kok report, m ore generally taking position on em ploym ent

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ACTIVITIES

IKED

Future activities: KED is preparing a program m e for building a concrete com petence network between educational institutes and sm all- and m edium sized enterprises at local level. Via close co-operation with local, regional and international networks of specialised partners the initiative aim s at stim ulating hands-on activities at the grass-root level as well as providing cross-cutting analysis and relevant policy recom m endations in the international arena. The project is in its start-up phase and it is planned to leap over four years. See also response in Table 3.

YES for Europe (TUGIAD) Education Com m ittee

Hum an Resources education

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ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATION FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / LEED Program m e Future activities:

An OECD Conference on Fostering Entrepreneurship: The Role of Higher Education will be organised in Trento, Italy, on 24-25 June 2005. In the Istanbul M inisterial Declaration, m inisters reaffirm ed the need to develop “a culture that encourages entrepreneurship and recognises entrepreneurial success. The integration of entrepreneurship at all levels of the form al education system can facilitate this… ”. This proposed conference would analyse how to foster entrepreneurship am ong graduates and young people and how entrepreneurship training should be delivered in higher education and the im pact of entrepreneurship training in higher education. Secondly, the conference would analyse the relationship between higher education institutions’ activities and SM E innovation through various technology transfer channels and what should be the policy role. Special focus of the conference would be sharing of experiences and country audits. The conference would be organised by the CFE/LEED Program m e in close co-operation with the CFE/SM E & Entrepreneurship Division.

EDU CERI Governing board IM HE Governing Board

CERI work on m easuring knowledge m anagem ent in the business sector including SM Es. DSTI has been associated with this work. Reference: M easuring Knowledge M anagem ent in the Business Sector: First Steps, OECD, 2003. Further inform ation: Dom inique Foray and Kurt Larsen. CERI work on learning cities and regions which included an analyse of prom ising ways of investing in hum an and social capital in order to prom ote econom ic and social developm ent at urban and regional levels. Especially innovative SM Es can play an im portant role in this respect. Reference: Cities and regions in the new learning econom y, OECD, 2001. Further inform ation; Kurt Larsen. Future activities: IM HE, in collaboration with the OECD Territorial Developm ent and Public Governance Directorate is conducting a com parative review entitled Supporting the Contributions of Higher Education Institutions to Regional Developm ent. The activity exam ines the nature and quality of the dialogue between HEIs and other regional stakeholders including SM Es, and seeks to address how the contribution that higher education m akes to regional developm ent can be better assessed and evaluated, and m ore effectively supported. The activity is particularly interested in this respect in the way connections between universities and regions can help enhance the com petitiveness and viability of both the region and the university in an increasingly knowledge-driven world. It is expected that the activity will run through 2005 and m ost of 2006, and will lead to a publication at the end of 2006.

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Poverty and Developm ent Division

Com m unity level training for poor urban com m unities in Cam bodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Indonesia on incom e generation skills including m anagem ent of com m unity enterprises, m arketing of products, etc. (2003) Future activities: Com m unity level training on incom e generation skills including m anagem ent of com m unity enterprises, m arketing of products, etc

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ACTIVITIES

UNECLAC/CEPAL Division of Production, Productivity and M anagem ent

Vocational training –institutions, strategies and policies in the Latin Am erica and the Caribbean. National case studies 1996-2004.

W orld Bank/ IFC M PDF, part of the Far East Asia Departm ent.

IFC’s Bank Training Centre provides training for staff of banks. Future activities: Activities ngoing

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB PAHQ

PNG 1706: Em ploym ent Oriented Skills Developm ent BHU 1830: Basic Skills Developm ent

APEC See 3.1

ASEAN SM EW G

See answer under 2.4

EC In Novem ber 2001 the Com m unication on Lifelong Learning 51 underlines the im portance of gaining insight into the learning needs of SM Es, where learning typically takes place in an inform al context. Provision has to be flexible, of high quality, and tailored to needs of individual firm s. Learning providers, e.g. higher education institutions, should offer courses tailored to these specific needs. Following on from the Com m unication on Lifelong Learning referred to above, the “Bruges Process”, was launched to im prove co-operation in European vocational education and training am ongst M em ber States, EEA EFTA countries, candidate countries and the Com m ission. European Social Fund support for training The European Social Fund (ESF) is one of the four Structural Funds. SM Es are a specific target group for ESF support in all M em ber States. There are two principal types of intervention aim ed at SM Es in the program m ed ESF im plem entation in the M em ber States for the period 2000-2006. 1)The first type of intervention is training and hum an resource developm ent activities. The ESF program m es have strengthened their focus on supporting hum an resource developm ent in SM Es. Generally, support is given in the form of training people working in SM Es. These can be the m anagers/owners or em ployees. ESF support for lifelong learning is estim ated at approxim ately €12 billion for 2000-2006. Program m es increasingly em body a wider com m itm ent to develop a fram ework for lifelong learning in the workplace. The ESF will also allocate €11 billion of Com m unity support to prom ote greater adaptability through, for exam ple, m ore effective transfer of technology to SM Es and em ployee training. 2)The second type of intervention consists of activities related to prom oting entrepreneurship, which is described under heading 2.2.

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ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

NON-GOVERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

YES for Europe (ANJE) DG Form ação

ANJE has several training courses that fit into this category Future activities: M aintaining the courses and im prove their contents

YES for Europe (TUGIAD) Education Com m ittee

“M anagem ent in Fam ily Firm s” education program m e

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ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

UNITED NATIONS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Trade and Investm ent Division, with support from the G overnm ent of Japan

Future activities: Capacity building of business developm ent services providers in the G reater M ekong Subregion (2005-2006).

UNESCW A See 2.4 UNECE UNECE-CEI-UNIDO co-operation

Training Course on “Technology M anagem ent for W om en Entrepreneurs from CEECs” in Trieste in 2001

ILO IFP/SEED

-Im prove Your Business Training (IYB), a m odular program m e for im proving m anagem ent skills of m icro and sm all entrepreneurs, being used in 80 countries, with active projects in m ore than 20. -People and Productivity training video, accom panies one of the IYB m odules. -The Start and Im prove Your Business Gam e, with trainers guide, accom panies the IYB program m e. -Im prove Your W ork Environm ent and Business (IW EB), training on m anagem ent and working conditions related skills for m icro entrepreneurs, used in India, and 5 countries in Latin Am erica. -Case studies for use in training program m es, with videos, on enterprises that have im proved perform ance through better working conditions. Ghana, Viet Nam . -Grassroots M anagem ent Training, for the sm allest enterprises, owners with little form al education, in use in East and W est Africa. -Im proving Business through Better W orking Conditions, for the sm allest enterprises, owners with little form al education, in use in Ghana and Uganda. -Training video on Im proving Business through Better W orking Conditions, Ghana. -Expand Your Business, advanced training, counselling and other support services for growth-oriented entrepreneurs, being introduced in Uganda, Zim babwe, Zam bia, Sri Lanka and Jordan. Future activities: -Further world-wide capacity building on IYB. -Dissem ination of EYB and capacity building in additional countries. -Further capacity building on IW EB. -Developm ent of an international generic business training program m e for the sm allest enterprises, owners with little form al education

UNDP See 2.4 UNDP is involved in the Africa M anagem ent Services Com pany (AM SCO) resulting from a joint effort of AfDB, IFC, UNDP and num erous private com panies and bilaterai donors. It offers recruitm ent services for m anagem ent positions as well as training to African SM Es (sinc 1989, it has helped m ore than 100 Arican com panies to find about 400 m anagers and m ore than 9000em ployees have been trained).

W orld Bank/ IFC IFC’s Project Developm ent Facilities

M anagem ent and entrepreneurship training is offered by m ost Project Facilities. Future activities: IFC will continue m anagem ent training program s for SM Es

W IPO Focal point: SM Es Division

Training program s on various issues relating to innovation and intellectual property (IP) rights for entrepreneurs, SM Es, business consultants and SM E support institutions. National events often conducted in co-operation with the national IP office and/or other national support institutions. For inform ation on forthcom ing events, see: www.wipo.int/sm e

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OTHER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC See 3.1

ASEAN

SM EW G See answer under 2.4

EC M anagem ent capacity building A project on m anagem ent capacity building was launched in M arch 2002. This project, to be conducted in close co-operation between the Com m ission, the M em ber States and the candidate countries, will consist of exploratory and research work until M arch 2003. It aim s at producing a short policy oriented docum ent, drawing a picture of the situation, with a view to lay the grounds for a possible future benchm arking exercise.

INSM E INSM E-W ASM E training program m e on the “M anagem ent of Innovation and Technology Transfer for SM Es”, Noida (New Delhi) at W ASM E International Training Centre , India, 12 - 15 October, 2004. This initiative was aim ed at supporting Asian interm ediaries for innovation and technology transfer. Future activities: INSM E-W IPO Training Program m e on the “Role of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) for Innovation in Sm all and M edium -Sized Enterprise”. The training program m e will be held from 11 to 13 M ay, 2005 in Geneva, Switzerland, at W IPO’s headquarters. INSM E-CFI (Federal Investm ent Council of Argentina) Training Program m e on the “M anagem ent of Innovation and Technology Transfer”, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 5 – 8 July, 2005. The course is being arranged also in partnership with the Organisation for Econom ic Co-operation and Developm ent (OECD), Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs, the W orld Intellectual Property Organisation (W IPO), SM Es Division and the Inter-Am erican Developm ent Bank (IDB), M icro, Sm all and M edium Enterprise Division (under preparation) INSM E-API (Tunisian Agency for the Prom otion of Industry) Training Program m e on “ Supporting the creation and developm ent of innovative enterprises” in Tunis, Tunisia 21- 23 Novem ber, 2005.

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

Future activities: Academ y forum on training (Novem ber 2004)

EURO-M ED TDS Secretariat

Training Activities: 1-Pilote course on the prom otion of foreign trade in services (4-28 M arch 2002) 2- Training course for Business W om en (20 Sept – 2 Oct 2003) Future activities: Creation of EM SE Euro-M editerranean School of Services Econom y, for young entrepreneurs of the Euro-M editerranean area.

YES for Europe (ANJE)

DG Form ação

ANJE has several training courses that fit into this category Future activities: M aintaining the courses and im prove their contents

YES for Europe (TUGIAD)- Education Com m ittee

TUGIAD has trainee program m e for young persons

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(OECD) GOV TDPC

The OECD Territorial review of Canada (OECD 2002) addresses entrepreneurship education in different regional contexts in Canada, building on a study of successful public policy approaches in Atlantic Canada.

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Inform ation, Com m unication and Space technology Division, in collaboration with the Governm ent of the Republic of Korea

Prom otion of training in ICT for countries in Central & South Asia Future activities: Continuation of present activities

UNECE RASP, Regional Adviser on Entrepreneurship and TOS on QM S

Future activities: The UNECE will elaborate m ethodology on integrated m anagem ent system s based on im plem entation of various quality standards like ISO 9,000 and 14,0000, SA 8,000, operational health and safety based on TQ M principles

ILO Social m arketing cam paigns for better working conditions in M SEs, using radio, television, events, theatre. Ghana, India. Future activities: Social m arketing cam paigns in other countries, such as Viet Nam .

UNIDO Sm all and M edium Enterprises Branch

In order to widen the career aspirations of the youth from white-collar jobs to the private sector jobs, entrepreneurship curriculum is introduced to secondary and vocational schools. Future activities: Continuation of present activities

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB SAGF

Labor Inspection Policies and Regulations PAK 2066/2067: SM E Sector Developm ent

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

Participation in the consultation on the W orking tim e directive

YES for Europe (ANJE) DG Form ação

ANJE has several training courses that fit into this category Future activities: M aintaining the courses and im prove their contents

YES for Europe (TUGIAD) Education Com m ittee

TUGIAD has scholarship program m es for successful students

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PART 4: INNO VATIO N AND TECH NO LO GY

Innovation is a key determinant of firm competitiveness in both fast growing high-tech sectors and more traditional sectors. The ability of most SM Es to survive, grow and generate new quality jobs increasingly rests on their capacity to put innovation at the core of their business strategy. In turn, small innovative firms play a vital role in ensuring the vitality of regional and national innovation systems, and thus raising the growth potential of OECD and non-OECD economies as well.

There is a small but important group of innovative SM Es at the forefront of the development of new industries, technologies and market niches. SM E involvement in innovation and technology diffusion is greater than official data suggest. W hile formal R&D activities are generally concentrated in large enterprises, SM Es carry out a great deal of R&D that is informal or related to development, refinement and adaptation of products and processes. Furthermore, the growing demand for specialised products favours small enterprises and reduces the importance of mass production and cost minimisation. Small enterprises can respond better to rapidly changing consumer preferences and shorter product life cycles than large capital-intensive enterprises.

Nevertheless, many SM Es have not yet developed a culture of innovation and those that do invest in innovation may still face difficulties in pursuing this strategy. Here lies a huge potential source of economic growth, job creation and social well being that could be through the improvement of framework conditions for innovation and specific measures to correct market and system failures that impede or discourage innovation within small firms.

In particular, the problem of financing (as indicated in Part I) appears as particularly important for innovative SM Es looking for risk capital. The returns to innovative activities are highly uncertain and often skewed. Furthermore, potential investors may possess little information about the nature and the characteristics of the innovative products and processes. Eventually, innovative activities are usually intangible so that it is difficult to assess their monetary value before they become commercially successful. This has led to implementation of specific programmes to close perceived financing gaps faced by innovative SM Es.

The following sub-issues are presented separately in this section:

4.1 SM Es and Innovations 4.2 Incubators and Start-up 4.3 Financing Issues (Access to Venture Capital, etc.) 4.4 Labour Skills and M anagement Capabilities 4.5 Innovative Networks (Co-operation among SM Es, with Large Firms or

Public Centres at National or International Levels) 4.6 Patents and Property Rights 4.7 Other Issues

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L’innovation est un déterminant majeur de la compétitivité des entreprises, tant dans les secteurs de haute technologie à forte croissance que dans les secteurs plus traditionnels. La capacité de la plupart des PM E à survivre, se développer et créer de nouveaux emplois de qualité repose de plus en plus sur leur aptitude à inscrire l’innovation au cœur de leur stratégie. Les petites entreprises innovantes elles-mêmes jouent un rôle crucial pour la vitalité des systèmes d’innovation régionaux et nationaux, contribuant ainsi à renforcer le potentiel de croissance des économies membres mais aussi des non membres de l’OCDE.

Un groupe de PM E innovantes, petit par la taille mais important par son rôle, occupe une place de leader pour le développement d’industries, de technologies et de créneaux commerciaux nouveaux. La contribution de ces entreprises à l’innovation et à la diffusion des technologies est plus importante que les statistiques officielles pourraient le faire croire. M ême si les activités formelles de R-D sont généralement concentrées dans les grandes entreprises, les PM E effectuent un volume considérable de R-D informelle ou liée au développement, à l’affinage et à l’adaptation des procédés et des produits. En outre, la demande croissante en produits spécialisés favorise les petites entreprises, la production de masse et la réduction au minimum des prix passant dans ce cas au second rang. Les petites entreprises peuvent mieux réagir face à l’évolution rapide des préférences des consommateurs et au raccourcissement du cycle de vie des produits que les grandes entreprises à forte intensité de capital.

Néanmoins, de nombreuses PM E n’ont pas encore développé de culture de l’innovation, et celles qui investissent effectivement dans l’innovation peuvent néanmoins se heurter à des difficultés en déployant cette stratégie. Or c’est précisément là que réside un potentiel considérable de croissance économique, de création d’emplois et de bien-être social qui pourrait se concrétiser si on améliorait les conditions cadres de l’innovation et si on prenait des mesures spécifiques pour remédier aux défaillances des marchés et des systèmes qui entravent ou découragent l’innovation au sein des petites entreprises.

Le problème du financement (comme indiqué dans la Partie I) revêt une importance particulière pour les PM E innovantes en quête de capital-risque. En effet, le rendement de l’investissement dans des activités novatrices est extrêmement incertain et souvent biaisé. En outre, les investisseurs potentiels ne disposent pas nécessairement d’informations suffisantes sur la nature et les caractéristiques des produits et procédés innovants. De surcroît, les activités innovantes sont souvent de nature immatérielle. Il est donc difficile d’évaluer leur valeur monétaire avant qu’elles n’aient percé sur le marché. Ce constat a d’ailleurs amené les pouvoirs publics à mettre en œuvre des programmes spécifiques pour combler les déficits de financement observés au sein de PM E innovantes.

Les sous-rubriques suivantes sont présentées séparément dans la présente section :

4.1 PM E et innovation 4.2 Pépinières et jeunes pousses 4.3 Questions de financement (accès au capital-risque, etc.) 4.4 Qualifications de la main-d’œuvre et capacités de gestion 4.5 Réseaux d’innovation (coopération entre les PM E, avec de grandes

entreprises ou des institutions publiques à l’échelon national et international

4.6 Brevets et droits de propriété 4.7 Autres questions

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O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

1) The OECD W PSM E oversees the im plem entation of the OECD Bologna Charter on SM E Policies with regard to the central role played by SM Es in national innovation system s, and the im portance of im proved access to inform ation, financing and networking in facilitating the innovation process, i.e. the following recom m endations:

-Partnerships involving private actors, NGOs and different levels and sectors of public adm inistration in local cluster and networking developm ent strategies be facilitated. The private sector lead cluster initiatives, with the public sector playing a catalytic role according to national and local priorities (e.g., inter alia, facilitating private investm ent with public incentives, facilitating seed funding and m onitoring the results of network initiatives). -Public and private sector bodies foster the growth of clusters (existing and em bryonic) by: im proving their access to accom m odation and efficient com m unications and transport infrastructures; facilitating local specialisation in university/industry linkages; dissem inating targeted inform ation, including on locational advantages and investm ent attractiveness; prom oting suppliers’ networks, technical support services, learning circles and other collaborative undertakings.

2) As part of the 2nd OECD M inisterial Conference on SM Es, a M inisterial M eeting was held entitled, W orkshop 1: Entrepreneurship and SM E Innovation, Panel 1. Policies for Entrepreneurship and SM E Innovation 3) In addition, as part of the 2nd OECD M inisterial Conference on SM Es, a M inisterial M eeting was held entitled, W orkshop 2 : Tools for SM E Innovation

CTP W orking Party No. 2 on Tax Policy Analysis and Tax Statistics of the Com m ittee on Fiscal Affairs.

W P2 of the CFA held a joint roundtable with CIBE and CSTP Delegates and m em bers of the Industry Division on Tax Incentives for R&D in June 2002. This resulted in a DSTI publication: "Tax Incentives for Research and Developm ent: Trends and Issues". Future activities: The work program m e of W P2 of the CFA includes horizontal work on tax issues with other OECD Directorates.

GOV TDPC

-Conference building com petitive regional econom ies: up-grading knowledge and diffusing technology to local firm s, attended by Rom ano Prodi. This conference highlighted the im pact of technopoles on the developm ent of dynam ic SM Es, the role of com m unity colleges in local business system s, and the utility of innovation service centres and sim ilar structures for SM Es. -Reviews of the high-tech m etropolitan regions of Helsinki, notably the influence of the public policy on the developm ent of the cluster and the growth of the key firm s (especially Nokia), and Oresund (Copenhagen-M alm o), which includes an assessm ent of Swedish/Danish initiatives to build a cross-border system of innovation and technology diffusion involving enterprises and research institutions from both countries. Future activities: -International conference to be held in Florence at the end of 2004 addressing regional technology and innovation strategies which will bring together over 30 European regions (organised in conjunction with DG REGIO). This conference, and related activities, will focus on policies for SM E clusters and policies to link SM Es with universities. -Future activity on “innovation-led policies for regional developm ent” for the 2005-6 program m e of work as part of the activity “The OECD Policy Agenda for Growth: the

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Regional Dim ension”. This activity will focus on the link between regional innovation strategies and growth, including policies for SM Es and clusters.

SW AC SW AC’s Unit “Agricultural Transform ation and Sustainable Developm ent”

On-going work on positive roles that agri-business can play in fostering agricultural innovation and developm ent in W est Africa Future activities: To be defined with partners in W est Africa

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT)

Developm ent and m aintenance of the Asia-Pacific Business e-Coach (www.business-asia.net) and Tech M onitor (www.techm onitor.net) on Innovation M anagem ent in SM Es Future activities: Upgrading and m aintaining the innovation related content developed for the business e-Coach CD ROM and integrating it with the www.business-asia.net website being developed for addressing several issues concerning SM Es, including innovation.

UNESCW A Private Sector and Enterprise Developm ent (PSED) Team at the Sustainable Developm ent and Productivity Division (SDPD)

A study entitled: “Potential of M anufacturing Sm all and M edium Enterprises for Innovation in Selected ESCW A Countries” was prepared in 2001. The study was discussed in an expert group m eeting organized by ESCW A on “Enhancing Com petitiveness through the Prom otion of Innovative Approaches in Sm all and M edium Enterprises” (Bahrain, 10-12 June 2002). Future activities: W ork will continue on enhancing com petitiveness and innovation through the developm ent of clusters of SM Es

UNECLAC/CEPAL Division of Production, Productivity and M anagem ent

Technology policies oriented towards SM Es in Brazil, Chile and M exico. Policy analysis and suggestions 2001/2004

UNIDO Agro-Industries and Sectoral Support Branch Energy and Cleaner Production Branch Investm ent and Technology Prom otion Branch Agro-Industries and Sectoral Support Branch

Technical co-operation projects help to design and develop better technology for agro-industrial sectors. For exam ple, in Ghana m anual harvesters for Cassava were developed and adapted to local circum stances and series m anufacturing. Developm ent and com m ercialisation of new environm entally-sound products, especially from by-products of other production. These have included whey fruit drinks, in Latin Am erica, packaging m aterial in Uganda, and bio-diesel from palm oil in Costa Rica. Building capacity of Technology Centres in developing countries to provide inform ation, advice, and training on upgrading technology used in production in various industrial sectors. For exam ple, assistance in the creation and operation of Leather and Leather Products Technology Centres is being provided in Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Tunisia. Building capacities at local institutions that will then assist enterprises in product innovation. The local institutions train enterprise staff in using sim ple m ethods to initiate and carry out a process of product analysis and identification of product im provem ents, taking into consideration cost, quality and environm ent. Future activities: Developm ent of new products for various countries that are adapted to local

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UNIDO

circum stances and series m anufacturing, such as rural palm oil expellers and related equipm ent for Ghana. Expansion of the new products to m ore countries and developm ent of new products such as bio-fertilizer and anim al feed from bagasse or bags from fish skins.

W orld Bank/ IFC IFC’s SM E Departm ent

SM E Toolkit program , which creates an online resource for SM Es. Future activities: Continuation of present activities

W IPO SM Es Division; Division for Infrastructure Services and Innovation Prom otion

Activities in the field of innovation and technology for SM Es and SM E support institutions include training program s on innovation and intellectual property rights; publications and guides; policy papers; com pilation of best practices and case studies; policy guidelines; the W IPO Trophy for Innovative Enterprises and a series of additional activities. In addition, the W IPO Patent Inform ation Services (W PIS) provides patent searches to institutions, com panies and public sector research centers in developing countries.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC -APEC Centre for Technology Exchange and Training for Sm all and M edium Scale

Enterprises (ACTETSM E); -Enabling e-M ES Environm ent— Trough Survey and e-Com m unity-based Capacity building; -APEC E-Com m erce Sym posium on SM Es; SM E Portal Hub; -W orkshop on Electronic Com m erce: Towards Building a Favourable Environm ent for an Accelerated Adoption of E-Com m erce by APEC’s SM Es; -The 3rd APEC SM E Technology Conference and Fair

ASEAN SM EW G

Future activities: 1 Feasibility study on M axim ising the contribution of Intellectual Property Creation and Intellectual Property Rights to SM E Growth and Com petitiveness

EIB Group EIB Group - Innovation 2000 Initiative “i2i-2010” http://www.eib.org/ EIF - ETF Start-up http://www.eif.org/ EIB Group

The Innovation 2010 Initiative is rooted in the EIB Group's experience with im plem enting the Innovation 2000 Initiative launched in June 2000 to take forward the conclusions of the Lisbon European Council, aim ed at fostering the developm ent of a knowledge and innovation-based European econom y. Designed both to continue and refocus the Innovation 2000 Initiative, “i2i-2010” reflects the long-term nature of the Lisbon and Barcelona objectives. It provides a fram ework for EIB Group action until the end of the decade and establishes an new indicative lending envelope of EUR 20 billion for the period June 2003 to Decem ber 2006. The EIB Group will then conduct a m id-term review to fine-tune the initiative’s priorities and instrum ents up to the end of 2010. To recap, i2i disposes of: - M edium and long-term EIB finance, often in the form of risk-sharing or structured loans, and - EIF equity participations and counter-guarantees designed to stim ulate the creation and developm ent of sm all business by providing equity in the form of venture capital or facilitating access to bank credit. ETF Start-up is a facility funded by the European Com m unity designed to support the establishm ent and financing of innovative Sm all and M edium -sized Enterprises (SM Es) in their start-up phase. ETF Start-up is m anaged by the European Investm ent Fund (EIF) on behalf of the

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European Com m ission. The EIF will m ake the selection of the investm ents into appropriate venture capital funds. Future activities: The current M AP m andate will last until 2005. Negotiations are already underway with DG Enterprise of the European Com m ission for an extension of the m andate, from 2006-2010.

INSM E Support to SM Es trough the INSM E Association’s activities at institutional and operational level, in particular: Networking activities: through its network of public and private bodies INSM E supports the provision of business support services in the sector of innovation and technology transfer to SM Es (exchange of know how and expertise in innovation and technology transfer); Benchm arking activities: INSM E benchm arks existing m easures and program m es at regional and global level; Creation of a perm anent international forum : for exchanging m ethodologies, approaches and good practices in order to foster access to products, technology inform ation and services (also E-services) on innovation and technology transfer available for SM Es and to im prove their com m ercialisation; INSM E Think Tank: Group of independent international experts with the m ain objectives of providing INSM E with innovative proposals and advice in order to generate new ideas about strategies, policies, m ethodologies, projects, products, services, etc. related to innovation and technology transfer with the aim to support interm ediaries’ com petitiveness and SM Es; Facilitator of business opportunities: assistance in finding new partners for projects and collaborations and in exchanging knowledge, good and bad practices; Roundtable on the them e of “Enabling Growth and Innovation in SM Es”, in M alm ö on 26th February. This event is being organised in collaboration with IKED (International Organisation for Knowledge Econom y and Enterprise Developm ent). Future activities: Continuation of present activities and INSM E 2005 International Conference, “International Co-operation to Seize Innovation Opportunities for SM Es”, will take place in Barcelona on day two of the INSM E Association m eeting (14th of April). Acclaim ed international experts on this subject will present in workshops divided by them e.

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

Future activities: Collection of best practices regarding Cham bers support services

IKED See response 13.4

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ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE/ SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

See 4.1

CTP See 4.1

DCD DCD/POVNET

Linking ICTs and m icrocredit facility (e.g. Gram eenPhone case study)

GOV Publication: Inform ation and Com m unication Technologies and Rural Developm ent (OECD, 2001) Please see: www.oecd.org/gov/territorialpolicies Future activities: Future activity on the role of ICT infrastructure, particularly broadband deploym ent priorities and absorption processes in regional developm ent, including im plications for rural SM Es (program m e of work 2005-6).

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Trade and Investm ent Division UNESCAP / Trade and Investm ent Division Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT)

Strengthening technology incubation system s for creating high-technology based enterprises in Asia and the Pacific – regional consultative m eeting (2000-2001) Prom otion of business and technology incubation system s for im proved com petitiveness of SM Es – regional and national m eetings and sem inars (2002-2003) Developm ent of Business Incubators and Business Incubator networks in Asia and the Pacific. Developm ent and m aintenance of the Asia-Pacific Business e-Coach (www.business-asia.net) on Business Incubator and Tech-Entrepreneurship Developm ent. Future activities: Sub-national innovation system s and technology capacity building policies to enhance com petitiveness of SM Es – study, regional m eetings and establishm ent of network (2005-2006) Exchange of experiences and best practices am ong Asia-Pacific countries in the field of tech-entrepreneurship developm ent and tech business incubation. M aintaining the content on Tech Entrepreneurship Developm ent on the www.business-asia.net website.

UNESCW A SDPD Team s on: Private Sector and Enterprise Developm ent; Technology for Sustainable Developm ent.

W ork is being undertaken by ESCW A to set up Pilot M ultipurpose Technology Com m unity Centres (M TCCs) in an im poverished region in North Lebanon. Services will be provided to enhance em ployability of to local inhabitants and growth/com petitiveness of local enterprises. Four such centres have been equipped and will becom e operational during the first quarter of 2004. Future activities: On the basis of results achieved in pilot M TCCs, ESCW A will seek to dissem inate practices and m odalities in all its m em ber countries.

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ACTIVITIES

UNESCW A

Additionally, the Sm art Com m unity Initiative, presently being prom oted by ESCW A in two m em ber countries will feature M TCCs designed to cater for em ploym ent creation and enterprise prom otion. Enterprise targeted with special focus include those engaged in activities such as agro-food processing and water treatm ent.

UNECE i) Team of Specialists on Internet Enterprise Developm ent (ii) RASP and Regional Adviser on Entrepreneurship and SM Es, Perm anent Secretary of the BSEC and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (iii) Senior Social Affairs Officer of the Executive Secretary Office, RASP, Regional Adviser on Entrepreneurship and SM Es & TOS on W om en Entrepreneurship

(i) In 2000, the UNECE E-Transition Program has been introduced. It com prises of a num ber of sub-program m es, which UNECE has been im plem enting in co-operation with other m ultilateral, regional and national governm ental agencies and NGOs organisations. (ii)W orkshop on “Internet, E-com m erce & SM Es” was organised in Istanbul in 2002 (iii) The Second UNECE Forum of W om en Entrepreneurs held on 17-18 M arch 2003 in Geneva, discussed the m easures to im prove access to e-business for wom en entrepreneurs.

UNECLAC/CEPAL ECLAC Buenos Aires Office

Creation and strengthening of enterprises in Argentina, 2003

UNIDO Sm all and M edium Enterprises Branch

The Inform ation Com m unication Technology program m e provides technical co-operation activities designed to assist the SM E sector in various countries. One m ajor project type involves building capacity in a country to establish m echanism s to facilitate SM E access to inform ation, especially inform ation available in various governm ent and private sector agencies and institutions that is otherwise difficult for SM Es to access or to use. Inform ation sources are upgraded to be able to distribute their inform ation in a tim ely m anner and appropriate form at, and local business resource centers are established to be the interface between these inform ation sources and SM Es. Assessm ent and advice on Inform ation Com m unication Technology-related policies for SM Es is also provided. The second m ajor type of project involves capacity building of local institutions to provide Inform ation Com m unication Technology and e-com m erce training and advice to SM Es. SM Es are then assisted to upgrade their Inform ation Com m unication Technology capabilities, including e-com m erce, when relevant. Future activities: UNIDO will expand its Inform ation Com m unication Technology activities to help develop the overall Inform ation Com m unication Technology sector in the country, especially in regard to its access by SM Es. This will include undertaking Inform ation Com m unication Technology assessm ent studies, establishing Inform ation Com m unication Technology subcontracting centers, and developing new training packages for Inform ation Com m unication Technology related training program m es.

W IPO SM Es Division; Division for Infrastructure Services and Innovation Prom otion

Survey on intellectual property services of incubators; training activities on technology m anagem ent and intellectual property for m anagers of incubators and science parks (see www.wipo.int/sm e for a list of forthcom ing training events) Future activities: Continuation of present activities

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O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC See 4.1

ASEAN SM EW G

Future activities : See answer under 2.1

EIB Group

See 2.1

EC Benchm arking of incubators In the fram ework of the Best Procedure, the Com m ission carried out a benchm arking project, focussing on the m anagem ent and the prom otion of incubators137. The aim was to identify indicators of their perform ance, including operational benchm arks. The Best Procedure project, concluded in January 2002, found that 90 % of all start-ups set up inside a business incubator are still active three years later, and that the public cost of creating jobs inside incubators is €4 000, which is very low com pared with other public m eans and program m es. The 850 European business incubators assist in creating 29,000 new sustainable jobs every year in enterprises that are m ore viable than those set up outside incubators. The Gate2Grow th Incubator Forum The Gate2Growth Incubator Forum is a pan-European network of professional m anagers of technology incubators and incubators linked to research institutes and universities, launched in 2002. It is supported by the Com m ission as part of its Gate2Growth Initiative. It aim s to contribute to raising professional standards and to the exchange of experience and good practice am ong incubators and business support services at European level. The network aim s to have 150 incubator m em bers by 2005.

INSM E Survey on “ Business incubation and venture capital”: This survey is an international survey on synergies and challenges carried out by a study group am ong som e INSM E M em bers, com posed of researchers from the Institute for Industrial Prom otion (IPI) and the International Organisation for Knowledge Econom y and Enterprise Developm ent (IKED). See also 1.1

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

Future activities: Collection of best practices regarding Cham bers support services

EURO-M ED TDS Secretariat

Future activities: Prom otion of juvenile and fem ale entrepreneurs – Assistance to the creation of new enterprises

Yes for Europe (TUGIAD) IT Com m ittee

Panel on “E-Com m erce”

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4.3 FINANCING ISSUES (ACCESS TO VENTURE CAPITAL, ETC.)

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

See 1.1

CTP See 4.1

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT)

Bridging com m unication gap between SM Es and investors through the content m ade available on the Centre’s websites. Future activities: Developing a web-based platform at www.technology4sm e.com facilitating access of innovative SM Es to finance through e-com m unities, m atch-m aking and investm ent project developm ent roadm aps.

UNECE RASP and Regional Adviser on Entrepreneurship and SM Es

Sem inar on Venture Capital & SM Es was held in Poland in the M inistry of Econom y in 2000. Future activities: Organising Expert M eeting on Best Practice on Venture Capital at the UNECE region. Activities expected to continue

ILO Cooperative Branch/LED Program m e SFP

Local Econom ic Developm ent Agency M aputo co-invests in local start-ups See Table 1

UNIDO Energy and Cleaner Production Branch

UNIDO’s Investm ent and Technology Prom otion Office in the United Kingdom funds projects for som e UNIDO National Cleaner Production Centers to foster environm entally sound investm ent technology and business co-operation projects. Future activities: Expand co-operation with other Investm ent Technology Prom otion Offices

W orld Bank/ IFC IFC’s Project Developm ent Facilities

IFC has introduced technology to im prove a bank or venture capital firm ’s efficiency. Future activities: Activities expected to continue

W IPO SM Es Division

Studies relating to the im portance of IP rights for enhancing access to financing.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC See 4.1

ASEAN SM EW G

See answer under 1.1, and 2.2

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4.3 FINANCING ISSUES (ACCESS TO VENTURE CAPITAL, ETC.)

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

CEI CEI W orking Group on SM Es (Body in charge of the developm ent of CEI priorities in the SM E sector) is assisting the im plem entation of projects for financing innovative SM Es

EIB Group See 1.1 and 1.2, 2.1 and 2.2

EC Risk Capital Action Plan Risk capital is a key source of financing for new and innovative enterprises. The Com m unity’s strategy on risk capital is em bodied in the 1998 Risk Capital Action Plan. Successive European Councils have acknowledged its im portance and called for its im plem entation by 2003. The RCAP identifies a range of policy areas in which action is required to prom ote the developm ent of an efficient and integrated m arket for venture capital in the EU. These are (1) integration of national m arkets; (2) institutional and regulatory reform ; (3) tax reform ; (4) prom otion of high-tech SM Es; (5) developm ent of appropriate hum an resources; and (5) fostering of an entrepreneurial culture. Business angels To prom ote business angel financing, the Com m ission, in the fram ework of the Best Procedure, in Novem ber 2002 published a report on benchm arking business angel policies in the M em ber States. The report noted that the supply of start-up and early-stage equity finance has becom e m ore and m ore dependent on business angels, who are wealthy individual investors. The reasons for this include changes in the banking sector, which have m ade lending unattractive for banks due to low m argins and high overhead costs. In addition, venture capital funds are also often not able to accom m odate the large num ber of sm all deals with heavy due diligence requirem ents. Business angel networks bring together angels and increase the efficiency of the m atching of angels and entrepreneurs by m aking it likelier that angels find suitable entrepreneurs. To close existing risk capital m atching gaps and com plem ent existing regional initiatives, business angel networks, investm ent forum s, business plan com petitions, etc., the Com m ission supports a pan-European database of investm ent opportunities, www.Gate2Growth.com , in order to help innovative entrepreneurs and SM Es access existing networks of financiers, corporate growth and incubator experts and patent officers. Innovation and Technology Equity Capital Pilot Project – I-TEC The I-TEC (Innovation and Technology Equity Capital) pilot project started in 1997 in co-operation with the EIF and a num ber of contracts are still ongoing. It aim ed to encourage econom ically viable, high-quality early-stage investm ents in technologically innovative European SM Es, by building lasting capacity within venture capital operators to appraise and m anage such investm ents. In addition to financial aid, I-TEC offered participating firm s access to the Eurotech Data inform ation service, which on dem and prepares, within two weeks, a dossier on a technology, m arket sector or product. I-TecNet I-TecNet is a pan-European network of early stage technology venture capital investors, launched in 2002. It is part of the Com m ission’s Gate2Growth Initiative and builds on the achievem ents of I-TEC. I-TecNet aim s to im prove the capacity of European venture capital operators to invest in early stage technology SM Es. Thanks to I-TecNet, entrepreneurs can access a network of around 70 capable venture capital investors, interested in business projects with a high degree of innovation

INSM E Them atic W orking Group on “W hy is raising external finance especially challenging for innovative SM Es and Interm ediaries?”, e-discussion dedicated to innovation finance and venture capital, public-private partnerships and how to strengthen venture industries

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4.3 FINANCING ISSUES (ACCESS TO VENTURE CAPITAL, ETC.)

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

Basel II with focus on R&D 6th Fram ework program m e: extension of budget for funding of SM Es Future activities: Ongoing

EURO-M ED TDS Secretariat

Future activities: Inform ation about public and private financing solutions; help in the start-up phase

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4.4 LABOUR SKILLS AND M ANAGEM ENT CAPABILITIES ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATION FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

See 3.2

CTP See 4.1

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Trade and Investm ent Division

Training SM Es on quality function deploym ent

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC See 4.1

ASEAN SM EW G

See answer under 1.1, and 2.2

INSM E The INSM E Portal: (www.insm e.org) is conceived as a free inform ation hub and platform for exchange, focused on innovation diffusion and technology transfer for SM Es and related issues. A sub-set of inform ation, services and tools will be increasingly custom ised for the m ain target com m unities of the portal: Policy M akers, Interm ediaries and SM Es. INSM Enews: the m onthly newsletter, freely available and digitally released by the INSM E Secretariat, is a key m eans to inform about the current activities of the INSM E Network, its online and offline services and the m ain issues related to innovation and technology transfer internationally. “Ask INSM E” Service: It is an on-line service conceived to provide professional and tim ely answers to specific questions on “Innovation M anagem ent and Technology Transfer”. A short-list of pilot target subjects: -Innovation Angels: transform ing the technology transfer process from "on-dem and" to "on-offer", enhancing the m atchm aking between dem and and supply of technology; -Developm ent of Industrial Cluster dynam ics: ways and m eans to foster interoperability between SM Es in particular through the adoption of ICT; -Innovative M ethods for Innovation: analysing creativity techniques to breakthrough problem s and approach radical innovation.

Future activities: Continuation of present activities

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4.5 INNOVATIVE NETW ORKS (CO-OPERATION AM ONG SM ES, W ITH LARGE FIRM S OR PUBLIC CENTRES AT NATIONAL

OR INTERNATIONAL LEVELS) ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

See 4.1

CTP See 4.1

GOV The Learning Region study (final report published as Cities and Regions in the New Learning Econom y (OECD, 2001)), based on evaluation of 5 case study regions and their policies to build innovation capacity through integrated networks. Future activities: In the fram ework of them atic analysis on m etropolitan areas, a future activity will analyse how large cities design and im plem ent innovation strategies.

SW AC SW AC’s Unit “Agricultural Transform ation and Sustainable Developm ent”

W ide regional consultations will help establish regional networks to foster agricultural innovations Future activities: to be determ ined

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Trade and Investm ent Division

Building science and technology infrastructure in the Tum en River Area –regional and national m eetings and sem inars Future activities: Increasing linkages between SM Es and larger enterprises in the G reater M ekong Subregion (2005-2006).

UNECE UNECE TRADE Division

The M ultiplier Point trade within the region. The network particularly seeks to support m em ber States with econom ies in transition. As at 27 February 2003, 51 organisations were accredited in 25 CITs as m ultiplier points. Future activities: Continuation of the developm ent of the M ultiplier Point Network in accordance with its established Term s of References.

UNECLAC/CEPAL Division of Production, Productivity and M anagem ent

Future activities: Local and Regional Innovation System s and policies –2004-2006

UNIDO Energy and Cleaner Production Branch Sm all and M edium Enterprises Branch.

Establishm ent of a Latin Am erican cleaner production network to share experience and foster the developm ent of co-operation projects with private and public sectors and international donor institutions. Prom otion of the UNIDO Partnership Program m e, fostering co-operation between UNIDO, the public sector and m ultinational co-operation for sustainable supply chain developm ent.

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4.5 INNOVATIVE NETW ORKS (CO-OPERATION AM ONG SM ES, W ITH LARGE FIRM S OR PUBLIC CENTRES AT NATIONAL

OR INTERNATIONAL LEVELS) ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

UNIDO Agro-Industries and Sectoral Support Branch

Assistance in the creation and operation of “Sectors Technology Centers”. Technical Centers are strengthened or enhanced to create skills, design new products, and to introduce or diffuse new technologies at national as well as at regional levels. Future activities: Expand regional network to African region. Continuation of present activities, in particular in com bination with the Corporate Social Responsibility program m e in order to ensure responsible and sustainable supply chain developm ent, creating business opportunities for SM E suppliers in developm ent countries. W ork will continue in this area possibly extending to other countries and sectors.

W IPO SM Es Division; Division for Infrastructure Services and Innovation Prom otion

Sem inars, studies and expert m eetings relating to university-industry relations particularly in the field of technology transfer. The W IPO University Initiative aim s to support IP focal points in universities in developing countries, providing training and access to patent inform ation databases.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC See 4.1

ASEAN SM EW G

1 On-going prom otion of inter-firm networking and linkages at national and international levels 2. On- going prom otion of business m atching forum at national and international levels (including through franchising) Future activities: 1. Feasibility study of a code of conduct for subcontractors, including SM Es 2. ASEAN-India Conference on SM Es Going International, New Delhi, M arch 2004

EIB Group EIF’s Policy & Institutional Coordination Division is responsible for this activity

EIF currently participates in a working group with the European Venture Capital Association regarding legal issues for venture capital/private equity investors. Future activities: EIF will participate on a case-by-case basis in working groups, i.e. in the past has m ainly participated in working groups with DG Regio and DG Enterprise of the European Com m ission.

EC

The Innovation Relay Centre (IRC) Netw ork The m ission of the Innovation Relay Centres (IRCs) is to support innovation and transnational technological co-operation in Europe with a range of specialised business support services. IRC services are prim arily targeted at technology-oriented SM Es, but are also available to large com panies, research institutes, universities, technology centres and innovation agencies. The first Innovation Relay Centres were established in 1995, with the support of the Com m ission. The aim was to create a pan-European platform to stim ulate transnational technology transfer and prom ote innovation services. Today, 68 regional IRCs span 31 countries ( all the EU M em ber States, the candidate countries, and Iceland, Israel, Norway and Switzerland).

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4.5 INNOVATIVE NETW ORKS (CO-OPERATION AM ONG SM ES, W ITH LARGE FIRM S OR PUBLIC CENTRES AT NATIONAL

OR INTERNATIONAL LEVELS) ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

EC

Prospective policy approaches will be m ore co-ordinated and bundled under the European Research Area conception. TTI, ProTon Europe, PAXIS are part of this policy Technology transfer institutions The Best Procedure project on technology transfer institutions (TTI), launched in 2002, aim s to contribute to the im provem ent of technology transfer from research to enterprises ProTon Europe ProTon Europe is a pan-European network of Technology Offices linked to Public Research Organisations and Universities, launched in 2002. It is supported by the Com m ission as part of its Gate2Growth Initiative. A significant am ount of world-class research is undertaken in universities and research institutions in Europe. To capitalise fully on the potential of these public research organisations (“PRO”), it is essential that com m ercialisation becom es an integral part of the research process. The interface between PROs and industry is tended by technology interface structures of various natures referred to in m any countries as “Transfer Office” (TO). ProTon Europe aim s to build up a m em bership of at least 250 PROs throughout Europe. PAXIS The results of an 18-m onth pilot phase dem onstrated the feasibility of PAXIS (Pilot Action of Excellence on Innovative Start-ups) as a tool for the support of the Com m unity innovation policy. The operational objective of PAXIS was to contribute – through a practical approach – to the identification, analysis, validation and dissem ination of local conditions of excellence for the creation of innovative firm s. The m ain outcom es were indirect support to the creation of innovative start-ups, and enhanced knowledge on m echanism s facilitating the setting-up and developm ent of innovative firm s at European level. The project also provided a sound basis for the definition of the Com m unity innovation policy. See 6.5

INSM E Them atic W orking Group on Inform ation and Com m unication Technology (ICT), e-discussion dedicated to the global electronic m arket and other related knowledge them es such as National & Regional Program m es, M obile System s & Infrastructure, Telecom m unications, M obile Services, Networking, Clusters, Industrial Applications, eBusiness fram eworks, Interfacing to IT Standardisation, M odelling and Integration, Interoperatibility and Legal Procedures. INSM E Pilot Projects : Projects aim ed at the ideation, experim entation and assessm ent of innovative practices, of a sectoral and/or factoral nature. M ore specifically the INSM E Projects aim at stim ulating SM E’s Innovation processes through the creation, on a reduced scale, of networks of interm ediaries, services and initiatives which support Innovation and Technology Transfer (TT) in line with INSM E’s spirit and objectives. 1. Fashion Net is a network of interm ediaries to foster transnational research & innovation in SM Es in the fashion industry system at European level 2. The “RésIT” project aim s at fostering Tunisian Technical Centres capacity to provide specialised and m arket-oriented services internationally, with a view to developing relationships within the M editerranean basin. Future activities: Continuation of present activities and identification of new Pilot Projects

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4.5 INNOVATIVE NETW ORKS (CO-OPERATION AM ONG SM ES, W ITH LARGE FIRM S OR PUBLIC CENTRES AT NATIONAL

OR INTERNATIONAL LEVELS) ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

Future activities: Collection of best practices regarding Cham bers support services linking SM Es to research bodies, prom oting the idea of innovation networks with SM Es.

EURO-M ED TDS Em ed-tds.com M anagem ent and Technical Board

Pilot Phase of Em ed-tds.com project: an adm inistrated network for B2B electronic com m erce in the agrifood sector Future activities: The creation of an e-m arket technical platform which could be adapted to other trade sectors and/or interconnected with other e-com m erce national and transnational platform s

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4.6 PATENTS AND PROPERTY RIGHTS ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

See 6.2 and 6.3

CTP See 4.1

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT)

Content concerning IPR m anagem ent with focus on SM Es was developed and m ade available on the Asia-Pacific Business e-Coach CD ROM . Future activities: Upgrading the content to a system ic IPR m anagem ent approach for a knowledge-based globalizing econom y.

UNECE W orking Party on International Legal and Com m ercial Practice (W P.5) in co-operation with W IPO

Accom plished guidelines were prepared on how to prepare business plans for borrowing from com m ercial banks. Current: Exploring ways in which SM Es can access legal services and arbitration to resolve com m ercial disputes. Future activities: Further activities see at http://w ww .unece-ipr.org/. Preparing a toolkit for policy m akers on how to legalize entrepreneurship am ongst poor and disadvantaged people.

ILO SFP

Country study India: Property rights and collateral Future activities: Advice on revision of succession and m atrim onial law

W IPO Various divisions. Focal point for SM Es and SM E support institutions: the SM Es Division

All activities of the organisation are in the field of intellectual property rights. Activities targeted directly to SM Es and SM E support institutions include: training activities for entrepreneurs, business m anagers and policy-m akers; assistance to SM E support institutions for the developm ent of IP services to SM Es; com pilation of best practices and case studies; publication of the “Intellectual Property for Business” series and other publications targeted to SM Es; developm ent of training m odules; distance learning courses and a wide range of additional activities on intellectual property for SM Es. Further inform ation available at: www.wipo.int/sm e. In addition, W IPO provides a series of services directly to the public sector. These include the global protection system s (i.e. the Patent Co-operation Treaty for inventions, the M adrid System for the International Registration of M arks and the Hague System for the International Deposit of Industrial Designs) that facilitate the application procedures for enterprises to obtain IP protection in foreign m arkets. The W IPO Arbitration and M ediation Center is also a direct service to enterprises for solving IP disputes. Future activities: Continue current activities and place greater em phasis in the developm ent of IP Inform ation Centers within national SM E support institutions (e.g. cham bers of com m erce).

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4.6 PATENTS AND PROPERTY RIGHTS ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC See 4.1

ASEAN

SM EW G See answer under 4.1

EC Intellectual property protection In respect of intellectual property protection, SM Es could be stim ulated to be innovative if there was an adequate Intellectual Property protection system . The Com m ission’s proposal for a Regulation creating the Com m unity Patent 68, a priority target in the Internal M arket Strategy, is under discussion in the Council. The Com m ission has also launched several other initiatives aim ed at supporting innovation by SM Es. In 2001, it launched a study on the “Role of national patent offices, the European Patent Office as well as the Japanese and US patent offices in prom oting the patent system ”. The aim of this study is to identify best practice am ongst national patent offices in the area of innovation prom otion. Assisting SM Es on Intellectual Property Right (IPR) m atters the Intellectual Property Rights Helpdesk (IPR Helpdesk) assists an im portant num ber of European SM Es (am ong others) participating in Com m unity funded RTD projects. It was launched in 1998 as a Com m ission pilot project and will continues its operation until Decem ber 2004 under a new contract co-financed by the Com m ission. http://www.ipr-helpdesk.org

INSM E Future activities: INSM E-W IPO Training Program m e on the “Role of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) for Innovation in Sm all and M edium -Sized Enterprise”. The training program m e will be held from 11 to 13 M ay, 2005 in Geneva, Switzerland, at W IPO’s headquarters.

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

YES for Europe (TUGIAD) IT Com m ittee

Panel on “Patents and Trade M arks”

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4.7 OTHER ISSUES ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) DCD DCD/POVNET

Donor ICT Strategies M atrix (CD-Rom ) Future activities: ICT and infrastructure issues; ICT and private sector issues.

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNECE Coordinating Unit for Operational Activities and Team of Specialists on Internet Enterprise Developm ent

UNECE has launched the series of country assessm ent reports on "Towards A Knowledge-Based Econom y". 14 Country assessm ent reports are prepared so far.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

EC Gate2Grow th – The European portal for grow th businesses

The ultim ate objective of the Gate2Growth Initiative is to support innovative entrepreneurs in Europe. It provides a com m on portal for technology entrepreneurs, innovation professionals and interm ediaries. The initiative focuses on helping im portant support players to im prove their capacity to assist entrepreneurs by networking and exchanging experience and good practice at European level. These include early stage technology venture capital investors, m anagers of technology incubators, m anagers of industrial liaison and technology transfer offices linked to universities and research centres, academ ics in entrepreneurship, finance research and teaching. Gate2Growth thus provides tools, infrastructure and support services directed to innovative entrepreneurs as well as to their supporters. In response to a request by the European Parliam ent64, this one-stop-shop risk capital website will be further developed in 2003, in co-operation with regional and national initiatives in order to give these an additional European scope.

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

YES for Europe YES for Europe Secretariat

YES Sum m it (26-27 Novem ber 2004, Brussels – Belgium ): Innovation

YES for Europe (TUGIAD) IT Com m ittee

Panel on “Digital Signature”

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PART 5: LO CAL DEVELO PM ENT (INCLUDING SO CIAL ENTREPRENEURSH IP)

Entrepreneurship and SM Es development have an important local dimension. Indeed, facilitating increasing rates of enterprise creation is an almost universal concern for local authorities who seek to accelerate development or reverse decline in localities, whether disadvantaged or prosperous. M uch of the policy interest reflects a belief that the creation of new firms and small firm growth will facilitate the achievement of important economic and social objectives. Programmes aimed at reducing social distress and unemployment, including chronic unemployment, have been implemented in many countries. New enterprises can procure a range of benefits that contribute to local development, including: augmentation in employment and incomes; increased tax revenue; enhanced provision of services for consumers and businesses; and possibly, demonstration and motivational effects

Determinants of rates of enterprise creation at the local level include demographics, unemployment, wealth, the educational and occupational profiles of the workforce, the prevalence of other small firms and infrastructure endowment. Thus, rates of enterprise creation can differ markedly across regions within countries.

But there are also factors that impede entrepreneurial activities in disadvantaged areas: limited social and business networks; constraints in access to finance; a lack of work experience and skills, and a lack of role models; cultural obstacles, including linguistic barriers. W hile these obstacles are not exclusive to deprived localities, their prevalence, the likelihood that they will occur simultaneously, and their severity are often greater in poorer communities. These factors need special policy measures. It should be added that while enterprise creation can be critical to local economic development, the promotion of entrepreneurship is not sufficient in itself. Comprehensive actions have to be implemented to minimise potential limits to entrepreneurship oriented strategies.

The issue of local development is of particular interest for developing and emerging economies; it is also related to the role of SM Es in job creation. This issue constitutes therefore a cross-cutting issue and may be dealt with in other sections [Such as, Part 1) Financing, Part 2) Entrepreneurship, and Firm Creation; Part 3) Employment and Human Resources, Part 9) SM Es in Developing and Emerging Economies; Part 11) W omen Entrepreneurs and W omen-Owned Businesses].

The following sub-issues are presented separately in this section:

5.1 SM E and Local Development Policies 5.2 SM E and Local Partnership 5.3 Local Partnerships Facilitating Access to Foreign M arkets (Networking

for Export Promotion, FDI and Sub-contracting) 5.4 Social Entrepreneurship 5.6 Other Issues

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PARTIE 5 : DÉVELO PPEM ENT LO CAL (Y COM PRIS L’ENTREPRENEURIAT SO CIAL)

Les politiques relatives à l’entrepreneuriat et au développement des PM E présentent une dimension locale non négligeable. De fait, accroître le taux de création d’entreprises constitue une préoccupation quasiment universelle des collectivités locales soucieuses d’accélérer le développement ou de s’opposer au déclin de localités aussi bien défavorisées que prospères. L’intérêt manifesté par les pouvoirs publics se fonde en grande partie sur la conviction que la création d’entreprises et la croissance de petites entreprises existantes permet d’atteindre plus facilement des objectifs économiques et sociaux importants. Dans de nombreux pays, des programmes ayant pour but de lutter contre le chômage, y compris le chômage endémique, et la détresse sociale ont été mis en œuvre. Les nouvelles entreprises sont susceptibles d’apporter toute une série d’avantages qui contribuent au développement local parmi lesquels l’augmentation de l’emploi et du revenu, l’accroissement des recettes fiscales, l’amélioration de la fourniture de services aux usagers et aux entreprises, et éventuellement des effets d’exemplarité de motivation auprès des acteurs locaux.

Les déterminants du taux de création d’entreprises à l’échelon local incluent : la démographie, le chômage, la richesse, le profil éducatif et professionnel de la main-d’œuvre, la prévalence d’autres petites entreprises et la dotation en infrastructures. En conséquence, ce taux peut varier de manière très sensible d’une région à l’autre à l’intérieur d’un même pays.

M ais il existe aussi des facteurs qui freinent les activités entrepreneuriales dans les zones défavorisées : nombre limité de réseaux sociaux et d’entreprises, entraves dans l’accès au financement, absence d’expérience et de compétences professionnelles, absence de modèles auxquels s’identifier, obstacles culturels dont la barrière de la langue. M ême si ces obstacles ne se limitent pas exclusivement aux localités défavorisées, leur prévalence, la probabilité pour qu’ils se dressent simultanément et leur gravité sont souvent plus aiguës dans les communautés pauvres. Ces facteurs exigent des mesures spécifiques de la part des pouvoirs publics. Ajoutons que si la création d’entreprises peut être déterminante pour le développement économique local, la promotion de l’esprit d’entreprise est insuffisante en soi. Il convient de mettre en œuvre des politiques très complètes pour réduire au minimum les limites potentielles des stratégies axées sur l’entrepreneuriat.

La question du développement local intéresse tout particulièrement les économies en développement et émergentes. Elle est également liée au rôle des PM E dans la création d’emplois. Il s’agit donc d’une question transversale sur laquelle d’autres sections pourront revenir [comme, par exemple, Partie 1) Financement, Partie 2) Entrepreneuriat et création d’entreprises, Partie 3) Emploi et ressources humaines, Partie 9) PM E et développement (économies en développement et émergentes), et 1 Partie 1) Femmes chefs d’entreprise et entreprises appartenant à des femmes].

Les sous-rubriques suivantes sont présentées séparément dans la présente section :

5.1 PM E et politiques de développement local 5.2 PM E et partenariats locaux 5.3 Partenariats locaux facilitant l’accès aux marchés internationaux

(création de réseaux de promotion des exportations, IDE et sous-traitance)

5.4 Entrepreneuriat social 5.5 Autres questions

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5.1 SM E AND LOCAL DEVELOPM ENT POLICIES ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / LEED Program m e ‘Local Entrepreneurship Review’ case studies – (i) Trentino, Italy, (ii) W est M idlands,

UK, (iii) Sinaloa, M exico Publication (2003) ‘Entrepreneurship and Local Econom ic Developm ent’ Future activities: Three further ‘Local Entrepreneurship Review’ case studies. Publication of findings of the ‘Local Entrepreneurship Review’ series

GOV TDPC

OECD’s work on regional developm ent and policies for rural and urban areas is centred on the factors that generate growth and im prove com petitiveness, and that im prove the im pact of FDI on regional growth, particularly through linkages with SM E and input in the regional innovation system . See for m ore detail: www.oecd.org/gov/territorialpolicies Future activities: Future activity entitled The OECD Policy Agenda for Growth: the Regional Dim ension includes “innovation-led policies for regional developm ent” (2005-6 program m e of work) Ongoing OECD national territorial reviews of Japan, Finland and France, to be com pleted in 2004, will address the fram ework conditions and policy approaches to im prove the com petitiveness of local firm s and their contribution to econom ic growth. Them atic reviews of Pusan (Korea) and M exico City will address integration of national and local econom ic policy strategies, including enterprise and investm ent policies

SW AC SW AC’s Unit “Regional Integration and Local Developm ent” in co-operation with the Developm ent Perspectives Unit

SW AC has perform ed previous work on local econom ies in W est Africa (ECOLOC) and assem bled very com prehensive inform ation/data, in particular on the inform al sector Future activities: SW AC has launched a new program , Co-operation Transfrontalier, based on the ECOLOC approach but covering cross-border areas in W est Africa

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT)

Future activities: In its expanded vision, the www.business-asia.net plans facilitate access of SM Es to the country-specific developm ent policies, program s and procedures that m ay benefit SM Es. At the beginning a prototype version will be developed.

UNECE i and ii) Governm ent of Slovenia, CEI, UNECE (RASP and Regional Adviser on Entrepreneurship and SM Es) (iii) UNECE RASP and Turkish Representative of

(i) An International Conference on “The Role and Im portance of SM Es in the Process of EU Enlargem ent” was held in Ljubljana (Slovenia) in 2002 (ii) International W orkshop was organised on “Global Tourism and Entrepreneurship in the CEI Region” in Radenci (Slovenia) in 2002 (iii) A Project on “SM E Developm ent in South-Caucasian Transition Econom ies” was im plem ented and a W orkshop on this issue was held with participation of high-level policy-m akers, representatives of the business com m unities, NGOs and donors in 2003 in Istanbul (Turkey)

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the Konrad Adenauer Foundation UNECE

Future activities: The UNECE put in its program m e of work organising events related to developm ent SM Es in tourism (iii) Docum ent on “SM E Developm ent in South-Caucasian Transition Econom ies” will be prepared and funds will be raised for im plem entation of som e of the project proposals elaborated by national experts and discussed by donors

ILO Cooperative Branch/LED Program m e

-Assisting form ulation of national LED policy in M ozam bique -LEDAs in Croatia assist county governm ent in form ulating a regional developm ent plan -Sub-regional program m e for M ozam bique, South Africa and Angola focus on assisting national policy form ulation for LED -Ghana-working out of poverty project focus on m ainstream ing Decent W ork for Inform al Econom y operators in district developm ent plans, policy, legal and regulatory fram ework at district level

UNIDO Energy and Cleaner Production Branch

Cooperate with local authorities to foster sustainable industrial developm ent at the local level (based on the Austrian Eco Profit Program m e) Future activities: Continuation of present activiites

W IPO SM Es Division

Developm ent of a practical m anual for the developm ent of collective m arks, certification m arks and geographical indications as tools for local developm ent in Latin Am erica. Future activities: Use of the M anual for training activities and support to SM E associations and cooperatives.

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ADB SEGF

INO 4281: Provincial SM E and Industrial Developm ent (PPTA)

CEI In 2003 the CEI and the OECD launched the CEI-LEED Local Developm ent Netw ork of advisers (LDN), a network of experts, points of reference, national or local institutions in CEI countries aim ed at fostering local developm ent by strengthening local expertise

EIB Group EIF – Advisory Services http://www.eif.org/ EIF’s Advisory Services Division is responsible for this activity.

EIF Advisory Services is an activity launched in 2003 in close liaison with DG Regional Policy of the European Com m ission, aim ing to support the creation, growth and developm ent of SM Es by enhancing their access to finance. This is achieved through the provision of strategic and technical advice on the design, im plem entation and evaluation of SM E finance and financial engineering policies, projects and structures to a range of counterparties, e.g. governm ents, local authorities and regional developm ent agencies, as well as the European Com m ission. In 2003, three contracts were signed: the first, with Spain’s Instituto de Fom ento de Andalucía (IFA), was of a m ore technical nature and included the structuring of seed funds and m icro-credit operations; the second assignm ent, for Belgium ’s Gouvernem ent W allon (M inistry of Econom ic Affairs), dealt with the future SM E policy for the region. Future activities: A third assignm ent on behalf of the European Com m ission’s Directorate General for Transport/Energy is currently still underway. In this case, EIF is assessing the feasibility of an Arbitral Award guarantee fund for projects of com m on strategic interest in the context of the Energy Partnership between Russia and the European Union.

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ACTIVITIES

INSM E Online inform ation also about local and regional policies for innovation and SM Es. Som e of the INSM E m em bers are developing agencies at local level.

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

Involvem ent in the Regional Policy debate at EU level as Social Partner in yearly consultations

EURO-M ED TDS All m em bers of Euro-M ed TDS (National Trade and Services business Associations and Cham bers of com m erce) work for SM Es, applying local developm ent policies and establishing partnerships am ong operators. Future activities: Continuation of present activities

YES for Europe (TUGIAD)

Conference on “Trade at border Regions” in Van, Eastern Turkey

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ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

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UNESCW A SDPD Team s on: Private Sector and Enterprise Developm ent; Technology for Sustainable Developm ent.

The above-m entioned M ultipurpose Technology Com m unity Centres are being established in co-operation with m unicipalities and non-governm ental organisations.

UNECLAC/CEPAL Division of Production, Productivity and M anagem ent

Future activities: Fostering SM E in selected countries, 2004-2006

ILO InFocus Program m e on Boosting Em ploym ent through Sm all Enterprise Developm ent (IFP/SEED)

Support to m unicipal SM E prom otion through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) with business associations and support organisations (Indonesia, Bolivia, Tanzania, Ethiopia) Future activities: Docum enting and dissem inating good practices

UNIDO Sm all and M edium Enterprises Branch

The M aster Craftsm an Program m e develops a sustainable local skills capacity, in areas such as furniture m aking or m etal working, by training craftsm en to becom e trainers. These craftsm en then train— for a fee— others interested in acquiring those skills. This program m e is self-sustaining with im provem ents in productivity and profitability. Future activities: The program m e will be replicated in other countries.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ASEAN SM EW G

Future activities: Feasibility study of clustering

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

In the Regional Policy field, prom otion of the Partnership principle Future activities: Continuation of present activities

EURO-M ED TDS See 5.1

IKED Future activities: -KED is preparing a program m e for building a concrete com petence network between educational institutes and sm all- and m edium sized enterprises at local level. Via close co-operation with local, regional and international networks of specialised partners the initiative aim s at stim ulating hands-on activities at the grass-root level as well as providing cross-cutting analysis and relevant policy recom m endations in the international arena. The project is in its start-up phase and it is planned to leap over four years. -See also response in Table 3.

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5.3 LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS FACILITATING ACCESS TO FOREIGN M ARKETS (NETW ORKING FOR EXPORT PROM OTION, FDI AND SUB-

CONTRACTING) ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / LEED Program m e Sem inar series on ‘Clusters in Transition Econom ies’

W orld Congress on Local Clusters, Paris (2001 and 2002) Publication on ‘Global Knowledge Flows and Econom ic Developm ent’ (2004) Future activities: Publication on ‘Clusters in Transition Econom ies’

GOV Territorial Review Hungary (OECD, 2001) addresses how to link the foreign and the dom estic sector (or FDI and subcontracting SM Es

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Trade and Investm ent Division, with support from Governm ent of Japan Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT)

Future activities: Increasing linkages between SM Es and larger enterprises in the Greater M ekong Subregion (2005-2006). The expanded version of www.business-asia.net plans to include country specific content on issues such as FDI that would have relevance for SM E export prom otion

UNECE (i) Governm ent of Slovenia, CEI, UNECE (RASP and Regional Adviser on Entrepreneurship and SM Es) (ii) RASP and Regional Adviser on Entrepreneurship and SM Es (iii) TOS on W om en’s Entrepreneurship

(i) International Conference on “Internationalisation for SM Es” was held in 2001 in Portorož (Slovenia) (ii) Key-notezpresentation on “Internationalisation of SM Es – The UNECE Approach and Role in preparing SM Es for Internationalisation of SM Es” at the International Conference on SM Es held in 2002 in Bratislava (Slovakia) (iii) An online network of wom en's business associations aim s at building contacts am ong wom en entrepreneurs Future activities: The issue of internationalisation SM Es will be analysed, events will be organized in the light of evaluating the im pact of the EU enlargem ent on SM Es

UNECLAC/CEPAL ECLAC Buenos Aires Office

Regional and SM E exports in Argentina, 2003

W orld Bank/ IFC SM E Departm ent Linkage Unit, Project Developm ent Facilities.

IFC has worked to im prove SM E export prom otion and supply chain opportunities. Future activities: Expansion of activities.

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CONTRACTING) ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ASEAN SM EW G

See answer under 4.5

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

- “W est East Industrial District Program m e” covering EU and accession countries (2001-2004) Future activities: Continuation of present activities

IKED See response 6.5.

YES for Europe (TUGIAD)

Visit to Bulgaria for bilateral trade

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ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / LEED Program m e Chapter in “Fostering entrepreneurship” (1998)

Publication “Social enterprises” 1999 Publication “The non profit sector in a changing econom y” (2003) A conference on social enterprises (2004) Future activities: In the fram ework of the New Trento Center analysis of social enterprises will be carried out with special reference to EECC and Balkan area Conference on Social Enterprises in 2005 in the Trento Centre

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNECE Regional Adviser on Entrepreneurship and SM Es and UNECE’s Team of Specialists (TOS) on Youth Entrepreneurship

The issue of Social Entrepreneurship was discussed at the 4th M eeting of the TOS on Youth Entrepreneurship in 2004. Future activities: The UNECE will collect best practices in social enterprising in the UNECE region, elaborate issue paper and guide on social entrepreneurship for CITs, especially SEE and CIS countries

W orld Bank/ IFC Grassroots Business Organisation Initiative.

Has done som e pilots in this sphere. Future activities: W ill expand this work, especially in Latin Am erica.

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5.5 OTHER ISSUES ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / LEED Program m e

Publication (2001) on ‘Putting the Young in Business’

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PART 6: PARTNERSH IPS, CLUSTERS, AND NETW O RK S

There is ample evidence that SM Es operating in the same or in related industrial sectors tend to cluster close to one another. This tendency has been observed in different environments. The literature on the so-called Italian industrial districts describes SM E clusters that have reached high levels of growth and leadership in profitable niches of world markets (e.g. leather goods, textile, jewellery, ceramic tiles, and spectacle frames). Similar accounts exist from other developed countries such as Germany, the USA, and Japan, but also in emerging economies in Latin America, Asia, and to a lesser extent in Africa.

There are sound economic reasons for this phenomenon. SM Es operating in such clusters derive a clear competitive advantage from the proximity to sources of raw inputs, or the availability of suitably customised business development services, or the abundance of clients attracted by the cluster tradition in that industry, or the presence of a skilled labour force.

But there exist other forms of co-operative agreements, giving rise to more or less formalised arrangements. Three main forms of agreements may thus be distinguished:

- ‘partnership’ corresponds to various types of co-operative or collaborative links between different partners. SM Es can enter in partnership agreements with either public sector enterprise, large firms, national or multinational, or other SM Es,

- ‘cluster’ indicates a sectoral and geographical concentration of enterprises which produce and sell a range of related or complementary products and are, thus, faced with common challenges and opportunities, and

- ‘network’ refers to a group of firms that cooperate on a joint development project — complementing each other and specializing in order to overcome common problems, achieve collective efficiency and conquer markets beyond their individual reach.

In the case of innovative SM Es, even more than larger firms, they need to access to external sources of information, knowledge, know-how and technology in order to build their own innovative capability and to reach their markets. One of the best ways to do this is through public-private partnerships for research and innovation. Another promising approach is to encourage geographically concentrated clusters of innovative firms.

This issue constitutes a cross-cutting issue and may be dealt with in other sections [such as, in Part 5) local development, and Part 4) Innovation and Technology].

The following sub-issues are presented separately in this section:

6.1 Partnership with Public Sector 6.2 Partnership with SM Es 6.3 Partnership with Large Firms 6.4 Networks for International Trade and Investment 6.5 Innovative Networks 6.6 Other Issues

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PARTIE 6 : GRAPPES, RÉSEAUX ET PARTENARIATS

De nombreuses observations montrent que les PM E opérant dans le même secteur ou dans des secteurs d’activités apparentés tendent à se regrouper. Cette tendance a été observée dans des contextes différents. La documentation sur ce qu’il est convenu d’appeler les « districts industriels » italiens décrit des grappes de PM E ayant atteint un fort niveau de croissance et une position de leader dans des créneaux rentables des marchés mondiaux (maroquinerie, textile, joaillerie, carreaux céramiques et montures de lunettes, par exemple). On observe des tendances similaires dans d’autres pays développés comme l’Allemagne, les États-Unis et le Japon, mais aussi dans des économies émergentes d’Amérique latine et d’Asie ainsi qu’en Afrique, quoique dans une moindre mesure.

Ce phénomène s’explique par de solides raisons économiques : les PM E opérant au sein de grappes industrielles jouissent d’un avantage comparatif évident du fait de la proximité géographique des fournisseurs de matières premières, de la disponibilité de services de développement d’entreprise adaptés à leurs besoins, de l’abondance de la clientèle attirée par la tradition du regroupement dans tel ou tel secteur, ou bien encore de la présence d’une main-d’œuvre qualifiée.

Il existe toutefois d’autres formes d’accords de coopération qui donnent lieu à des arrangements plus ou moins formels. On peut ainsi distinguer trois grandes catégories d’accord :

• le partenariat correspond à divers types de liens de coopération ou de collaboration entre différents partenaires. Les PM E peuvent adhérer à des accords de partenariat noués soit avec une entreprise du secteur public, de grandes entreprises nationales ou multinationales, ou d’autres PM E ;

• la grappe correspond à une concentration sectorielle et géographique d’entreprises produisant et commercialisant une gam me de produits apparentés ou complémentaires, et qui se trouvent par conséquent confrontées aux mêmes défis mais aussi aux mêmes opportunités, et

• le réseau renvoie à un groupe d’entreprises qui coopèrent à un projet de développement conjoint, en se complétant et en apportant chacune leur spécialisation pour surmonter des problèmes com muns, parvenir collectivement à l’efficience, et conquérir des marchés qui se trouveraient hors d’atteinte de chacune des entreprises prise isolément.

Plus que les grandes entreprises, les PM E innovantes ont besoin d’accéder à des sources externes d’informations, de savoir, de savoir-faire et de technologie pour bâtir leur propre capacité d’innovation et atteindre les marchés qu’elles visent. Pour ce faire, l’une des meilleures méthodes consiste à constituer des partenariats public-privé pour la recherche et l’innovation. Une autre stratégie prometteuse consiste à encourager la concentration géographique de grappes d’entreprises innovantes.

Cette question présente un caractère transversal et pourra donc être abordée dans d’autres sections [comme, par exemple, Partie 5) Développement local et Partie 4) Innovation et technologie].

Les sous-rubriques suivantes sont présentées séparément dans la présente section :

6.1 Partenariats avec le secteur public 6.2 Partenariats avec des PM E 6.3 Partenariats avec de grandes entreprises 6.4 Réseaux d’échanges et d’investissements internationaux 6.5 Réseaux d’innovation 6.6 Autres questions

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6.1 PARTNERSHIP W ITH PUBLIC SECTOR ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

The OECD W PSM E oversees the im plem entation of the OECD Bologna Charter on SM E Policies with regard to clusters and networking , i.e. the following recom m endations:

-Partnerships involving private actors, NGOs and different levels and sectors of public adm inistration in local cluster and networking developm ent strategies be facilitated. -The private sector lead cluster initiatives, with the public sector playing a catalytic role according to national and local priorities (e.g., inter alia, facilitating private investm ent with public incentives, facilitating seed funding and m onitoring the results of network initiatives). -Public and private sector bodies foster the growth of clusters (existing and em bryonic) by: im proving their access to accom m odation and efficient com m unications and transport infrastructures; facilitating local specialisation in university/industry linkages; dissem inating targeted inform ation, including on locational advantages and investm ent attractiveness; prom oting suppliers’ networks, technical support services, learning circles and other collaborative undertakings.

GOV -Public Private Partnerships to m anage the environm ent at territorial level and attract

SM Es through econom ies of scale (internal, insurance, waste, water and consultant services), incentives influenced by public policy, environm ental accounting instrum ents for firm s and public authorities. -Salsom aggiore Conference on environm ental m anagem ent, 2002 Future activities: F Im proving M ultilevel Governance includes work on “Involving the private sector in the financing and m anagem ent of public policy in regions” (Program m e of W ork 2005-6)

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP Project on Pro-poor PPPs is done by several divisions in ESCAP. The Resource Facility is under the responsibility of PRS/PDD

Com pilation of innovative practices in public-private partnerships that bring basic services to the poor. Future activities: Developm ent of Resource Facility on Pro-poor PPPs to encourage the participation of private com panies (especially local SM Es) the provision of basic services to the poor

UNESCW A SDPD Team s on: - Private Sector and Enterprise Developm ent - Technology for Sustainable Developm ent

Steps have been taken to initiate co-operation with the Agency for Com bating Unem ploym ent (ACU) in the Syrian Arab Republic, with view to establishing a pilot enterprise cluster. A prelim inary plan is under discussion with view to im plem entation within 2004-2005. Dissem ination of substantive inputs and adm inistrative/m anagerial m odalities to other ESCW A countries will be carried out in light of experience gained. Future activities: Detailed feasibility studies and business plans will be worked out for setting up an industrial cluster, near Dam ascus, to house around 200 enterprises active in several sectors, including agro-food processing, textiles and garm ents, water desalination and treatm ent equipm ent, etc. .

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ACTIVITIES

UNECLAC/CEPAL Division of Production, Productivity and M anagem ent

The developm ent and m anagem ent of cluster Projects at regional level -1997-2003

ILO Cooperative Branch/LED Program m e

Public-private partnerships and dialogue through Local Econom ic Developm ent Agencies or forum s in Croatia, Serbia-M ontenegro, Ghana, M ozam bique, South Africa, Angola, Georgia, Kazakhstan

UNIDO Sm all and M edium Enterprises Branch Industrial Prom otion and Technology Branch Energy and Cleaner Production Branch Agro-Industries and Sectoral Support Branch

UNIDO prom otes Public-Private Partnerships in a variety of its projects, including: -Enhancing the dialogue between the public and private sectors to insure that private firm s and associations have a voice in the form ulation and im plem entation of industrial and SM E policies. -Operating technical assistance projects, with counterparts from both the public and private sector, to insure that SM E support m easures are supported by both sectors. This is a particular feature of the Business Partnership Program m e. -The UNIDO Subcontracting Partnership Exchange (SPX) covers the public sector including public/governm ent procurem ent. -All National Cleaner Production Centers/National Cleaner Production Program m es cooperate with the public and private sector, financial institutions and academ ia. Representatives of these groups participate in the national Boards. -Assistance is being provided to Ethiopian and Kenyan M inistries of Industry and Trade for public private partnership. Future activities: Continuation of present activities and work will continue in this area possibly extending to other countries in the African Region

W orld Bank/ IFC IFC’s SM E Departm ent

IDA and IFC have launched a four-year, $225 m illion program m e to strengthen SM E developm ent in Africa in partnership with host country governm ents. The program m e draws from the SM E Departm ent’s experience in providing services such as access to business services and financing, and the Bank’s experience in im proving the business enabling environm ent. The Nigeria program m e has been approved by the Board, and Kenya and Uganda are scheduled for Board presentation later this financial year. M ali, Ghana, M adagascar and Tanzania are scheduled for FY05 subm ission. The IDA country program s are being prepared by joint Bank and IFC team s, while separate IFC team s are identifying and processing related IFC investm ents, prim arily in the financial m arkets area. Future activities: This work will continue and will probably be expanded.

W IPO SM Es Division; Division for Infrastructure Services and Innovation Prom otion

Sem inars, studies and expert m eetings relating to university-industry relations particularly in the field of technology transfer. Joint expert m eeting and publication with ECLAC on “National Innovation System s: Intellectual Property, Universities and Enterprises”. The W IPO University Initiative aim s to support IP focal points in universities in developing countries. Future activities: Continuation of present activities.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB ECOC

PRC 3543: Private Sector Developm ent

APEC -APEC SM E Business M atching and Advice Program m e; -International Conference/W orkshop on strategic Alliance for Efficient Supply Chain

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ACTIVITIES

M anagem ent; -Sem inar on Growing the APEC Sm all Business Exporter Com m unity; -APEC SM E Business Network Prom otion Forum ; Sem inar on Growing the APEC SM E Exporter Com m unity

EIB Group EIF’s Venture Capital Divisions 1 & 2 are responsible for this activity.

EIF has signed co-operation agreem ents with Vaekstfonden (Denm ark) and CDC-PM E (France) for an enhanced exchange of inform ation on deal-flow, m anagem ent and m onitoring of operations, as well as the spreading of best practice throughout Europe. Future activities: This is ongoing, further agreem ents are expected in the future

INSM E Creation of the INSM E Portal : see 4.4 Creation of a perm anent forum for prom oting, on a regular basis, an open, strengthened m ultilateral political dialogue between diverse stakeholders involved in the area of innovation and technology transfer to SM Es; particular im portance is given to the developm ent of “North-South” interactions and co-operation. Future activities: Continue developm ent of the applications within the INSM E portal and contacts am ong forum participants

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EURO-M ED TDS Co-operation with EU Institutions, National and Local Authorities and Institutions in all

Euro-M ed TDS m em ber Countries Future activities: Continuation of present activities

YES for Europe (TUGIAD)

Co-operation with Turkish Prim e M inistry, Directorate General on W om en Statutes and Problem s. Future activities: “Sub-Regional Forum on W om en Entrepreneurs” will be held in Istanbul

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ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

1) Background Paper prepared for the Istanbul M inisterial Conference on SM Es entitled :Netw orks, Partnerships, Clusters and Intellectual Property Rights: Opportunities and Challenges for Innovative SM Es in a Global Econom y 2) In addition, as part of the 2nd OECD M inisterial Conference on SM Es, a M inisterial M eeting was held entitled, W orkshop 2: Tools for SM E Innovation, Panel 2. Networks, Partnerships, Clusters and Intellectual Property

GOV TDPC

National review of Italy (OECD 2000) focuses on policies to strengthen clusters of sm all firm s [also studied in the national review of M exico (OECD 2003)] Please see:

SW AC SW AC’s Developm ent Perspectives Unit

Private Sector W orkshop in W est Africa held Decem ber 2003 with focus on SM E networking and developm ent Future activities: On-going work with W est African SM Es on networking and regional co-operation.

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Inform ation, Com m unication and Space technology Division jointly with Poverty and Developm ent Division

Collection and dissem ination of best practices of local governm ent’s partnerships with SM Es for the prom otion of e-business. Study of these partnerships in the context of pro-poor ICT strategies. Future activities: Pool of best practices to be published, updated and m aintained by users through a regional knowledge network (see 6.5)

UNESCW A Private Sector and Enterprise Developm ent (PSED) Team at the Sustainable Developm ent and Productivity Division (SDPD)

ESCW A started in 2002 a program m e for the developm ent of clusters and networks. A Study on Enhancing the productivity and com petitiveness of SM Es through networking and clustering, with a case study on the textile and apparel m anufacturing in Lebanon, was com pleted in Decem ber 2003. Future activities: A diagnostic study on the agro-food SM E sector in Lebanon is under preparation. The study will look at the potential for the sector to cluster or enhance network relations. A regional workshop on Cluster developm ent will be jointly organized with UNIDO and will take place in Beirut, Lebanon, from 15-19 M arch 2004. ESCW A will assist SM Es in clustering and networking on the basis of the studies on the apparel m anufacturing and agro-food. W ork will be expanded to cover Jordan and Syria.

UNECLAC/CEPAL Division of Production, Productivity and M anagem ent

A handbook for the developm ent and m anagem ent of network in Andean Countries –2002-2003

ILO IFP/SEED ILO

Im proving productivity and com petitiveness through better m anagem ent skills and working conditions, enhancing access to m arkets, access to services in the brassware cluster in M oradabad and through the value chain it is part of. Future activities: Integrating tools and lessons learned from the work in M oradabad in cluster developm ent in India and elsewhere (inclusion in UNIDO/ILO cluster training program m es).

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ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

UNDP -EA facilitates business to business linkages of a regional or global nature in order to foster trade, investm ent, as well as the transfer of technology -UNDP supports a range of activities and program m es to facilitate the establishm ent of business linkages as a m eans to prom ote firm creation and expansion. A representative program m e is the M exico Supply chain project in, which a large num ber of private corporations, UNDP and Canacintra (national association of m anufacturers) form ed a partnership to provide technical training on business m odels to SM Es (with the objective of prom oting new supply chains) - UNDP has also recently launched a project together with the M inistry of Com m erce of Afghanistan and the Afghan Investm ent Support Agency (AISA to facilitate the environm ent in which business-to-business linkages or partnerships could flourish.

UNIDO Sm all and M edium Enterprises Branch Industrial Prom otion and Technology Branch

UNIDO’s Business Partnership Program m e establishes links between Transnational Corporations and SM Es, in order to upgrade SM E skills to be potential suppliers or subcontractors for the larger firm s. The UNIDO Subcontracting Partnership Exchange (SPX) network acts as a global outsourcing and suppliers’ network and m atchm aking m echanism between local SM Es/m anufacturers and national and international buyers. SM Es represent up to 80% of the clients of an SPX. Future activities: Continuation of present activities

W orld Bank/ IFC IFC’s Project Developm ent Facilities.

The Private Enterprise Partnership im plem ents a Swedish-funded program m e targeting Belorussian Business Associations serving SM Es. Part of the program m e provides links with a Swedish Business Association, thereby creating som e contact between Belorussian and Swedish SM Es. Project Developm ent Facilities link SM Es to each other through Business M em bership Organisation projects. These are m ost active in Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa and Asia. Future activities: Continuation of present activities

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC See 6.1

ASEAN SM EW G

See answer under 4.5 and 5.1

EC Joint European Venture: JEV The JEV program m e was launched as a pilot initiative in Novem ber 1997 and extended within the fram ework of the Growth and Em ploym ent initiative, and later by the Decision on the M ultiannual program m e for enterprise and entrepreneurship, to encourage SM Es to create transnational joint ventures within the European Union. JEV was extended to the EEA EFTA countries by a Decision of the EU-EFTA joint com m ittee in June 1999. The SM Es of Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland are thus also eligible.

INSM E See 6.1

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ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

See 6.1

GOV TDPC

-Review of the econom y of Helsinki (OECD, 2002) included the issue of linkages between sm all and large firm s focusing in particular on the high technology cluster. -See for m ore inform ation: www.oecd.org/gov/territorialpolicies

SW AC SW AC’s Unit #1

Future activities: Future work with linking large Asian and W est African firm s with local SM Es within a cluster (To be determ ined)

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Trade and Investm ent Division, with support from Governm ent of Japan

Future activities: Increasing linkages between SM Es and larger enterprises in the Greater M ekong Subregion (2005-2006).

UNECE (i and ii) RASP, Regional Adviser on Entrepreneurship and SM Es, Perm anent Secretary of the BSEC and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation

(i) The UNECE organized a W orkshop on “SM Es as Supplier to Big International Com panies” in Kiev (Ukraine) in 2002 (ii) An Expert M eeting on “How SM Es could be Suppliers of Large Enterprises and TNCs” was held in Geneva in 2003. Conclusions and recom m endations were elaborated.

UNECLAC/CEPAL Division of Production, Productivity and M anagem ent

SM Es and linkages with TNC’s. Case studies in the auto, garm ent and electronic industries, 2001/2003

UNDP Future activities: - UNDP is looking to expand its efforts to engage large com panies in support of SM E developm ent in various ways. In 2003, the Angola Enterprise Program m e was launched as an im portant strategic partnership between UNDP and Chevron Texaco in Angola to provide a range of support activities for the developm ent of m icro, sm all and m edium enterprises. (The Angola Enterprise Program m e builds on the experience of UNDP and Chevron’s co-operation in Kazakhstan to support SM Es) - A num ber of additional partnerships with large com panies that aim at building linkages with and provide support to local SM Es are currently also under developm ent around the world. - UNDP together with UNIDO and the Global Com pact organised an international workshop in January 2004 on the topic of Partnership for Sm all Enterprise Developm ent

UNIDO Energy and Cleaner Production Branch Sm all and M edium Enterprises Branch

Technical co-operation projects com m only provide for working with large com panies to introduce cleaner production and environm ental m anagem ent system s in their supply chain. Also, see issue 6.2. Future activities: Continuation of present activities

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ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

W orld Bank/ IFC IFC assists local entrepreneurs and com m unities in fourteen countries with technical assistance linked to over $1 billion in IFC investm ents. This activity was form ally established a little less than two years ago, leading to a pipeline of over forty projects and about a dozen projects under active im plem entation. By forging stronger links between large IFC investm ent projects and local econom ies, IFC increases the local com m unity’s stake in econom ic benefits and strengthens the investm ent. IFC’s technical assistance of $5 m illion to these projects to date has m obilised 2 – 5 tim es m ore in additional assistance from the investm ent sponsors and other donors. The linkage program reaches SM Es by strengthening their technical and business skills, thereby building on their core skills and enabling them to provide goods and services at international standards; providing financing to local suppliers; strengthening local distribution networks, as well as by supporting local com m unity developm ent projects with health, education and infrastructure com ponents. Future activities: Continuation of present activities

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC See 6.1

ASEAN SM EW G

See answer under 4.5 and 5.3

INSM E Participation of GEOX com pany in the INSM E Annual M eeting 2005. Sponsorship search for INSM E activities

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6.4 NETW ORKS FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INVESTM ENT ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

See 6.1

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNECE TRADE Division

Future activities: UNECE will develop with other regional com m issions a com m on project proposal for capacity building in trade facilitation and e-business for sustainable developm ent

UNECLAC/CEPAL Industrial Developm ent, Unit, ECLAC-M exico

SM Es, “ethnic” and “nostalgia” products: opportunities in the international m arkets: the M exican and Salvadorian cases. Finished 2003 (in print)

ILO Cooperative Branch/LED Program m e

International Liaison Service for Local Econom ic Developm ent Agencies (ILS-LEDA) with UNOPS Rom e

UNIDO Sm all and M edium Enterprises Branch

The Cluster and Networking Developm ent Program m e provides support to build country capacity to establish networking projects that foster co-operation am ong groups of SM Es in sim ilar fields. Often the purpose of such networks is to introduce innovation, either in technology, in production operations, or in the design and m arketing of products. Developing export m arkets for the networked firm s’ products is one com m on objective of m any such networks. Future activities: A m anual on export prom otion consortia in developing countries will be published soon, and additional dem onstration projects in this area will be im plem ented.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB SEGF

REG 6018: Expanding the Strategy for Sm all and M edium Enterprise Developm ent in the East ASEAN Growth Area REG 6060: Facilitating Business Inform ation Exchange for Sm all and M edium -sized Enterprises in the BIM P-EAGA Region

APEC See 6.1

ASEAN SM EW G

See answer under 4.5 and 5.3

INSM E Contacts with W TO and ITC in Geneva

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ACTIVITIES

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS Departm ent of Corporate Affairs

- Cham ber Pass project (1999- ) - Organisation of Academ ies on International Trade for Cham ber Staff (2000-) Future activities: Continuation of present activities

EURO-M ED TDS Em ed-tds.com M anagem ent and Technical Board

Euro-M ed TDS constitutes in itself an international network of operators, aim ing at the prom otion of International Trade. Am ong specific projects, the m ajor one is the Em ed-tds.com project: an adm inistrated network for B2B electronic com m erce in the agrifood sector, which should in the future lead to the creation of an e-m arket technical platform which could be adapted to other trade sectors and/or interconnected with other e-com m erce national and transnational platform s. Future activities: Continuation of present activities

YES for Europe (TUGIAD)

M em ber of YES for EUROPE. Our Association is am ong the founders of TEDM ER (Turkish Ethical Values Center) and TO G (Com m unity Volunteers Association) and TTGV (Technology Developm ent Association of Turkey). W e are linked to Young Turkish Businessm en Association of Holland and TBCCI (Turkish British Cham ber of Com m erce and Industry).

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6.5 INNOVATIVE NETW O RKS ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

See 6.1 and 6.2

GOV TDPC

Cities and regions in the New Learning Econom y (OECD, 2001). Project report based on case studies in five regions

SW AC SW AC’s “Agricultural Transform ation and Sustainable Developm ent” Unit and “Regional Integration and Local Developm ent” Unit

Future activities: Strengthen joint partnerships with agriculture producer organisations and SM Es; work with local econom ies on diagnosis of cross-border econom ic spaces

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Inform ation, Com m unication and Space technology Division, Poverty and Developm ent Division; jointly Governm ent of Japan

Future activities: A network am ong wom en co-ops that also link producer and consum er co-ops is established and operational Set-up and operationalisation of a regional network by local governm ents of Asia and the Pacific to share experience in prom otion of local e-business. This network will be based on m odern open-source knowledge m anagem ent tools.

UNESCW A SDPD Team on Technology for Sustainable Developm ent.

A. ESCW A has set up its own Research and Developm ent Portal (ERDP). This is intended to prom ote research co-operation and coordination as well as hum an resource developm ent with accent on building research capabilities in priority areas of science and technology. B. Based on substantive activities, studies and expert group m eetings designed to foster networking and co-operation on prom oting technological capacity building in its m em ber countries, ESCW A is working towards the establishm ent of research, developm ent and innovation networks joining its m em ber countries with selected institutions in several regions in Europe. Efforts are aim ed at establishing an initial network joining research institutions, universities and technology-based enterprises in Lebanon with their counterparts in the Region of Cam pania in Italy will be used as a platform for prom oting sim ilar m odalities involving other regions of Europe and other ESCW A m em ber countries. Future activities: ERDP presently includes an electronic database with entries on around 200 R and D institutions. Future activities will target continual updating of this database as well as creation of specific R and D networks targeting ESCW A priorities, e.g. in water desalination and treatm ent, inform ation and com m unications technologies, agro-food processing, technology for em ploym ent creation and enterprise prom otion.

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ACTIVITIES

UNECLAC/CEPAL ECLAC Buenos Aires

The developm ent of knowledge networks in Argentina, 2003

UNIDO Sm all and M edium Enterprises Branch

See issues 6.4 and 6.6. Future activities: Continuation of present activities

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC See 6.1

ASEAN SM EW G

See answer under 4.5 and 5.3

EC European RTD Program m es: Tools for innovation and internationalisation: The European Union policy for research and technological developm ent (RTD) is im plem ented through m ultiannual Fram ework Program m es which constitute a coherent instrum ent covering all EU-funded RTD activities. The RTD Fram ework Program m e (FP) bring together partners such as enterprises, universities and research centres form different countries, creating links between different national business and research com m unities. The RTD FP is for m any SM Es an excellent instrum ent to address the challenges to which they are confronted. The Fifth Fram ework Program m e (FP5) covered the period from 1998 to 2002, and the current Sixth Fram ework Program m e (FP6) is running from 2002 to 2006. The Fifth Fram ew ork Program m e Special m easures for SM Es were developed in the Fifth Fram ework Program m e (FP5). They were im plem ented through open calls for proposals, m eaning that proposals could be subm itted at any tim e of the year. The m easures included a network of specialised SM E National Contact Points, and a single entry point, a centre com m on to all Com m unity RTD program m es, to which SM Es could address all their questions, ideas and proposals. The Innovation and SM E Program m e W ithin FP5, the “Innovation and SM E Program m e”, at the crossroads of EU policies on research, innovation and SM Es, prom oted innovation at Com m unity level and encouraged SM E participation in FP5. The overall budget of this specific program m e in FP5 was alm ost €400 m illion. The Sixth Fram ew ork Program m e The Sixth Fram ework program m e (FP6) attaches great im portance to the participation of SM Es. The new program m e devotes the highest ever budget to SM Es (nearly €2.2 billion). SM Es, including sm all and m icro enterprises as well as craft enterprises, will be encouraged to participate in all areas and all instrum ents set out for FP6. At least 15% of the budget (approxim ately €1.7 billion) relating to the seven Priority Them atic Areas of Research of the Integrating and Strengthening the European Research Area Specific Program m e of FP6 will be dedicated to SM Es. The m ain route for SM Es to participate in the Priority Them atic Areas will be through Networks of Excellence (NoE), Integrated Projects (IP) and Specific Targeted Research Projects. A special effort will have to be m ade to facilitate the SM E participation in these new instrum ents.

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6.5 INNOVATIVE NETW O RKS ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

INSM E Constitution of INSM E. The International Network for Sm all and M edium Sized Enterprises – INSM E – is a non profit Association, open to international m em bership. It aim s at fostering transnational co-operation and public and private partnership in the field of innovation and technology transfer (TT) to sm all and m edium sized enterprises (SM Es). It was established in February 2004 thanks to a financial grant from the Italian Governm ent. INSM E stim ulates SM E’s innovation processes and com petitiveness by prom oting and strengthening innovation services and transnational technology transfer provided by interm ediaries and their networks. INSM E is founded on the ideas and principles discussed at the first OECD M inisterial Conference on SM Es and Globalisation “Enhancing the Com petitiveness of SM Es in the Global Econom y“ (Bologna, 13 – 15 June, 2000) and during 2004 the INSM E Association was granted the OECD’s m oral sponsorship and consultative status by UNIDO’s Industrial Developm ent Board. INSM E prom otes and supports the creation and developm ent of new networks and try to develop ties am ong our m em bers in this regard on a them atic, sectoral and regional basis also taking advantage of the use of ICT.

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

- “W est East Industrial District Program m e” covering EU and accession countries (2001-2004) Future activities: Continuation of present activities

IKED -IKED was one of the co-organisers when the 6th Global Conference of the Com petitiveness Institute was held in Gothenburg, Sweden, the 17-19 Septem ber, 2003 on the them e “Innovative Clusters – A New Challenge”. The m ain objectives were to im prove m ethodologies and to facilitate discussions about best practice and cluster policies. -IKED is responsible for producing the W hitebook following the 6th Global Conference of the Com petitiveness Institute, which was held in Gothenburg, Sweden, the 17-19 Septem ber, 2003 on the them e “Innovative Clusters – A New Challenge". The W hitebook will represent both Conference Proceedings and a docum ent structuring cluster initiatives’ issues and approaches. The publication will be available in the m iddle of 2004.

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6.6 OTHER ISSUES ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

ILO InFocus Program m e on Boosting Em ploym ent through Sm all Enterprise Developm ent (IFP/SEED)

M anagem ent support to sm all business associations – SBAs - Viet Nam , Ghana, elsewhere Future activities: Training guide and program m es for SBAs (advocacy, services, networking)

UNDP In 2002, under the auspices of the Global Com pact policy dialogue on business and sustainable developm ent, UNDP has launched the Growing Sustainable Business for Poverty reduction Initiative (GSB) with the goal to prom ote and facilitate com m ercial for-profit investm ent directed toward sustainable econom ic developm ent and poverty reduction. By facilitating and brokering linkages between large international and dom estic com panies on one hand and local SM Es and other stakeholders on the other(including com m unities and NGOs) , the initiative is aim ing at supporting developm ent of new business m odels for reaching Bottom of Econom ic Pyram id (the roughly 4 billion poor that m ake up the bottom of econom ic pyram id) The GSB initiative acts as a trusted im partial broker for such linkages and m ulti-stakeholder projects alliances

UNIDO Sm all and M edium Enterprises Branch

The Cluster and Networking Developm ent (CND) program m e provides support to firm s in increasing their productivity and com petitiveness through collective action. The objective of the technical co-operation is to help overcom e the constraints to co-operation of SM Es and their associated suppliers, buyers, advisors, and support institutions. By helping to start a dialogue am ong these firm s and institutions, and by initiating joint activities that provide a basis for trust and future co-operation am ong the firm s, we act as a catalyst to start the process. Future activities: Plans include dem onstration projects to assess the relevance of Cluster and Networking Developm ent for m ore direct poverty alleviation objectives, the use of twinning arrangem ents (to link clusters in developing countries with clusters in developed countries) and im proved evaluation and m onitoring approaches.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

CEI The CEI M atch-m aking Program m e has for strategic objective to involve the private

sector in regional co-operation. The CEI yearly publishes a selection of subm itted project ideas (INVESTIGUIDE) through the CEI Networking System . CEI W orking Group on SM Es (Body in charge of the developm ent of CEI priorities in the SM E sector) is assisting the im plem entation of projects for developing clusters in the CEI region

EC A project on Enterprise clusters and networks was launched in April 2002. It aim s to take stock of existing knowledge on clusters and networks in Europe, and m ake an analysis of policy initiatives taken by the Com m ission, the M em ber States, the candidate countries, Norway and Iceland, with a view of identifying good practices and future actions in this field. Future activities: Continuation of activities

INSM E

The INSM E Expert’s Database: CVs of experts selected by INSM E Secretariat are provided in the intranet area on the INSM E portal. The experts have been selected according to their com petence in innovation and technology transfer subjects and SM E

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6.6 OTHER ISSUES ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

INSM E

related issues. The INSM E M em ber’s Com pendium : It is a tool to present the Association’s M em bers, prom otes their activities and facilitates contacts am ong them . The com pendium is organised in individual tables, each dedicated to individual M em bers, presenting their activities and history. Future activities: Upgrating of the database during 2005 so as to provide INSM E M em bers with a thorough list of experts to be contacted on various them es. Various calls for experts will be m ade throughout the year for specific topics

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS Interest representation EU level regarding enterprise and industrial policy

YES for EUROPE Secretariat

Future activities: Organisation of m eetings and visits to com panies in various European countries, each tim e focussing on a different sector. Business-to-business m eetings and networking events. Creation of a European database of the YES m em bers, subdivided by sectors, favouring trans-national co-operation and exchange of experiences.

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PART 7: SM Es IN SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES

The themes under which SM E-related activities of international organisations and institutions are classified thematically, and thus, they are not distinguished between the sectors in which SM Es intervene. The numerous difficulties or opportunities that are affected by (or have an effect on) SM Es or Entrepreneurship are not linked to any particular activity. Although it would not be appropriate to enumerate in this document all the SM E sectors of activity, certain among these sectors appear unique in the relationship of opportunities versus obstacles with regard to SM Es, and thus, necessary to be mentioned separately.

Such is the case of new activities such as biotechnology, or activities linked to the environment. These emerging industries, linked either to innovative technologies or to new constraints (environment or sustainable development), can be favorable to the creation of new enterprises. But SM Es who have begun in this manner encounter consequently difficulties in growth or in the expansion of their activities or markets.

Other than these new industries, the service industry constitutes a traditional field for SM E development. Services, themselves, can correspond to “traditional” services, but they could also correspond to services related to new technologies, such as information and communication technology.

Finally, in the final sub-section « Other issues» can gather diverse activities that cannot be listed elsewhere.

The following sub-issues are presented separately in this section:

7.1 Biotechnologies 7.2 Environment-related Industries 7.3 Services 7.4 Other Issues

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PARTIE 7 : LES PM E DANS DES SECTEURS D’ACTIVITÉS PARTICULIERS

Les travaux liés aux PM E des organisations et institutions internationales sont classés par thème et non par secteur d’activité de ces entreprises. Les nombreuses difficultés mais aussi possibilités sur lesquelles influent les PM E ou l’entrepreneuriat ou qui, à l’inverse exercent une influence sur eux, ne sont pas liées à une activité particulière. On ne saurait énumérer tous les secteurs d’activités des PM E dans le présent document mais certains méritent d’être mentionnés individuellement en raison de leur spécificité, notamment sur le plan de la relation opportunités-obstacles qui les caractérise.

C’est le cas de nouvelles activités comme les biotechnologies ou les activités liées à l’environnement. Ces secteurs émergents qui s’articulent autour de technologies innovantes ou de nouvelles contraintes (environnement ou développement durable) peuvent être propices à la création d’entreprises. M ais les PM E ayant démarré de cette manière se trouvent par la suite confrontées à des difficultés en matière de croissance, d’élargissement de leurs activités ou de leur part de marché.

En dehors de ces nouveaux secteurs, le secteur des services constitue un terreau traditionnel de développement de PM E. Les services eux-mêmes peuvent correspondre à des activités « traditionnelles », mais aussi à des activités liées aux nouvelles technologies, comme celles de l’information et de la communication.

Enfin, dans la dernière sous-rubrique intitulée « Autres questions », on pourra regrouper des activités diverses qui ne peuvent être énumérées ailleurs.

Les sous-rubriques suivantes sont présentées séparément dans la présente section :

7.1 Biotechnologies

7.2 Activités liées à l’environnement

7.3 Services

7.4 Autres questions.

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7.1 BIOTECHNOLOGIES ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) GOV TDPC

Review of Oresund (2003) includes sum m ary analysis of the region’s im portant biotech cluster and the policies that are being introduced to foster its developm ent, with a particular em phasis on cross-national (Swedish/Danish) co-operative approaches in the field.

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT

The centre developed a Bio-technology Inform ation Network called BINASIA. Future activities: Upgrading and m aintaining BINASIA available at www.binasia.net

W IPO SM Es Division

Future activities: Developm ent of a training m odule on intellectual property for SM Es in biotechnology.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

EIB Group EIF’s Venture Capital Divisions 1 & 2 are responsible for this activity.

As at 31 Decem ber 2003, EIF had invested EUR 1.471bn, or 60% of the cum ulative venture capital portfolio, in tech oriented venture capital funds, m ost of which include biotechnology com panies in their investm ent focus.

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7.2 ENVIRONM ENT RELATED INDUSTRIES ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) ECH JW PTE (not in charge of SM E activities, but in charge of project)

Nine case studies have been undertaken so far to look at m arkets for environm ental goods and services in developing and newly-industrialising countries. Often the new suppliers are SM Es. Future activities: W e m ay undertake additional case studies; to be determ ined

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNECE TOS on QM S

W orkshop on “Ecological assessm ent of enterprises and im plem entation of the ISO 14,000 standards” was held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva in 2003 Future activities: UNECE and the French DAFCO is developing a project on “Developm ent of an interactive CD-room for environm ent assessm ent of enterprises”

UNDP Future activities: In the area of environm ent and biodiversity protection, the UNDP-led Equator Initiative is looking to expand its role as a broker and business enabler for com m unity-based ventures that relies and enhances the sustainable use of ‘bio-diversity’ capital. (In doing so, it aim s to build networks to raise and leverage the key resources that such local business ventures need : capital, capacity, consum ers, and supportive public policies)

UNIDO Energy and Cleaner Production Branch

See Table 10 Future activities: continuation of activities

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ASEAN SM EW G

Future activities: Feasibility study for enhancing SM E cost, quality, and delivery punctuality and frequency

EIB Group EIF’s Guarantees Division is responsible for this activity

EIF m anaged a European Com m unity m andated program m e called the “Growth and Environm ent Schem e”. Under the schem e, the EIF offered a guarantee to financial institutions that granted loans to European SM Es for the financing of environm entally friendly investm ents. Though resources for the schem e are now fully used and no new counterparts are being sought, EIF still has 32 counterparts (banks) across the EU, which have participated in the Schem e. Over 4,000 loans to environm ental SM Es have been guaranteed under this Program m e, with a total loan volum e granted am ounting to EUR 842 m .

EC

The Growth and Environm ent schem e is a guarantee schem e designed to facilitate the access of sm aller businesses to loans for the purpose of financing environm entally friendly investm ents. This is achieved by allowing financial institutions to grant loans with favourable conditions to SM Es. The Com m ission provides budgetary support to cover the cost of the guarantees for these loans. The Growth and Environm ent schem e is a program m e sponsored by the Com m ission and m anaged by the European Investm ent Fund (EIF).

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7.2 ENVIRONM ENT RELATED INDUSTRIES ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

-Environm ental technology action plan. -Green Cham ber Network. Future activities: -Review of the sustainable developm ent strategy. -Review of EU environm ental policy

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7.3 SERVICES

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) ECH See ECH work presented in Table 9 concerning activities in the Baltic States and South

Eastern Europe.

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNECE RASP, Regional Adviser on Entrepreneurship and SM Es

Expert M eeting was held on “Best Practice in Business Advisory, Counselling and Inform ation Services” in Geneva followed by a creation of an Ad Hoc Group of Specialists. UNECE docum ent [ECE/TRADE/282] on “Best Practice in Business Services” was issued in English and Russian in 2002.

UNIDO Energy and Cleaner Production Branch

See Table 10. Future activities: continuation of present activities

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ASEAN SM EW G

Future activities: Feasibility study of establishing of Regional Trading House

EC The functioning of the Internal M arket in services is of particular im portance to SM Es. This is because SM Es are predom inant in the service sector and services are hit harder than goods by regulatory and non-regulatory barriers. SM Es are less able than larger firm s to cope with the com pliance costs which result from these barriers to the cross-border provision of services. The wide range of barriers affecting the cross-border provision of services and cross-border establishm ent was revealed in a Report produced as part of the Com m ission’s Internal M arket Strategy for Services. In following up this Report, the Com m ission will bring forward legislative and non-legislative proposals to address key rem aining barriers. For SM Es providing on-line services, further opportunities in the Internal M arket should be provided as a result of the E-com m erce Directive, which is likely to have been transposed in all M em ber States by the end of 2002.

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

M em ber of Business Service Round Table Lobby EU institutions on Service Directive

EURO-M ED TDS Secretariat, m em bers

Euro-M ed TDS prom otes the developm ent of service econom ics (Services, Trade) across the Euro-M editerranean region.

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ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) DCD DCD/DAC and DEV

W orkshop on Trade Capacity Building and Private Sector Developm ent— Cam bodia, (Dec. 2003) Focus on agribusiness (e.g. Seafood); electronics; textiles and garm ents; and wood products.

SW AC SW AC’s Developm ent Perspectives Unit1

Agro-industrial production in the Senegal River Valley Future activities: Follow-up to be determ ined

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNECE (i) W orking Party on Agricultural Quality Standards (W P.7) (i) Governm ent of Israel and UNECE RASP

(i) Im plem entation and capacity building in perishable produce standards and quality (ii) International W orkshop on “Agribusiness Enterprise Developm ent” was held in Tel Aviv (Israel) in 2003 Future activities: (i) Provide technical assistance and training on food quality and safety (ii) It is envisaged to organizs specific training courses and workshop on specific agricultural branches for CITs

UNDP Som e of the UNDP business incubators (see 2.5) are specialised, for instance the Inform ation Technology Business Incubator in India, or the business incubator in Ukraine oriented towards the prom otion of technology-based business

UNIDO Agro-Industry and Sectoral Support Branch

UNIDO has a separate branch devoted to specific sectors in Agro-industry, specifically leather, wood, food processing, and textiles. Activities include both technical co-operation projects in developing countries and global forum activities, such as organising workshops and preparing publications such as “A Blueprint for the African Leather Industry.” Technical co-operation projects are designed to assist local institutions and agencies to build their capacity to support SM Es by providing training for m anagem ent and workers, introducing im proved, environm entally-sound technology, providing better support services (such as testing laboratories or m arketing support services) and im proving the business environm ent.

W orld Bank/ IFC SM E Departm ent’s Linkage Unit, Project Developm ent Facilities.

IFC’s linkage and supply chain work has supported SM Es in autom otive, dairy, m ining, and forestry sectors. Future activities: There will be increasing work in sectors where IFC has investm ent experience.

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7.4 OTHER ISSUES ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

W IPO SM Es Division

Joint W IPO/ITC project for the crafts and visual arts sectors, including developm ent of training m anual on m arketing and use of IP rights and a num ber of additional activities including sem inars at crafts fairs and developm ent of distance learning courses. Future activities: Continuation of present activities

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

INSM E INSM E is developing m ore activities with respect to traditional sectors and particularly

the textile and garm ents.

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

Interest representation on European Level regarding enterprise and industrial policy Future activities: Continuation of present activities

YES for Europe (TUGIAD) Energy Com m ittee

Energy Report. An Agriculture, Food and Industry Com m ittee has been established in Ankara Branch. Future activities: Natural Resources and M inerals Report

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PART 8: SM Es AND GLOBALISATIO N

Globalisation of economic activities comprises an evolving pattern of cross border activities ranging from trade and international investment, to participation in strategic alliances, partnerships and networking arrangements. Current trends in global value chains concerning manufacturing and services reflect these globalisation patterns, impacting the entire range of business functions.

Although SM Es are under-represented in world trade there is increasing evidence of their internationalisation which, in addition to new and larger markets for products and services, can open up opportunities such as access to know-how and technology, as well as lower production costs. A number of factors can positively influence SM E internationalisation efforts. These include ICTs and increased managerial awareness and education. Often SM Es supplying a niche or a small domestic market, or using e-business effectively have a vocation to go global at an early stage, which can offer them high growth opportunities.

On the other hand, globalisation poses an increased threat for SM Es which are unable or unwilling to compete, exposing them to heightened international competition from foreign firms, and may result in the loss of traditional markets to lower-priced competition from overseas. Factors at play which may contribute to impeding SM E access to international markets include: complexity and differences in the regulatory systems and business environment between countries, and cultural and language issues.

The success and growth of international SM Es will be enhanced by an internationalised infrastructure that is geared to the smooth growth of firms across borders, reducing the need for firms to comply with multiple sets of rules or requirements. Important areas in this regard include standards, intellectual property rights and financial markets regulations. There is also a need to facilitate access to information SM Es need to operate internationally, in particular that relating to tax, regulatory frameworks and requirements, advisory services and dispute resolution procedures.

This will require active collaboration between governments, the private sector and international organisations to address these issues with the view to reaping the significant potential benefits that should accrue from the creation of a simpler, more business friendly economy at international levels.

The following sub-issues are presented separately in this section:

8.1 Globalisation Strategies of SM Es: exports and FDI 8.2 Financing Issues 8.3 E-business and Access to ICT 8.4 SM Es Networks for International Trade and Investment 8.5 Partnership with Global Firms 8.6 Other Issues

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PARTIE 8: PM E ET M O NDIALISATIO N

La mondialisation des activités économiques comprend un motif changeant d’activités transfrontières qui vont du commerce et de l’investissem ent international, à la participation à des alliances stratégiques, des partenariats et des accords de mise en réseaux. Les tendances actuelles qui privilégient les chaînes de valeurs globales dans les secteurs de la manufacture et des services reflètent les caractéristiques de cette mondialisation qui ont un impact sur l’ensemble des fonctions des affaires.

Bien que les PM E soient sous-représentées dans le com merce mondial, l’on remarque des signes toujours plus nombreux de leur internationalisation qui peut non seulement leur offrir un plus grand éventail de marchés mais aussi des marchés nouveaux de produits et de services ainsi que l’occasion d’accéder au savoir-faire, à la technologie aussi bien qu’à des coûts de production moins élevés. Plusieurs facteurs peuvent avoir une incidence positive sur les efforts d’internationalisation des PM E. Ces derniers incluent les TIC, une sensibilité accrue aux bienfaits de la gestion et l’éducation. Souvent les PM E qui fournissent une niche ou un petit marché domestique ou encore qui utilisent le commerce électronique de manière efficace ont pour vocation de s’internationaliser de manière précoce, ce qui peut leur offrir des possibilités de croissance importantes.

La mondialisation représente néanmoins une menace supplémentaire pour les PM E qui sont soit incapables soit peu désireuses d’être compétitives en les exposant de la sorte à une compétition internationale accrue de la part d’autres entreprises qui peut se résoudre en la perte de marchés traditionnels emportés par des prix plus bas venus de l’étranger. Les facteurs qui peuvent obstruer l’accès des PM E aux marchés internationaux sont les suivants: complexité et variations entre les systèmes réglementaires et les climats d’affaires entre différents pays ainsi que les questions culturelles et linguistiques.

Le succès et la croissance des PM E internationales sera encouragée par une infrastructure plus internationale ayant pour but une croissance lisse et transfrontière des entreprises et une réduction des règles et mesures auxquelles celles-ci se plier. A cet égard, des domaines importants sont les standards, les droits de la propriété intellectuelle et la régulation des marchés financiers. Il doit aussi y avoir un accès facilité à l’information que nécessitent les PM E pour opérer sur le plan international; plus particulièrement en matière de taxation, de réglementation, de services de conseil et de procédures de résolutions des différends.

Ceci ne se fera qu’avec une volonté de collaborer activem ent de la part des gouvernem ents, du secteur privé et des organisations internationales afin de profiter des avantages potentiels substantiels qui résulteront de la création d’une économie mondiale plus simplifiée et plus l’écoute des milieux d’affaires.

8.1 Stratégies de mondialisation des PM E 8.2 Questions de financement 8.3 Commerce électronique et accès aux TIC 8.4 Réseaux de PM E pour le commerce et les investissements internationaux 8.5 Partenariats avec des entreprises mondiales 8.6 Autres questions

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8.1 GLOBALISATION STRATEGIES OF SM ES: EXPORTS AND FDI ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATION FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

See 1.1 Future activities: It is proposed to conduct a study on Enhancing the Role of SM Es in Global Value Chains. The objective of this activity would be to exam ine the role of sm aller firm s – both affiliated with m ultinational enterprises and non-affiliated – in the evolving global value chains of OECD industry, with a view to assessing what can and needs to be done In line with a recom m endation of the Istanbul M inisterial Declaration, this study (originating as a proposal by the Swiss delegation) will be carried out by the working party on SM Es and entrepreneurship which will report its m ain results to CIBE. It would provide an im portant contribution to the STI study on m anufacturing, global outsourcing and em ploym ent and growth.

DCD DAC/DCD and DEV DCD/POVNET

Prom oting SM Es for Developm ent prepared for the 2004 Istanbul M inisterial. W orkshop on Trade Capacity Building and Private Sector Developm ent— Cam bodia, (Dec. 2003)

SW AC SW AC’s Developm ent Perspectives Unit

i) Dakar Conference on Trade and Investm ent in Africa, held April 2003, with governm ent of Senegal and OECD Trade Directorate ii) Publication related to W est Africa and Global com petition (Karthala, 2003) with chapters on SM Es Future activities: i) Build partnerships with private sector associations in W est Africa, results to be shared with ECOW AS

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT)

Business Coaching and e-Coaching on building strategic cross-border partnerships at www.business-asia.net and Asia-Pacific Ventures & Opportunities journal Future activities: Upgrading of the www.technology4sm e.com and www.business-asia.net websites to facilitate online technology transfer and regional co-operation on the prom otion of SM Es

UNECE (i) Industrial Restructuring, Energy and Enterprise Division, TRADE Division

(i) UNECE organized the International Forum on Trade Facilitation “Sim pler Procedures for W orld Trade Growth” in 2002, W orkshop on “Trade, Business and Investm ent in a W ider Europe” in 2003 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva (ii) An Expert M eeting on “How to Develop Quality M anagem ent System s for Enhancing Com petitiveness of SM Es” was held and Conclusions and Recom m endations were elaborated on this issues in 2001. As follow-up to this issue the UNECE created a Team of Specialists on Quality M anagem ent System s Future activities: (i) The issue of preparation of SM Es to m eet the world wide trade requirem ents will be analysed, events will be organized

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ACTIVITIES

UNECE (ii) RASP, Team of Specialists on Quality M anagem ent System s (TOS on QM S) and W orking Party on Technical Harm onization and Standardization Policy (W P.6)

(ii) The TOS on QM S is carrying out a project on benchm arking excellent quality m anagem ent m odels. (iii) The Regional Adviser is preparing a docum ent on best practice in im plem enting Q M S at enterprises

UNECLAC/CEPAL Division of International Trade and Integration

Future activities: A com ponent of UN Developm ent Account Project to exam ine the strategies to integrate SM Es in international supply chains trade (2004-2006).

ILO IFP/SEED

Upgrading the productivity and com petitiveness of sm all garm ent producers in Sri Lanka, ahead of the expiry of the M ulti Fibre Agreem ent.

UNIDO Sm all and M edium Scale Enterprises Branch

UNIDO is a partner agency in the UN Global Com pact. Of the 1,240 com panies and organisations that are signatories to the Com pact, 234 com panies from 37 developed and developing countries are SM Es. UNIDO’s association is a result of the recognition of its activities in developing business partnerships, in supporting SM E developm ent, its research efforts on the im plications of Corporate Social Responsibility for SM Es in developing countries, and its activities in supporting environm entally and socially responsible entrepreneurship. UNIDO provides support in the developm ent of tools, inform ation resources and m ethodologies that support im plem entation of the Com pact’s principles. UNIDO also participates in policy dialogues and international discussions, for exam ple, by presenting case studies of best corporate practice in supply chain m anagem ent or in environm entally sustainable industrial developm ent. In addition, field level support is provided to the launch of the Com pact in developing countries. Future activities: UNIDO will help realize the Com pact’s objectives at the field-level in the organisation’s client countries. UNIDO’s response will be a cross-organisational program m e with several parts of the organisation participating, the focus being on the im provem ent of the quality of business practices by SM Es and supporting business relationships based on Corporate Social and Environm ental Responsibility.

W IPO SM Es Division

Joint activities with ITC on intellectual property for exporters, including publication on “Secrets of Intellectual Property: a Guide for SM E Exporters”, training events and other activities. Future activities: Continuation of present activities

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB M KOC SAGF

REG 6020: Facilitating Cross-Border Trade and Investm ent for Sm all and M edium Enterprise Developm ent in the Greater M ekong Subregion BAN 3879: Sm all and M edium Enterprise Developm ent and Export Expansion Program (PPTA)

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ACTIVITIES

APEC -Sem inar on Opportunities and Challenges: APEC SM Es after China’s Accession to the W TO; -International Conference “Sm all and Big Business Interaction”; -SM E Im pedim ents M onitoring System ; -Business Partnership Initiative for SM Es; -Evolving co-operation initiatives for SM E& New Business Support; -2001 APEC SM E & new Business Support W orkshop

ASEAN SM EW G

See answer under 2.3, 4.5 and 5.3

INSM E INSM E Award 2005 First Edition “Innovation for success: Locally adopted, Globally replicable”: This award is conceived as a biannually prize that the INSM E Association will assign in order to acknowledge the success or the im portance of the activities and initiatives at international, regional, national or sub-national level and will be given to interm ediaries and their networks and to those initiatives, projects or program m es that represent an outstanding contribution in the field of innovation and technology transfer to SM Es Future activities: 2007 - Second Edition of INSM E Award

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

IKED -In February 2004 IKED hosted the INSM E (International Network for Sm all and M edium

Sized Enterprises) Prom oting Com m ittee m eeting. Around 80 delegates consisting of policy m akers and experts from 23 different countries and 11 international organisations were attending and enthusiastically joining the discussions regarding INSM E. Future activities: -Thom as Andersson, IKED President was recently appointed Vice President for INSM E. Naturally, IKED will keep an active role in the future INSM E agenda.

YES for Europe YES for Europe Secretariat

YES Forum (Rom e - Italy, 19-20 Novem ber 1999): ‘The 3rd M illennium Challenge – Em erging Sectors & Opportunities in Globalisation’ Round tables and workshops on business opportunities and challenges deriving from the globalisation process. Around 100 young entrepreneurs from all over Europe attended the event.

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8.2 FINANCING ISSUES

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

See 1.1

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

ILO SFP

Rem ittances and SM E start-up financing: case studies in Africa, Asia. Future activities: M ajor policy level conference in 2005

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB SAGF

PAK 1796: Sm all and M edium -Sized Enterprise Trade Enhancem ent Finance BAN 3879: Sm all and M edium Enterprise Developm ent and Export Expansion Program m e (PPTA)

APEC See 8.1

ASEAN SM EW G

See answer under 1.1 and 2.2

INSM E See 4.3

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

Basel II. EZB m onetary policy approach. Future activities: Continuation of present activities

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8.3 E-COM M ERCE AND ACCESS TO ICT

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

1) The OECD W PSM E oversees the im plem entation of the OECD Bologna Charter on SM E policies with regard to electronic com m erce; i.e. the following recom m endations:

-Full account be taken of SM E perspectives in the drafting of guidelines, rules and regulatory initiatives and instrum ents related to inform ation and com m unication technologies (ICTs) and electronic com m erce, taking into particular consideration the conclusions of the OECD m inisterial conference on electronic com m erce held in Ottawa in October 1998. -Greater awareness am ong SM Es of the benefits of the inform ation society and of integrating internet use and electronic com m erce in their business strategies be fostered by: i) encouraging the dissem ination of inform ation on opportunities and obstacles related to electronic com m erce; ii) rem oving paper-based legal barriers to com m ercial electronic transactions and adm inistrative im pedim ents to the creation and developm ent of new firm s; iii) fostering a com petitive m arket for high-quality network infrastructure; and iv) m aking use of the internet in public adm inistrations’ interactions with SM Es and prom oting electronic public procurem ent initiatives that provide equal access to SM Es. -SM Es’ participation in electronic com m erce be enhanced by: i) fostering an environm ent conducive to business-led initiatives to prom ote the use of ICTs and electronic com m erce (e.g. resource and dem onstration centres, training initiatives, pilot projects); ii) encouraging the developm ent of effective and user-friendly fram eworks for certification, authentication, transaction security system s, privacy, and consum er protection and, m ore generally, providing an attractive business environm ent for electronic com m erce in areas such as trade, com petition, intellectual property rights (IPRs), standards, and taxation; and iii) enabling SM Es to work within a clear, consistent and predictable legal fram ework for electronic com m erce, which allows access to "out-of-court" dispute resolution m echanism s, without im posing undue costs or burdens.

2) As part of the 2nd OECD M inisterial Conference on SM Es, a M inisterial M eeting was held entitled, SM Es in a Global Econom y, Panel 2. Strengthening the Contribution of E-Business 3) Background Paper prepared for the Istanbul M inisterial Conference on SM Es entitled :Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) M echanism s Online for SM Es and another docum ent : “Resolving E-Com m erce Disputes Online: Frequently asked Questions for SM Es” (2004) 4) Additionally, a Background Paper was prepared for the Istanbul M inisterial Conference on SM Es entitled :ICT, E-Business and SM Es

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Trade and Investm ent Division, with Governm ent of Republic of Korea UNESCAP / Trade and Investm ent Division UNESCAP / Inform ation, Com m unication and Space

Regional Consultative M eeting on Initiatives for E-com m erce capacity building of SM Es E-business and E-com m erce workshops for SM Es in the Greater M ekong Subregion. Country studies on “ICT usage am ong SM Es in Cam bodia, the Philippines, Singapore and Viet Nam ”, based on interviews and national surveys of several hundred SM Es conducted through business organisations com pleted in Nov. 2003 Future activities: Regional Expert Conference on Harm onised Developm ent of Legal and Regulatory System s for E-com m erce in Asia and the Pacific

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ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

Technology Division UNESCAP

Coverage of country studies to be extended to m ost developing countries and countries with econom ies in transition of Asia and the Pacific

UNECE The UNECE launched the United Nations electronic Trade Docum ents (UNeDocs). The aim is to develop and im plem ent solutions for efficient trade docum ent system s based on international trade standards and on technologies that are accessible to trader from SM Es. Future activities: Developm ent and m aintenance of e-business standards under UN/CEFACT and developm ent of the UNeDocs

UNECLAC/CEPAL ECLAC Buenos Aires Office

Inform ation society and inform ation services of high value added in Argentina, 2003

UNIDO Sm all and M edium Enterprises Branch

See issue 4.2 Future activities: Continuation of present activities

W IPO SM Es Division; Division for Copyright E-Com m erce Technology and M anagem ent

Training program s and other activities relating to intellectual property and e-com m erce

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB SAGF SEGF

SRI 1894/1895/1896: Sm all and M edium Enterprise Sector Developm ent Program REG 6060: Facilitating Business Inform ation Exchange for Sm all and M edium -sized Enterprises in the BIM P-EAGA Region

APEC See 8.1

ASEAN SM EW G

On-going exchange of policy experiences, success stories and good practices in fostering and increased access to ICT Future activities: 1. Feasibility study on the establishm ent of interlink online networks for SM E products and services 2. Feasibility study of establishing of Regional Trading House

CEI CEI W orking Group on SM Es (Body in charge of the developm ent of CEI priorities in the SM E sector) is assisting the im plem entation of projects for the developm ent of CEI SM E internet portal

EC

The eEurope Action Plan In M ay 2002, the Com m ission adopted a follow-up Action Plan to eEurope 2002, eEurope 2005, running from 2003 to 2005. eEurope 2002 proved to be a successful form at. The new eEurope Action Plan identifies the need to prom ote “a dynam ic e-business environm ent”, and proposes a com prehensive set of actions in relation to legislation, e-skills, interoperability, and trust and confidence, with specific reference to

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ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

EC

SM Es. Key m easures include a European e-business support network, fostering of clusters of online SM Es, sharing of good practice, and prom otion of guidelines and standards. Go Digital As a follow-up of the eEurope 2002 Action Plan, and, m ore specifically, of the Com m ission’s Com m unication and Action Plan “Helping SM Es to Go Digital”, the Com m ission services have launched specific actions to address the needs of SM Es with regards to the adoption of inform ation and com m unication technologies (ICT) and e-business. The e-business legal portal An “e-business legal portal” is being established, which will be operational in spring 2003. It is developed and m anaged by a network of 16 Euro Info Centres in 13 European countries. The objective is to provide an on-line inform ation service, providing an overview of relevant e-com m erce legislation and self-regulatory initiatives and to offer personalised legal advice on specific, frequently asked questions in the field of e-business. All notified draft technical regulations are easily available to SM Es in all official languages at: http://europa.eu.int/com m /enterprise/tris

INSM E See 4.5

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

Cham berSign, Cham berPass, OnlineConfidence ODR system

IKED - In 2003 IKED hosted the the above m entioned “Globalisation and ICT - The Role of Governm ent, Private Sector and Civil Society in an Inform ation Society for All”. The conference brought together key decision m akers from the 25 ASEM m em ber states in Asia and Europe, as well as the European Com m ission along with representatives from industry, experts and other stakeholders. -IKED has edited and published conference proceedings following above m entioned ASEM Conference. -IKED was m em ber of the steering com m ittee for the Virtual Opportunity Congress III “Virtual Global Society – Integration VS Disintegration: Social and Com m ercial Risks and Opportunities" that took place in Sydney, Australia, 16-17 Decem ber 2003. IKED proposed the establishm ent of an International standards centre for Trust in Virtual relations (for m ore inform ation about this see 8.3:B). Future activities: -In co-operation with Oresund IT Academ y IKED is conducting a feasibility study exam ining the possibility of establishing an international standards centre for Trust in Virtual Relations. The idea of such a trust centre was developed in co-operation with Oresund IT Academ y and presented at the ASEM -conference hosted by IKED and the Swedish governm ent in M arch, 2003. Such a Digital Trust Center should be based on the use of digital certificates, one of the m ost prom ising and m ost used present solutions that allow for applications such as secure e-trade, e-banking, e-governm ent functions.

YES for Europe YES for Europe Secretariat

YES Forum (Brussels - Belgium , 17-18 Novem ber 2000): ‘ -Round Tables with representatives of the business sector, EU officers and other experts on Research & Innovation, New Econom y – Young entrepreneurs’ W orkshops on Com petition, Training and Social Responsibility. Around 100 young entrepreneurs from all over Europe attended the event.

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8.4 SM ES NETW ORKS FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INVESTM ENT

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATION FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

See 6.2

GOV TDPC

Conference: Regional Developm ent and Foreign Direct Investm ent in Brazil Fortaleza, Brazil, Decem ber 2002. Please see: www.oecd.org/gov/territorialpolicies

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Trade and Investm ent Division

Future activities: Strengthen trade and investm ent inform ation networks and system s. Prom oting SM E networking.

UNECE Future activities: Capacity building in trade facilitation and electronic business in the M editerranean

UNECLAC/CEPAL Division of International Trade and Integration

Com parative Study on East Asian and Latin Am erican IT Industries (2003-2004)

UNIDO Investm ent and Technology Prom otion Sm all and M edium Enterprises Branch

For the last 20 years, UNIDO has been successful in establishing a Subcontracting and Partnership Exchange (SPX) through the world. At present, the UNIDO Global Network has 57 SPXs in 32 countries and 114 partners in 46 countries, form ing part of a global industrial outsourcing network – the largest UNIDO network at present. Constantly at the forefront of the supply chain m anagem ent in developing its own tools and m ethodologies, the UNIDO SPX in Turkey won the 2003 Best Sm all Business Project Award from the W orld Cham ber of Com m erce, at the 3rd W orld Cham bers Congress, held in Quebec City 15 - 17 Septem ber 2003. Future activities: The “UNIDO Supply Chain Developm ent Program m e” will build up the supply through creating existing SPXs regional networks in Arab countries, Latin Am erica, India, and W est Africa and establish new SPXs in Asia (such as China) and Africa (such as Benin, Cam eroon, M adagascar). One of the activities envisaged under the Global Com pact will be the attem pt to link UNIDO assisted SM Es with ethical trade initiatives. This would create a network of com panies and trading institutions that would form partnerships based on Corporate Social and Environm ental Responsibility.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB SEGF

REG 5880: Sm all and M edium Scale Enterprise Developm ent in the EAGA Region

APEC See 8.1

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ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

ASEAN SM EW G

See answer under 2.3, 4.5 and 5.3

INSM E RésIT Project: see 4.5

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS International Affairs Directorate

Global Cham ber Platform Future activities: Continuation of present activities

EURO-M ED TDS Em ed-tds.com M anagem ent and Technical Board

Pilot Phase of Em ed project: an adm inistrated network for B2B electronic com m erce in the agrifood sector Future activities: The creation of an e-m arket technical platform which could be adapted to other trade sectors and/or interconnected with other e-com m erce national and transnational platform s

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8.5 PARTNERSHIP W ITH GLOBAL FIRM S ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

See 6.2

ECH JW PTE (not in charge of SM E activities, but in charge of project)

Nine case studies have been undertaken so far to look at m arkets for environm ental goods and services in developing and newly-industrialising countries. It is com m on for sm aller com panies in these countries to get a head start by team ing up with larger, foreign m ultinationals. Future Activities: W e m ay undertake additional case studies; to be determ ined.

GOV TSI

Future activities: Analytical report on FDI and regional growth, including an assessm ent of em ploym ent growth by firm size (program m e of work 2005-6)

SW AC SW AC’s Developm ent Perspecitives Unit

See 8.1

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNIDO Sm all and M edium Enterprises Branch Industrial Prom otion and Technology Branch

See 6.2, Business Partnership Program m e The UNIDO Subcontracting Partnership Exchange (SPX) network acts as a global outsourcing and suppliers’ network and m atchm aking m echanism between local SM Es/m anufacturers and national and global firm s Future activities: The “UNIDO Supply Chain Developm ent Program m e” will develop partnerships with global firm s for the supply of up-grading program m es in sectors such as energy and oil.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC See 8.1

ASEAN SM EW G

See answer under 8.4

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BRES EU Affairs Directorate

SM E Vendor Forum

© OECD, 2004.

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8.6 OTHER ISSUES

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNECE RASP and Regional Adviser on Entrepreneurship and SM Es

The UNECE signed a M em orandum of Understanding with W ASM E at its 13th International Conference held in Gibraltar in 2002

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

EC Prom otion of SM Es Interests in the European Standardisation Process W hile SM Es’ participation in the European standardisation process is crucial for their com petitiveness, m any decisions on standards are m ade each year without taking into account their needs. For this reason, in 2002, the Com m ission services charged a contractor with providing inform ation to SM Es and crafts businesses on standards, certification, quality and norm s and organising SM Es’ participation in the standardisation bodies at national, European and international level.

© OECD, 2004.

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PART 9: SM Es IN DEVELOPING AND EM ERGING ECO NO M IES

A vibrant SM E sector is essential for promoting sustained economic and social development in transition and developing economies. The ability of these economies to integrate with the global economy through trade and investment is recognised to significantly affect their growth rates. Enterprises in these economies face major challenges for strengthening their human and institutional capacities to take advantage of the trade and investment opportunities that arise. How supply-side bottlenecks are addressed by governments, development partners and the private sector, has direct implications for the economic growth potential of these economies.

As in industrialised economies, SM Es in transition and developing economies typically account for more than 90% of all firms, constitute a major source of employment, and generate significant domestic and export earnings. In the poorest countries, however, they make up a relatively small part of the economy, and an important policy priority in low-income countries is to facilitate SM E creation so as to bring the poor into the formal sector, participate in markets and engage in higher value-added business activities.

SM E development requires policies towards SM Es that are integrated into broader national development strategies, implying: sound macroeconomic and structural policies that underpin a business environment conducive to enterprise creation and growth; the ability of SM Es to implement competitive operating practices and business strategies; and capable public and private institutions. Implementing such a strategy requires simplified legal and regulatory frameworks, good governance, and access to appropriate financing, infrastructure, education, as well as a healthy and flexibly skilled labour force. To reap the benefits of the international trading system, SM Es need to be competitive and productive. To this end and to help build SM E trade and investment capacity, effective business support systems need to be put in place. Also, the benefits of foreign direct investment to local SM Es need to be maximised. All of this supposes: dialogue and partnerships between the stakeholders (public sector, private sector and civil society); and substantial investments in sustainable development of institutional and physical infrastructure and service delivery to SM Es in all areas; and enhancing women’s ability to participate in SM E development through all SM E development strategies and programmes. Governments in advanced economies should promote policy coherence and greater effectiveness of development assistance.

The following sub-issues are presented separately in this section:

9.1 Provision of Business Services 9.2. SM Es Linkages with Foreign Investors 9.3 SM Es Access to External M arkets 9.4 Financial and Technical Assistance (International Aid) 9.5 Other Issues

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PARTIE 9. PM E ET DÉVELO PPEM ENT (ÉCO NO M IES EN DÉVELO PPEM ENT ET ÉM ERGENTES)

Un secteur dynamique des PM E est une composante essentielle de la promotion d’un développement économique et social soutenu dans des économies en développement et en transition. L’aptitude à s’intégrer à l’économie mondiale par le commerce et l’investissem ent de ces économies est reconnue comme étant positivement corrélée avec des taux de croissance plus élevés. Les entreprises de ces économies doivent faire face aux défis majeurs que sont le renforcement de leur potentiel humain et institutionnel afin de jouir pleinement des avantages des occasions d’échanges et d’investissement qui se présentent. La façon dont les goulots d’étranglement du côté de l’offre peuvent être résolus par les gouvernements, les partenaires du développement et le secteur privé peut avoir des implications directes sur le potentiel de croissance économique de ces économies.

Comme dans les économies industrialisées, les PM E dans les économies en voie de développement et en transition représentent plus de 90% du total des entreprises, sont une source majeure d’emplois, et génèrent des revenus tant d’exportations que domestiques. Dans les pays les plus pauvres cependant, elles ne représentent qu’un faible pourcentage de l’économie et une priorité importante en matière de politique publique dans les pays à faibles revenus est la facilitation de la création de PM E afin d’amener les pauvres dans le secteur formel, d’en faire des acteurs sur les marchés et de les engager dans des activités à haute valeur ajoutée.

Le développement des PM E requiert des politiques publiques pour les PM E qui soient intégrées à des stratégies de développement national c’est-à-dire des politiques macro-économiques et structurelles qui sous-tendent : un climat des affaires favorable à la création et à la croissance d’entreprises, l’abilité des PM E à mettre en œuvre des stratégies d’opération compétitives et des stratégies d’affaires et des institutions privées et publiques compétentes. La m ise en œuvre d’une telle stratégie demande des cadres réglementaires et légaux simplifiés, une bonne gouvernance, l’accès à des financements adéquats, à des infrastructures, à l’éducation ainsi qu’à une force de main d’œuvre saine et qualifiée. Afin de jouir pleinement de tous les avantages du système du commerce mondial intégré, les PM E doivent se montrer compétitives et productives. A cette fin, et afin de renforcer les capacités productives et commerciales des PM E, des systèmes de soutien efficaces en affaires doivent être mis en place. D’autre part, les avantages de l’investissement direct étranger pour les PM E locales doivent être maximisés. Tout ceci suppose: un dialogue et des partenariats entre toutes les parties prenantes (secteur public, secteur privé et société civile); des investissements conséquents dans le développement durable des infrastructures physiques et institutionnelles et de l’apport de services aux PM E dans tous les domaines; et l’amélioration de l’aptitude des femmes à participer au développement des PM E à travers toutes les stratégies et les programmes relatives aux PM E. Les gouvernements dans les économies plus avancées devraient promouvoir la cohérence des politiques et une efficacité accrue de l’aide au développement.

Les sous-rubriques suivantes sont présentées séparément dans la présente section :

9.1 Fourniture de services aux entreprises 9.2 Liens des PM E avec des investisseurs étrangers 9.3 Accès des PM E aux marchés extérieurs 9.4 Assistance financière et technique (aide internationale) 9.5 Autres questions

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9.1 PROVISION OF BUSINESS SERVICES ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

1) The OECD W PSM E oversees the im plem entation of the OECD Bologna Charter on SM E Policies with regard to enhancing the com petitiveness of SM Es in transition econom ies and developing countries in the global econom y and their partnership with SM Es of OECD countries, the following recom m endations:

-Co-ordination between governm ents, and regional and international organisations as regards industrial developm ent program m es and initiatives aim ed at supporting the growth of SM Es in transition and developing econom ies be im proved. -Support and financial services, including those carried out by interm ediaries (e.g. self-help organisations, business associations, technical assistance centres, etc.), be prom oted in ways that foster international co-operation and partnership am ong SM Es and provide im proved access to inform ation, financial and technological resources and new m arkets. -SM E policies in developing and transition econom ies prom ote the long-term developm ent of the sector and encourage networking. Policy and institutional m echanism s favouring large, often state-owned enterprises over SM Es, notably in sectors not characterised by econom ies of scale or other conditions of "natural m onopoly", should be rem oved.

2) In addition, as part of the 2nd OECD M inisterial Conference on SM Es, a M inisterial M eeting was held entitled, W orkshop 3:SM Es in a Global Econom y, Panel 1.Facilitating SM E Access to International M arkets 3) A Second W orkshop was held as part of the 2nd OECD M inisterial Conference on SM Es entitled, Enhancing the Role of SM Es for Developm ent, Panel 1. Enhancing SM E Com petitiveness Panel 2. SM Es and Poverty Reduction

DCD DCD/COH (in particular POVNET)

Background paper on Prom oting SM Es for Developm ent prepared for the 2004 Istanbul M inisterial. Cam bodia W orkshop on Trade Capacity Building and Private Sector Developm ent-- -Decem ber 2003 Future activities: To be determ ined— could be best practices and workshops’ sessions on donors experience in this area

ECH The OECD Trade Directorate carried out business surveys in the three Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) and eight South Eastern European econom ies (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, M acedonia, M oldova, Rom ania, and Serbia and M ontenegro) to assess the business environm ent of services-providing com panies in these countries. (see “Business environm ent for trade in services” forthcom ing in OECD (2004) Prom oting trade in services: The Experience of the Baltic States, and “Dom estic business environm ent for service providers in South Eastern European (See CCNM /TD/SEE(2003)5 FINAL and CCNM /TD/SEE(2003)5 ANN FINAL)

SW AC SW AC’s Developm ent Perspectives Unit

Private Sector W orkshop with W est African Em ployer’s Associations in 2003 with focus on joint action plan, see 6.2 Future activities: To be determ ined

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9.1 PROVISION OF BUSINESS SERVICES ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS UNESCAP UNESCAP / Trade and Investm ent Division, with support from Governm ent of Japan

1) Establishm ent of the GM S-BF (Greater M ekong Sub-region Business Forum ) to provide services to business and local cham bers of com m erce 2) Training course on strengthening national cham bers of com m erce in the Greater M ekong Sub-region Future activities: Capacity building and networking of business associations in LDCs and countries with econom ies in transition Capacity building of business developm ent services providers in the Greater M ekong Sub-region (2005-2006).

UNECE (i and ii) RASP and Regional Adviser on Entrepreneurship and SM Es (iii) RASP, Regional Adviser on Entrepreneurship and SM Es and W orking Party on Industrial Restructuring and Enterprise Developm ent (W P.8)

(i) The UNECE developed and m aintains a special web-site and network on “Index of SM E Developm ent” highlighting the several issues of the entrepreneurship and SM E developm ent in CITs and em erging m arket econom ies (see http://www.unece.org/indust/sm e/ece-sm e.htm (ii) The UNECE provide advisory services to Governm ents of the CITs at their request concerning SM E policy and support program m e developm ent issues Future activities: (i) The UNECE will develop this site also in the future (ii) The RASP will continued in the future (iii) It is envisaged to establish a Team of Specialists on SM Es and Entrepreneurship based on national focal points of the UNECE region

ILO IFP/SEED5

See 3.3

UNDP EA’s overall objective is the developm ent and the strengthening of the private sector in Africa by enhancing capacity building, corporate governance policy, innovation, m arket access, and inform ation technology knowledge base (in a dozen or so African countries). EA assists African governm ents in building national capacity by strengthening, re-structuring or developing Business Developm ent Services organisations and supporting the prom otion of enabling policies for the creation of a growth-oriented private sector.

W orld Bank/ IFC IFC’s SM E Departm ent, Project Developm ent Facilities.

IFC has provided direct business services to firm s as well as develop business service providers and consultancies. Future activities: This work will continue

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

5 Note: ILO’s integrated Local Economic Development approach applied in countries such as Croatia, Serbia-

M ontenegro, South Africa, M ozambique, Angola, Ghana, Georgia and Kazakhstan aims at increasing access and quality of financial and non-financial services for entrepreneurs through capacity building of public and private service providers

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9.1 PROVISION OF BUSINESS SERVICES ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

ADB SPRM SAGF PAHQ SEGF

SAM 1785: Sm all Business Developm ent SRI 1894/1895/1896: Sm all and M edium Enterprise Sector Developm ent Program SAM 3262: Sm all Business Developm ent (PPTA) INO 3829: Strengthening Business Developm ent Services for Sm all and M edium Enterprises (AOTA)

ASEAN SM EW G

On-going exchange of policy experiences, success stories and good practices in the provision of BDS by public- and private- sector entities Future activities: Feasibility study on ways and m eans to foster greater synergies between public- and private-sector providers of BDS

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS International Affairs Directorate / EU Affairs Directorate

Since 1992 m ore than 15 Program m es to develop Business Organisations in CE and CIS Future activities: Continuous developm ent of new program m es

EURO-M ED TDS Secretariat

- M onthly Bulletin –news about m acroeconom ics, business opportunities and general trends regarding services, trade and distribution - Training courses Future activities: -M onthly Bulletin -Euro-M editerranean School of Econom ics

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9.2 SM ES LINKAG ES W ITH FOREIGN INVESTORS

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

See 9.1

DCD DCD/COH (in particular POVNET) and DAFFE (in particular CIM E com m ittee)

Sam e as 9.1 and Paper on Foreign Direct Investm ent and SM E Developm ent: Policy Issues – prepared for CIM E Com m ittee- Dec. 2003 Future activities: To be determ ined— could be best practices and workshops’ sessions on donors experience in this area

ECH See 9.1

GOV TDPC

Conference: Regional Developm ent and Foreign Direct Investm ent in Brazil Fortaleza, Brazil, Decem ber 2002.

SW AC SW AC’s Developm ent Perspectives Unit

See 9.1

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Trade and Investm ent Division, Governm ent of Japan

Business opportunities study trip for Japanese and Thai investors to GM S region Future activities: Increasing linkages between SM Es and larger enterprises in the Greater M ekong Subregion (2005-2006).

ILO IFP/SEED6

See 6.2

W orld Bank/ IFC FC’s Linkage Departm ent, Project Developm ent Facilities

IFC has im plem ented num erous linkage and supply chain program s. Future activities: This work will be expanded in the future.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA ASEAN SM EW G

See answer under 8.4

6 Note: ILO’s integrated Local Economic Development approach applied in countries such as Croatia, Serbia-

M ontenegro, South Africa, M ozambique, Angola, Ghana, Georgia and Kazakhstan aims at increasing access and quality of financial and non-financial services for entrepreneurs through capacity building of public and private service providers.

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9.2 SM ES LINKAG ES W ITH FOREIGN INVESTORS

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EURO-M ED TDS Secretariat, Em ed-tds.com M anagem ent and Technical Board

M onthly Bulletin Online publishing of world wide business opportunities Em ed-tds.com project

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9.3 SM ES ACCESS TO EXTERNAL M ARKETS

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

Background Paper prepared for the Istanbul M inisterial Conference on SM Es entitled : Facilitating SM Es’ Access to International M arkets

DCD DCD/COH (in particular POVNET under trade capacity building area)

Sam e as 9.1 and DAC Guidelines on Trade Capacity Building Future activities: To be determ ined— could be best practices and workshops’ sessions on donors experience in this area

ECH JW PTE (not in charge of SM E activities, but in charge of project)

See answer to question 2.3 and 9.1 Twenty case studies were undertaken on the effects of environm ental requirem ents on the m arket access of developing countries [see COM /ENV/TD (2002)86/FINAL]. Am ong the findings of these case studies was that SM Es were often m ore affected than bigger producers in the sam e countries. Future activities: A synthesis report of “lessons learned” in the case studies is in preparation.

SW AC SW AC’s Developm ent Perspectives Unit

See 9.1 Future activities: Asian-W est African investm ent prom otion, see 2.1

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Trade and Investm ent Division

Organisation of trade fairs and sym posium s, including the yearly International Fruit and Vegetable Sym posium in Yantai, China Expert group m eeting on prom oting resource-based export-oriented SM Es for poverty alleviation in Asia and the Pacific (January 2003)

UNECLAC/CEPAL ECLAC Brasília Office

- SM Es: Analysis of the Potential Trade Flows in M ercosur

W orld Bank/ IFC IFC’s Project Developm ent Facilities W orld Bank/ IFC

The LAC Project Developm ent Facility is developing a “W ood Cluster” Project which aim s to link SM Es in the wood sector in Latin Am erica with exporters. The Private Enterprise Partnership, IFC’s Facility in the Form er Soviet Union, runs projects in the Forestry and IT sectors which link Russian SM Es to Finnish custom ers. These projects are funded by Finland. APDF runs a project in Ghana which develops food and non-food products from local raw m aterials for the local and export m arkets. It prom otes the export of fruits, vegetables, shea butter and engages in capacity building to develop value-added, shelf-stable products for the local m arket and/or exports. In Bangladesh, SEDF supports SM Es in light m anufacturing and garm ent sectors. These are for the local m arket and export into neighbouring India. Future activities:

195

9.3 SM ES ACCESS TO EXTERNAL M ARKETS

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

IFC is increasing work in specific sectors to give SM Es broader access to m arkets, such as in the wood and IT sectors.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB M KOC

REG 6020: Facilitating Cross-Border Trade and Investm ent for Sm all and M edium Enterprise Developm ent in the Greater M ekong Subregion

ASEAN SM EW G

See answer under 8.4

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

BCEAM GATE-Consult enables African export com panies to find suitable partners and to

m anage and control their foreign sales subsidiary from their hom e base with m inim um cost and effort by providing the necessary adm inistrative services and infrastructure. Am ong the services offered are - General inform ation about the Germ an and European m arket - Contacts to Germ an and European im porters, retailers and trade organisations - Individual M arket research - planning of business trios and organisation of trade delegations.

EUROCHAM BERS International Affairs Directorate

Collaboration with the Global Cham ber Platform

EURO-M ED TDS Secretariat, Em ed-tds.com M anagem ent and Technical Board

Continuing activity. See 9.2

IKED -IKED, in close co-operation with the Danish Agency for Housing and Enterprise (Erhvervs- og Boligstyrelsen) is currently carrying out a m ulti-country program m e that focuses on the im pact of integration on Baltic and Polish SM Es into the European Union’s Single M arket. The im m ediate purpose of the program m e is to assist these countries in developing the policy tools necessary for enabling a successful adjustm ent and integration of their enterprises into the Single M arket. -IKED has undertaken a study ("Com peting in the single m arket") which was presented at the Annual Baltic Developm ent Forum Sum m it 2003. The them e of last years forum was "New Europe M eets Old Europe - the Baltic Sea Region as a Global Frontrunner". -KED + Cuba Program m e

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9.4 FINANCIAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (INTERNATIONAL AID) ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) DCD DCD/COH

Sam e as 9.1 DAC Guidelines on Trade Capacity Building Future activities: To be determ ined— could be best practices and workshops’ sessions on donors experience in this area

SW AC SW AC’s Developm ent Perspective Unit

See 9.1 Future activities: to be determ ined

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNECE Continuous technical assistance to Governm ent authorities in CITs concerning

entrepreneurship and SM E developm ent Future activities: Continuation of providing advisory services in the field of SM E policy

UNECLAC/CEPAL Division of Production, Productivity and M anagem ent

Future activities: The analysis of NGO supporting institutions to the developm ent of SM Es in latin Am erica

ILO SFP (as for above-m entioned)

See references in table 1 and 8.2

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB All of our projects com prise financial or technical assistance to developing countries

ASEAN SM EW G

See answer under 2.4

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS EUROCHAM BERS International Affairs Directorate / EU Affairs Directorate

Since 1992 m ore than 15 Program m es to develop Business Organisations in CE and CIS Future activities: Continuous developm ent of new program m es

EURO-M ED TDS Support to a M editerranean Services partnership

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9.5 OTHER ISSUES ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

The OECD W PSM E ensures the OECD Bologna Process, outreach to developing and em erging econom ies sharing and identifying best practices

DCD DCD/COH

Sam e as 9.1 DAC Guidelines on Trade Capacity Building Future activities: To be determ ined— could be best practices and workshops’ sessions on donors experience in this area

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Inform ation, Com m unication and Space technology Division, jointly with UNDP TTF UNESCAP / Inform ation, Com m unication and Space technology Division; G overnm ent of the Republic of Korea

Future activities: Project on “Developm ent of e-business Developm ent Services for SM Es in Selected ASEAN countries and southern China” in 2004. The project will (1) Assess SM E e-business and ICT use needs and national capacities to m eet these needs; (2) Develop and im plem ent an appropriate strategic response, including training and other capacity building activity, with a view to develop new and im proved e-business developm ent services and (3) Assist enterprise support agencies to prom ote the new and im proved services to SM Es. Enhance the ability of national governm ent’s to address issues in e-procurem ent introduction and usage address the challenges in the e-procurem ent developm ent plans

UNECE RASP and Regional Adviser on Entrepreneurship and SM Es

The UNECE regularly organises Forum s on Best Practice in Developm ent of Entrepreneurship and SM Es in CITs. Sim ilar forum s were held on the Czech Republic in 2000, Hungary in 2001, Belarus and Poland in 2002, Croatia and Slovenia in 2003 Future activities: The 6th Forum on Best Practice in Developm ent of Entrepreneurship and SM Es in CITs: the Rom anian and Slovak experiences is envisaged for 2004, Estonia in 2004, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and M alta the following years

UNDP Sam e as 2.1, 6.6 and 10.4 During 2003-2004 UNDP hosted the UN Com m ission on the Private Sector and Developm ent which presented its report “Unleashing Entrepreneurship – M aking Business W ork for the Poor”. This report will serve as an im portant instrum ent for UNDP to intensify its support to local enterprise and private sector developm ent

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB M KGF SAGF

Project Developm ent Facility: REG 5951: Sm all and M edium -sized Enterprise Growth and Developm ent in the M ekong Region REG 6087: Sm all and M edium Sized Enterprise Growth and Developm ent in the South Asia Region

EIB Group Established following the Barcelona European Council (M arch 2002), FEM IP represents

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9.5 OTHER ISSUES ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

EIB – FEM IP http://www.eib.org/ EIB – Investm ent Facility ACP http://www.eib.org/ Directorate for Lending Operations outside Europe Directorate for Lending Operations outside Europe

a m ajor evolution of the Euro-M editerranean Partnership. The Council’s decision to entrust the EIB with strengthening the financial com ponent of the Euro-M editerranean Partnership was grounded in the EIB's 30 years' experience in the M PC: between 1974 and 2001, the Bank lent a total of EUR 12.6 billion in these countries. FEM IP accords special priority to the developm ent of Private Sector econom ic activity and to projects contributing to the creation of a favourable clim ate for private investm ent. Its aim is to assist the M PCs in confronting the challenges of their social and econom ic m odernisation and im proved regional integration, looking ahead to the Euro-M editerranean free trade area planned for 2010. In 2003, m ore than one third of the financing directly prom oted the growth of private businesses, through foreign direct investm ent (Turkey, Tunisia), joint ventures resulting from co-operation between M PC prom oters (Algeria) and SM E financing (Egypt, Syria, Tunisia), in addition to the creation of a regional venture capital fund. In the fram ework of the EU's external co-operation and developm ent policies, the EIB operates in 77 ACP - African, Caribbean and Pacific - countries. The ACP countries, with a population of som e 600 m illion, have established a special relationship with the European Union through successive Conventions; the latest is the 2000 Cotonou Agreem ent signed in June 2000. In 1998 the Republic of South Africa becam e an associate m em ber of the EU-ACP conventions. Financing from the EIB in South Africa is provided under a separate bi-lateral agreem ent. The Bank has been a developm ent partner - as the developm ent bank of the European Union - in m ost ACP countries for som e 30 years, in m any for 40 years. Under parallel provisions, the EIB also supports investm ent in 20 Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT), m ainly in the Caribbean and Pacific, which have constitutional links with certain EU M em ber States. The Cotonou Agreem ent m andates the EIB to provide reim bursable aid to projects, alongside grant aid from the European Com m ission. In 2003-2008, the EIB is expected to channel EUR 3.9 billion to ACP projects, which prom ote the business sector or to public sector projects if they are operated on a private sector footing. • EUR 1.7 billion will be lent from the EIB’s own resources, and • EUR 2.2 billion will be provided under a new INVESTM ENT FACILITY, funded by EU M em ber States for private sector support, in particular sm all and m edium sized enterprises, supporting the local savings' m arkets as well as facilitating foreign direct investm ent.

INSM E INSM E prom otes the co-operation and political m ultilateral and bilateral dialogue between OECD and non OECD countries organisations. In this fram ework, INSM E try to enhance the transfer of knowledge, good practices and expertise from m em bers to m em bers for m utual learning and benchm arking activities

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

IKED -IKED is operating the project “Strengthening Innovation and Technology Policy for SM E

Developm ent in Turkey”. The aim of the program m e is to help speed up the econom ic reform process related to innovation and technology policy for SM E-developm ent in Turkey. Furtherm ore, it will give Turkish policy m akers the opportunity to exchange experiences with other relatively advanced candidate countries, such as Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and the Baltic states, m any of which already have technology and innovation policy centres.

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PART 10: ENVIRO NM ENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELO PM ENT

According to one of the most widely spread definitions, sustainable development is “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Brundtland Commission Report 1987). Sustainable development implies a broad view of human well-being, a long-term perspective about the consequences of today’s activities and global co-operation to ensure that humankind does not exhaust the earth’s resources and destroy the environment or create untenable social and economic conditions.

For the business sector, sustainable development involves different dimensions, that can be classified as social, economic and environment related. These three fields are commonly referred to by using the English expression « triple bottom line » or the abbreviation « 3P » (planet, people, profit).

As far as enterprises are concerned, sustainable development is mainly considered under the ecological and environmental dimension. Enterprises are thus affected by legislative measures and regulations related to the environment policy. They can respond to these regulations by strictly applying measures that are new constraints for them. But “sustainable” enterprises have the capability to anticipate and to initiate changes in their production process to make it more respectful of the environment (by using inputs using less scarce natural resources, or using less polluting inputs and processes and by limiting their polluting emissions) or change in their products (energy consumption for the consumer, managing the end of the life cycle of the product, valorizing the packaging). Enterprises can also organise environment concerned management, reinforce the security of their production sites further than what is required by ordinary standards.

Taking into account the ecological aspect of sustainable development may accordingly constitute either a new set of constraints on enterprise management, and therefore on the cost of its activities, or offer the opportunity of innovative change allowing them to have a positive impact on the environment and to enhance their social legitimacy. In the case of SM Es, new constraints, however important they may be, must not be the only consideration. SM Es flexibility and innovative SM Es may drive the creation of new industrial activities which offers to the enterprises a competitive advantage based on a comprehensive environmental concern.

The following sub-issues are presented separately in this section:

10.1 SM Es in Environment Related Activities 10.2 Impact of New Regulations on SM Es 10.3 Environment-related Innovations 10.4 Other Issues

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PARTIE 10 : ENVIRO NNEM ENT ET DÉVELO PPEM ENT DURABLE

Selon une des définitions les plus répandues, le développement durable est « le développement qui répond aux besoins du présent sans compromettre la capacité des générations futures de répondre aux leurs » (Rapport de la Commission Brundtland, 1987). Le développement durable fait intervenir une conception assez large du bien-être de la personne, une vision à long terme des conséquences des activités d’aujourd’hui et une coopération mondiale pour s’assurer que l’humanité n’épuise pas les ressources de la Terre, ni ne détruise l’environnement, et ne crée pas de conditions économiques et sociales intenables.

Pour les entreprises, le développement durable comporte différentes dimensions que l’on peut désigner ainsi : sociales, économiques et environnementales. Il est ainsi souvent fait référence à ces trois dimensions par les termes anglais « triple bottom line » ou par l’expression « 3 P » (planet, people, profit).

Appliqué aux entreprises, le développement durable est surtout envisagé sous son aspect écologique et environnemental. Les entreprises sont ainsi visées par la législation et les réglementations en matière d’environnement. Elles peuvent s’en tenir au strict nécessaire en appliquant les textes qui impliquent des contraintes nouvelles pour elles. M ais les entreprises « durables » peuvent aussi anticiper et prendre des initiatives en modifiant leur procédé de production pour le rendre plus respectueux de l’environnement (en employant des intrants qui mettent moins à contribution les ressources naturelles rares, ou en employant des intrants et des procédés moins polluants et en limitant leurs émissions polluantes), ou en modifiant leurs produits (consommation énergétique à l’usage, gestion de la fin de vie des produits, valorisation des emballages). Elles peuvent aussi mettre en place des systèmes de management environnemental ou renforcer la sécurité de leurs sites de production au-delà des normes en vigueur.

La prise en compte de la dimension environnementale du développement durable se présente donc, selon le cas, soit comme un ensemble de contraintes nouvelles qui pèsent sur les décisions des entreprises et sur le coût de leurs activités, soit comme l’occasion de transformations qui leur permettent d’avoir un impact environnemental positif et d’augmenter leur légitimité sociale. Dans le cas des PM E, la première dimension, c'est-à-dire celle des contraintes nouvelles, aussi important soit-elle, ne doit pas être envisagée isolément de la seconde : celle de la possibilité d’innover et de créer de nouveaux produits et procédés. La flexibilité et la capacité d’innovation des PM E peuvent tout à fait leur permettre de se lancer dans la création de nouvelles industrielles qui leur offriront un avantage concurrentiel fondé sur un souci global de l’environnement.

Les sous-rubriques suivantes sont présentées séparément dans la présente section :

10.1 PM E et activités liées à l’environnement 10.2 Impact des nouvelles réglementations sur les PM E 10.3 Innovations liées à l’environnement 10.4 Autres questions

201

10.1 SM ES IN ENVIRONM ENT RELATED ACTIVITIES ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) ECH See answer to 7.2

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT)

Asia-Pacific Business Coach and CD Rom contained m aterial Green Productivity and Cleaner Production Future activities: Upgrade and m odify the business e-coach content on green productivity

UNESCW A Private Sector and Enterprise Developm ent (PSED) Team at the Sustainable Developm ent and Productivity Division (SDPD)

ESCW A and 7 partner institutions are preparing the "Sustainability Im pact Assessm ent of the Euro-M editerranean Free Trade Area" with support provided by the European Com m ission (EuropeAid). Project duration: 2004-2006. The project will likely address questions regarding the im pact of the EM FTA on SM Es in the region within the context of sustainable developm ent. Future activities: To be determ ined

UNECE See Table 7

UNECLAC/CEPAL Division of Sustainable Developm ent and Hum an Settlem ents ECLAC Buenos Aires Office

Database online on the offer of Environm ental Goods and Services produced by SM Es in specific countries Supply and dem and of environm ent related products and services in Argentinian SM E Future activities: Incorporation of new countries in the Database

ILO InFocus Program m e on Boosting Em ploym ent through Sm all Enterprise Developm ent (IFP/SEED)

W aste collection, drainage control, water distribution through outsourcing with local SM Es (m unicipal contracting procedures, business start-up, m icro leasing (global support) Capacity building project East Africa (12 m unicipalities) during 2004-06 Future activities: Pro-poor contracting system s Regional training program m es, business support tools

UNIDO Agro-Industries and Sectoral Support Branch Energy and Cleaner Production Branch M ultilateral Environm ental Agreem ents Branch M ontreal Protocol UNIDO

SM Es are assisted to undertake im proved environm entally sound production in two types of program m es. One involves working through technical co-operation projects to build local capacity of institutions to provide advice and training, on specific sectors, in the Africa Region for application of cleaner technologies and waste treatm ent. A m ajor em phasis is on the tanning sector. A second approach involves establishing national cleaner production centers or program m es, in which im proved production processes, adapted for the local conditions, are developed and local staff are trained to dissem inate this inform ation to local firm s through in-plant diagnostics and dem onstration program m es. Training on Cleaner Production, Environm ent M anagem ent, ISO 14 000, social and ethical issues, financing, and the like are a staple of the technical co-operation activities. Policy advice to governm ents to reduce pollution in the production process is also addressed.

202

10.1 SM ES IN ENVIRONM ENT RELATED ACTIVITIES ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

Providing technical assistance (technology, training, equipm ent) in the M ontreal Protocol Program m e to SM Es using Ozone Depleting Substances (ODSs), including those in the refrigeration sector, in sectors where solvents are used, in m anufacturing of polyurethane foam s and in sm all-scale farm ing that uses m ethyl brom ide Future activities: Continuation of present activities

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB SEID

INO 3837: Im proving the Environm ental Perform ance of Sm all and M edium Enterprises by Prom oting Cleaner Production (AOTA)

ASEAN SM EW G

Future activities: See answer under 7.2

EIB Group EIF - Growth and Environm ent Schem e http://www.eif.org/ EIF’s Guarantees Division is responsible for this activity.

Through the Growth and Environm ent Schem e, the EIF offers a guarantee to financial institutions that grant loans to European SM Es for the financing of environm entally-friendly investm ents. This guarantee is free of charge for the financial institution and for the com pany through sponsorship of the Schem e by the European Com m unity. Though resources for the schem e are now fully used and no new counterparts are being sought, EIF still has 32 counterparts (banks) across the EU, which participated in the Schem e. Over 4,000 loans to environm ental SM Es have been guaranteed under this Program m e, with a total loan volum e granted am ounting to EUR 842 m .

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

Participation in the CSR M ultiStakeholder Forum Future activities: Continuation of present activities

EURO-M ED TDS Secretariat

2 International Conferences: -“Euro-M editerranean Conference on Fisheries” (Ancona, 29 – 30 Nov 2002) -“Euro-M editerranean Fisheries: from Problem s to Solutions” (Pescara, 7-8 Nov 2003)

203

10.2 IM PACT OF NEW REGULATIONS ON SM Es

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) ECH See answer to 9.3

SW AC SW AC’s Developm ent Perspectives Unit

See 9.1, workshop outcom e focused on im portance of developing coherent SM E Charters for W est Africa

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT)

Future activities: Plans to provide inform ation on the international and country specific regulations on the business-asia.net website

UNESCW A Private Sector and Enterprise Developm ent (PSED) Team at the Sustainable Developm ent and Productivity Division (SDPD)

ESCW A is im plem enting a project entitled, "Trade and Environm ent Capacity Building for SM Es" with the financial support of the Bank-Netherlands Partnership Program (BNPP) at the W orld Bank. Project duration: Februar y 2001 - M arch 2004. Project partner: Blue Plan (France). The project sees to enable decision-m akers supporting SM Es to understand the changing conditions of com petition, production, and environm ental obligations induced by trade liberalization and globalization in the M editerranean region, with special attention paid to the textile/garm ent sector in North African countries. Analysis is focused on the im pact of conform ity with environm ental regulations on output and exports, as well as the socio-econom ic im plications of tariff liberalization. Future activities: to be determ ined

UNECLAC/CEPAL Division of Sustainable Developm ent and Hum an Settlem ents

- Evaluation of SM Es environm ental perform ance in specific countries - Evaluation of the im pact of environm ental regulations on SM E Future activities: - Incorporation of new countries - Evaluation of the im pact of environm ental regulations on SM E

UNIDO Energy and Cleaner Production Branch M ultilateral Environm ental Agreem ents Branch M ontreal Protocol

Developm ent of national cleaner production policies to foster cleaner production and environm entally sound technology is addressed, and assistance to SM Es to com ply with existing and new environm ental regulations is provided. A special case is the technical assistance provided to SM Es faced with the regulations pertaining to the phase out of ozone-depleting substances. SM Es have had problem s converting to “ozone-depleting substances-free technologies” because of a lack of technological know-how and resources. W ithout appropriate technical assistance m any would have becom e bankrupt. Future activities: Continuation of present activities

W orld Bank/ IFC Project Developm ent Facilities.

IFC conducts business environm ent surveys, particularly in the form er Soviet Union, which m easures this. M uch of this work is done in co-operation with the Bank’s ICA unit. Future activities: These activities will continue and are likely to be expanded

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

204

10.2 IM PACT OF NEW REGULATIONS ON SM Es

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

ASEAN SM EW G

On-going exchange of policy experiences, success stories and good practices in fostering SM E start-ups and developm ent Future activities: Continuation of present activities

EC Prom oting environm ental m anagem ent system s in sm all and m edium -sized

Enterprises. In 2002, the Com m ission launched a Best Procedure project on M em ber State initiatives to prom ote environm ental m anagem ent system s (EM Ss) in SM Es. The project, defined in response to a call by the M ay 2001 Industry Council and carried out in close co-operation with M em ber State experts, exam ines and com pares relevant factors, policies and initiatives in this area, with a view to identifying and exchanging good/best practices. It looks at national and regional initiatives, both in relation to form al (ISO 14001 and EM AS) and less form al EM Ss, which can be stepping-stones to these m ore form al system s. The project is expected to result in a num ber of specific recom m endations for policy at European and national level. The 6th Environm ental Action Program m e 2001-2010 Covering the period 2001 to 2010, the 6th EAP entitled “Environm ent 2010: Our Future, Our Choice” gives a strategic direction to the Com m ission’s environm ental policy over the next decade. It identifies four priority areas: clim ate change, nature and bio-diversity, environm ent and health and natural resources and waste. In order to ensure the im plem entation of existing environm ental legislation, and to work in partnership with business, a com pliance assistance program m e will be developed, with specific help for SM Es. In close co-operation with industry groups, the Com m ission will develop a range of tools aim ed at helping business understand EC environm ental requirem ents and how they should be m et. Specific attention will be given to tailoring these tools to the needs of SM Es. Please see http://europa.eu.int/com m /environm ent/newprg/index.htm

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

EU chem icals policy: REACH. EU directive on Environm ental liability. EU directive on em ission trading. W aste electrical and electronic equim ent (W EEE) Future activities: Continuation of present activities

205

10.3 ENVIRONM ENT RELATED INNOVATIONS

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) ECH See answer to 2.1

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT)

Business e-Coaching CD ROM contained m aterial on lean production, design for environm ent (DfE), cleaner production, and life-cycle assessm ent (LCA). Future activities: Establishing a regional SM E-oriented cleaner production co-operation platform at www.technology4sm e.com

UNESCW A ESCW A Assistance for South Lebanon Project (EASL)

ESCW A started, in 2002, a m icro-credit schem e for m icro and sm all business in the form erly occupied areas of South Lebanon. This schem e is linked to vocational training program m es and sm all business training Future activities: The work will continue under this schem e

UNECLAC/CEPAL Division of Sustainable Developm ent and Hum an Settlem ents

Future activities: Case Study on the global value chain for a specific sector in specific with regards to sustainable SM Es participating in international m arkets

UNIDO M ultilateral Environm ental Agreem ents Branch M ontreal Protocol

UNIDO’s assistance to SM Es in the context of phasing out ozone-depleting substances results in transfer of engineering know-how and technologies that are not only ozone friendly but im prove productivity, product quality and com petitiveness. Future activities: Continuation of present activities

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ASEAN SM EW G

See answer under 4.1

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS Future activities:

Prom otion of environm ental technologies

206

10.4 OTHER ISSUES ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) ECH

See 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3

GOV Future activities: M anaging econom ic developm ent and the environm ent. Relationship and m echanism s that relate regional policy, local governm ent and SM Es/private sector. Environm ental m anagem ent across levels of governance (conditional grants, reporting, accounting).

UN O rganisations UNDP See 6.6

UNECLAC/CEPAL Industrial Developm ent Unit, ECLAC-M exico

The Electronic “M aquiladora” industry in the Northern M exican Border and the environm ent (in print, Serie de Estudios y Perspectivas, ECLAC-M exico).

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

YES for Europe YES for Europe Secretariat

YES Forum (Porto- Portugal - 22-23 Novem ber 2002): ‘Business & Ethics’ Debates with representatives of the business sector, EU officers and other experts on Leadership and Business Ethics, Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility. Visits to Portuguese com panies and business-to business m eetings. Around 100 young entrepreneurs from all over Europe attended the event.

207

PART 11: W O M EN ENTREPRENEURS AND W O M EN-OW NED BUSINESSES

W omen’s entrepreneurship has increasingly become recognised as an important source of employment and potential growth. Data is very scarce, but estimates indicate that there are more than 10 million self-employed women in Europe (both European Union countries and others). In the United States 6.4 million self-employed women provide employment for 9.2 million people. Using the US ratio between number of employees and self-employment, it is estimated that the self-employed women in surveyed European countries might employ around 15 million persons. Indeed, self-employment represents one of the most important job options for women, especially in developing countries. Furthermore, as women behave differently from men, their entrepreneurship provides society with different, and often innovative, solutions to management and organisational problems as well as to the exploitation of new opportunities.

However, women still represent a clear minority of entrepreneurs nearly everywhere in the world. Furthermore, they generally choose to start and manage firms in different industries than those chosen by men. These industries, primarily retail distribution, education and other service industries, are often perceived as contributing less to economic performance and growth than manufacturing and higher technology activities. Overall there appear to be market failures and impediments which operate to limit the extent to which women become entrepreneurs and their prospects for success.

The scope for women to realise their potential as entrepreneurs depends on both the status of women in society and the forces operating within society which influence entrepreneurship. These relate to the political context, institutional framework, family policies, market forces and the suitability of particular individuals, in terms of temperament and qualifications to assume entrepreneurial roles. Specific obstacles to greater entrepreneurship by women include inappropriate educational background, lack of role models, the gendering of entrepreneurship, weak social status, competing demand on time –notably associated with family responsibilities – and limited access to finance.

An important area where progress can be made is in removing obstacles to female participation in the labour force. Family-friendly policies (notably child and elderly care, parental leave arrangements and other child-related financial support) can have a positive effect on women’s activities. Policies and programmes are too often “menstreamed”, failing to take account of the specific needs of women entrepreneurs. The most effective way to ensure that a woman’s dimension is incorporated in policies and programmes is to include it at the formulation stage.

Support for women’s entrepreneurship should not be confined to government policies and programmes. W omen entrepreneurs and associations representing them have much to teach to each other. Networks should be encouraged both within economies and internationally to support the diffusion of knowledge and experience to facilitate entrepreneurial endeavours by women.

The following sub-issues are presented separately in this section:

11.1 Financing of W omen-owned Businesses 11.2 Firm Creation by W omen: Specific Issues 11.3 W omen-entrepreneurs: Specific issues 11.4 Other Issues

208

PARTIE 11 : FEM M ES CHEFS D’ENTREPRISE ET ENTREPRISES APPARTENANT À DES FEM M ES

L’entrepreneuriat féminin est de plus en plus reconnu comme une source importante d’emploi et de croissance potentielle. En fait, les données sont très rares, mais en Europe (tant dans les pays de l’Union européenne que dans les autres), les estimations indiquent l’existence de plus de 10 millions de femmes travailleuses indépendantes. Aux États-Unis, 6,4 millions de femmes travailleuses indépendantes fournissent un emploi à 9,2 millions de personnes et génèrent un chiffre d’affaires non négligeable. Si on applique le ratio constaté aux États-Unis entre le nombre de salariés et le nombre de travailleurs indépendants, on estime que les femmes travailleuses indépendantes emploieraient environ 15 millions de personnes dans les pays européens soumis à l’enquête. À vrai dire, notamment dans les économies en développement, le travail indépendant représente pour les femmes l’une des possibilités d’emploi les plus importantes. En outre, les femmes se comportant différemment des hommes, l’entrepreneuriat féminin apporte à la société des solutions différentes et souvent innovantes aux problèmes de gestion et d’organisation, ainsi que l’exploitation d’opportunités nouvelles.

Néanmoins, les femmes constituent encore une petite minorité d’entrepreneurs dans presque tous les pays. De plus, elles choisissent généralement de lancer et de gérer des entreprises dans des secteurs d’activités différents de ceux que retiennent les hommes. Ces secteurs, qui sont principalement la distribution de détail, l’enseignement et d’autres activités de services, sont souvent perçus comme contribuant moins que les activités de production et les activités de plus haute technologie aux performances et à la croissance économiques. Globalement, il semble que des défaillances et des obstacles soient à l’œuvre sur le marché pour restreindre l’envergure des capacités entrepreneuriales de femmes et leurs chances de succès.

La latitude dont disposent les femmes pour concrétiser leur potentiel d’entrepreneurs dépend à la fois du statut et du rôle de la fem m e dans la société et des forces en jeu, entrepreneuriat compris. Elle dépend du contexte politique, du cadre institutionnel, de la politique de la famille, des forces du marché et de l’aptitude d’individus donnés, sur le plan du tempérament et des qualifications, à embrasser un rôle entrepreneurial. Parmi les obstacles spécifiques à un plus fort entrepreneuriat féminin figurent l’inadéquation de la formation générale, l’absence de modèle, le sexisme du monde entrepreneurial, le statut social inférieur, le manque de temps face à d’autres responsabilités – notam ment familiales – et l’accès limité à des financements.

La suppression des obstacles à la présence des fem mes dans le monde du travail est un domaine important dans lequel des progrès peuvent être réalisés. Des politiques favorables à la famille, notamment en ce qui concerne la garde des enfants et les soins aux personnes âgées, le congé parental et d’autres soutiens financiers concernant les enfants peuvent avoir un effet positif sur l’emploi des femmes. Trop souvent, les politiques et les programmes sont pensés en fonction des hom mes, et oublient les besoins spécifiques des femmes entrepreneurs. Si l’on veut garantir que les politiques et programmes prennent les fem mes en compte, le mieux est de s’assurer que cette prise en compte a lieu dans le processus même de formulation.

Le soutien à l’entrepreneuriat féminin ne doit pas se limiter aux politiques et aux programmes publics. Les femmes entrepreneurs et les associations qui les représentent peuvent s’apporter mutuellement de nombreux enseignements. Il faut encourager les réseaux tant nationaux qu’internationaux afin de soutenir la diffusion des connaissances et des expériences du secteur privé de manière à faciliter les efforts entrepreneuriaux d’origine féminine.

Les sous-rubriques suivantes sont présentées séparément dans la présente section :

11.1 Financement des entreprises appartenant à des femmes 11.2 Création d’entreprises par les femmes : questions spécifiques 11.3 Femmes chefs d’entreprise : questions spécifiques 11.4 Autres questions

209

11.1 FINANCING OF W OM EN-OW NED BUSINESSES ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

1) 1st OECD Conference on W om en entrepreneurs in SM Es: a m ajor force in innovation and job creation, Paris 16018 April 1997, which brought together governm ent leaders, senior policy m akers, sm all-business entrepreneurs, academ ics and experts from OECD m em ber and non-m em ber countries. The conference was structured around six workshops and an opening and closing plenary session that put the fundam ental facts about wom en-owned businesses into context, and presented the workshop findings and conference conclusions. 2) The OECD W PSM E, in co-operation with other com m ittees of the OECD, organised on 29-30 Novem ber 2000 a conference on "W om en Entrepreneurs in SM Es: Realising the Benefits of Globalisation and the Knowledge-based Econom y", as a follow-up to the conference, which took place in april 1997. The conference focused in particular on four m ain them es:

• Fostering an entrepreneurial culture for wom en through education, m anagem ent training and changes in societal values.

• Im proving knowledge about the financing of wom en-owned businesses and rem oving obstacles in this area.

• Increased participation of wom en-owned businesses in international trade and the global econom y, in particular through the use of new technologies and international networking.

• Im proving knowledge about fem ale entrepreneurship and its role in society and the econom y (in particular through the collection of inform ation and data on wom en-owned businesses).

3) see 1.1

CFE / LEED Program m e Brjiuni conference 1999 Ljiubliana conference 2003 Future activities: Local reviews on wom en entrepreneurship and local developm ent

DCD DCD/COH And DCD/POL DAC Network on Gender Equality (GENDERNET) takes an active interest in issues related to gender and trade

At the first m eeting of the DAC Network on Gender Equality (GENDERNET) in July 2003, 12 m em bers reported their support for gender and trade initiatives, including trade capacity building and wom en's entrepreneurship. Individual countries and agencies provide funding to support the creation of wom en-owned businesses and to increase wom en's participation and influence in trade. In a num ber of instances this is through the creation and developm ent of m icro-credit schem es. Future activities: The Bureau of the GENDERNET is considering including specific activities focussing on wom en and trade in its future work program m e.

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNECE Senior Social Affairs Officer of the Executive Secretary Office, TOS on W om en’s Entrepreneurship in co-

The Second UNECE Forum of W om en Entrepreneurs was held on 17-18 M arch 2003. Palais des Nations, in Geneva. One of the m ain topics was financing wom en businesses. Future activities:

210

11.1 FINANCING OF W OM EN-OW NED BUSINESSES ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

operation with RASP and the Governm ent of Turkey UNECE

Sub-regional UNECE Forum of W om en Entrepreneurs to be hosted by the Turkish Governm ent on 6-7 M ay 2004 in Istanbul. M ain topics: access to financing and sectoral support for wom en entrepreneurs (agriculture, craft, ICT, tourism )

UNECLAC/CEPAL W om en and Developm ent Unit

Productive developm ent and gender equity in Latin Am erica, 2003 - 2004

ILO InFocus Program m e on Boosting Em ploym ent through Sm all Enterprise Developm ent (IFP/SEED) W om en’s Entrepreneurship Developm ent & Gender Equality (W EDGE) team Social Finance Program m e (SFP)

Review of financing and business support needs of growth-oriented wom en entrepreneurs in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Kenya (with African Dev. Bank) Future activities: Pilot program m e com bining loan facilities, access to BDS and capacity building for M FIs and associations of wom en entrepreneurs – KENYA (2004-2005)

UNIDO Sm all and M edium Enterprises Branch

W hile UNIDO does not provide financing to wom en entrepreneurs, it does facilitate their access to available funds through the organisation of training in business plan preparation and negotiations. At the sam e tim e, UNIDO works closely with local developm ent banks in order to im prove their skills and outreach to provide advice and guidance to various clients, including wom en. Future activities: Continuation of present activities

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB Not specifically targeted at wom en

ASEAN SM EW G

See answer under 1.3

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate in co-operation with Eurocham bres W om en Network

Collection of best practices regarding Cham ber support services Participation in the debate at EU level Future activities: Ongoing - in a second stage spreading of the best practices throughout the network with a m ultiplying effect

211

11.2 FIRM CREATION BY W OM EN: SPECIFIC ISSUES

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship division

1) As part of the 2nd OECD M inisterial Conference on SM Es, a M inisterial M eeting was held entitled, W orkshop 1 Entrepreneurship and SM E Innovation panel 2. Fostering W om en’s Entrepreneurship 2) Background Paper prepared for the Istanbul M inisterial Conference on SM Es entitled : W om en’s Entrepreneurship: Issues and Policies 4) see 2.1 Future activities: 1) It is proposed to organise an am bitious OECD Program m e in 2005-2006 on Prom oting and Accelerating W om en’s Entrepreneurship. The program m e would focus on the following areas of activity:

• Building Awareness of W om en’s Entrepreneurship • Capacity Building, Skill Building and Networking • Business Partnerships and Trade Linkages • Optional Local Reviews on W om en’s Entrepreneurship (LRW E)

2) Organisation of a W orkshop on Building Awareness of W om en’s Entrepreneurship on 11-12 July 2005 in the OECD Istanbul Centre for Private Sector Developm ent.

CFE / LEED Program m e See 11.1

DCD See 11.1

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Trade and Investm ent Division

Study on wom en entrepreneurship

UNESCW A Private Sector and Enterprise Developm ent (PSED) Team and the W om en unit at ESCW A

Several training courses on business creation and developm ent were provided to wom en: United Arab Em irates (1-13 June 2002), and a num ber of courses in Lebanon Future activities: Activities to be continued upon request

ILO Future activities: Com bining skills training and W ED for W Es in Cam bodia;

212

11.2 FIRM CREATION BY W OM EN: SPECIFIC ISSUES

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

UNDP Som e of the UNDP business incubators (see 2.5) are focused on the econom ic em powerm ent of wom en : such is the case of the M oroccan incubator network as well as the China Tianjin incubator

UNIDO Sm all and M edium Enterprises Branch

UNIDO helps to organize groups of wom en, who then establish businesses in rural areas. Through the provision of skill developm ent program m es, wom en’s groups (enterprises) acquire the hands-on skills and knowledge to m anage, expand or diversify their business operations. Future activities: Developing urban m arkets for rural products will be introduced as an alm ost com pulsory elem lent of our program m es. For this purpose, a strong linkage between rural and urban m arkets will be established using networks of SM Es in urban areas.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB M KSS

CAM 3947: Sustainable Em ploym ent for Poor W om en (AOTA)

ASEAN SM EW G

See answer under 1.3

EC Prom otion of entrepreneurship am ongst w om en In 2000, the Com m ission presented a study on “Young Entrepreneurs, W om en Entrepreneurs, Ethnic M inority Entrepreneurs and Co-Entrepreneurs in the European Union and Central and Eastern Europe”. The study identifies the m ain problem s and challenges faced by those target groups of entrepreneurs. The Com m ission also supported the creation of the European Network to Prom ote W om en’s Entrepreneurship (W ES). W ES is com posed of adm inistration representatives responsible for the prom otion of wom en’s entrepreneurship.

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate in co-operation with Eurocham bres W om en Network

Collection of best practices regarding Cham ber support services Future activities: Ongoing - in a second stage spreading of the best practices throughout the network with a m ultiplying effect

IKED -IKED is presently representing Northern Europe in a Steering Group preparing events where policym akers and business representatives will address barriers and opportunities confronting wom en entrepreneurs around the world. Other partners in this network are the Tsunam i project, based in W ashington D.C., Dirigeantes in Paris, and the OECD Secretariat also in Paris.

213

11.3 W OM EN ENTREPRENEURS: Specific Issues

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

See 11.1 and 11.2, 3.2

CFE / LEED See 11.1

DCD The DAC Network on Gender Equality (GENDERNET) takes an active interest in issues related to gender and trade And DCD/POL

At the first m eeting of the DAC Network on Gender Equality (GENDERNET) in July 2003, 12 m em bers reported their support for gender and trade initiatives, including trade capacity building and wom en's entrepreneurship. Individual countries and agencies provide funding to support the creation of wom en-owned businesses and to increase wom en's participation and influence in trade. In a num ber of instances this is through the creation and developm ent of m icro-credit schem es. Future activities: The Bureau of the GENDERNET is considering including specific activities focussing on wom en and trade in its future work program m e.

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Inform ation, Com m unication and Space technology Division jointly with Em erging Social Issues Division

W om en entrepreneurship trainings for SM Es in Cam bodia and M yanm ar (2003) Future activities Establishm ent of sustainable e-business and network for green co-op for wom en in rural com m unities Im plem ent ICT skills training program m es for wom en co-op m anagers and/or CeC operators Regional workshop on co-op based wom en entrepreneurship using ICT for wom en co-op m anagers

UNECE (i) Polish Governm ent – M inistry of Econom y, Labour and Social Affairs, Departm ent of SM Es, Senior Social Affairs Officer of the Executive Secretary Office, TOS on W om en Entrepreneurship (ii) Senior Social Affairs Officer of the Executive Secretary Office, Governm ents of Austria and Italy

(i) Pilot Project on “Training of W om en Entrepreneurs from non-accession countries based on Polish experiences” held in 2003 in Poland (ii) Training program m e and assessm ent of needs for CEI countries Future activities: (i) The project will be continued in 2004 (ii) Continuation of the project is under discussions

ILO IFP/SEED W EDGE

-Training on capacity building for W ED (with ILO Turin Centre) – in Ethiopia; Tanzania; Zam bia: Azerbaijan: Georgia: Turin (international program m e). -Training on Association building for W E associations: Ethiopia; Tanzania; Zam bia -Im prove Your Exhibition Skills (IYES): Ethiopia; Tanzania; Zam bia

214

11.3 W OM EN ENTREPRENEURS: Specific Issues

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

ILO

Future activities: -Gender and Entrepreneurship Together – GET Ahead for W om en in Enterprise (training m aterials): Cam bodia; China; Lao PDR; Viet Nam -Training on capacity building for W ED: Kenya -Capacity building for W E Associations (with AfDB, FCEM ) in Africa

UNIDO Sm all and M edium Enterprises Branch

UNIDO training program m es for wom en entrepreneurs are conducted in various industrial sub-sectors such as food-processing, textile, leather goods, as well as artisanal crafts. The training program m e com bines both technical and m anagerial skills in order for wom en entrepreneurs, who are m ostly in m icro- and sm all scale operations, to acquire an overall com petence to im prove their business operations. Future activities: UNIDO program m e would provide specific Inform ation Com m unication Technology support to wom en in rural areas (Inform ation Com m unication Technology engendering).

W orld Bank/ IFC IFC’s Project Developm ent Facilities

IFC has worked with business associations for wom en in several countries. Future activities: This work will likely continue

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB PAHQ

FSM 1791: Skills Training and Vocational Education PNG 1706: Em ploym ent Oriented Skills Developm ent

ASEAN SM EW G

See answer under 1.3

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate in co-operation with Eurocham bres W om en Network

Collection of best practices regarding Cham ber support services Future activities: Organisation of W om en entrepreneurs academ ies

EURO-M ED TDS Secretariat

Training course for Business W om en (28 Sept – 2 Oct 2003)

IKED -IKED and Global Knowledge Partner (GKP) have decided to launch a project focusing on enhancing the skills in wom en owned SM Es (W SM Es), in order to create further econom ic growth possibilities. Proposed title of the hand book: Hand Book for W om en Sm all and M edium sized Enterprises - Highlights on Training and Skills’ Developm ent

215

11.4 OTHER ISSUES ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Inform ation, Com m unication and Space technology Division jointly with Em erging Social Issues Division; Governm ent of the Republic of Korea

Future activities: Develop guidelines and training m anuals on co-op based wom en entrepreneurship and e-business

UNECE (i) Senior Social Affairs Officer of the Executive Secretary Office (ii) Senior Social Affairs Officer of the Executive Secretary Office, TOS on W om en Entrepreneurship (iii) Regional Adviser on Entrepreneurship and SM Es

(i) The UNECE prepared its first publication on “W om en’s Entrepreneurship in Eastern Europe and CIS Countries”, OPA/AC.29/1 in 2003 (ii) Building Networks of W om en Businesses in the UNECE region (Round Tables on W om en Entrepreneur in a W ider Europe at CEI Econom ic Forum s) in 2001-2003 (iii) Prom oting role m odels and raising awareness (Portrait Gallery of Excellent W om en Entrepreneurs at UNECE web http://www.unece.org/operact/ gallery/ and UNECE Award for Excellent W om en Entrepreneurs) Future activities: (i) The 2nd Publication on “Access to financing and ICT for wom en entrepreneurs” - 2004 (ii) Continuation of work (especially in the context of accession and non-accession countries) (iii) Round Table at CEI Econom ic Forum to be held in Ljubljana in 2004

ILO IFP/SEED W EDGE

-Prom oting an entrepreneurial culture for W ED -Videos of W E role m odels: Pakistan; Ethiopia; Tanzania; Zam bia -M onth of the W om an Entrepreneur: 25 events in Ethiopia (M arch 04) -Research on issues facing W Es, with em phasis on growth issues: Ethiopia; Pakistan; Tanzania; Zam bia; Bulgaria; Albania; Caribbean; Bangladesh; M auritius; Viet Nam ; -Prom oting W ED through national em ployers’ organisations: Asia-Pacific region; Azerbaijan; Georgia Future activities: -Prom oting W ED for fem ale refugees (with UNHCR): Angola; M ozam bique; Afghanistan -Video on W E role m odels: Lao PDR -Research on issues facing W Es: Lao PDR; Cam bodia; Georgia; Azerbaijan; Indian Ocean islands; Kenya -A guide and tool kit for Prom oting W ED through em ployers’ organisations

UNIDO Sm all and M edium Enterprises Branch

UNIDO has two approaches in addressing the gender issue in entrepreneurship. The first is m ainstream ing, whereby the roles and needs of both m en and wom en entrepreneurs are analysed and solutions are offered via a program m e. The second is adoption of wom en-specific activities that address particular needs and constraints of wom en in business. Future activities: Continuation of present activities

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC -Publication: W om en Entrepreneurs in SM Es in the APEC Region

216

11.4 OTHER ISSUES ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EURO-M ED TDS Secretariat

Conference “W om en in Business- a contribution to Socio -Econom ic Growth in Developing Countries”. Partnership and business m arketing between Arab and central Italy Businesswom en

FCEM FCEM launched a project focused on developing inform ation and com m unication technology: - Internet platform , FCEM -CandGo Associatives and B2B benefited FCEM national associations and individual wom en entrepreneurs, providing online (com m unication, inform ation, association m anagem ent, online forum , library of best practices, database on wom en entrepreneurs). CandGo serves equally FCEM individuals, in particular with B2B m arketplace, which is a reserved m arked for calls for tender, partnership grants and sub-contracting. - establishm ent of web site (www.FCEM .org), publication of an inform ation bulletin, a trim ester bulletin, FCEM NEW S m agazine, and a FCEM guide for national FCEM president. Currently, FCEM is developing statistical inform ation on national FCEM associations.

YES for Europe (TUGIAD) International Relations Com m ittee

6-7 M ay 2004 the United Nations W om en Entrepreneurship Sub-Regional Forum was organised in Istanbul

217

PART 12: DATA AND STATISTICS O N SM Es

The empirical basis for informed policy making in the area of SM Es and entrepreneurship is rather poor. Deficiencies are apparent at two levels: the underlying statistical base which provides the factual foundations for analysis is poor, especially in terms of international comparability and, as a consequence, available in-depth empirical analysis is scarce. A particularly difficult problem to overcome is the notoriously limited cross-country comparability, rendering the analysis of economic forces or policies over time more complicated.

Among the reasons explaining this state of affairs, two stand out. Firstly, SM E statistics are really but a subset, organised by size classification, of structural business statistics. This – very complex - statistical system has a fundamental problem of internationally comparable methodologies and definitions, notably as regards the definition of the basic statistical unit to be counted, measured or monitored. These problems limit collection efforts and have impeded international agreements on basic concepts and methodology. Secondly, an increase in the respondent burden on businesses, especially SM Es, is politically not an option and an increase in statistical capacity and coordination difficult to sell. This investment, however, is necessary if one wants to improve the present state of affairs. Given these basic problems, it is not surprising that the quantitative underpinning of SM E entrepreneurship still is at its infancy.

Demand for reliable, relevant and internationally comparable data on SM Es has been rising steadily. Statistical offices have started to collect and publish such data but serious shortcomings persist. International comparability has remained weak, owing to differences in the definition of size classes and treatment of underlying units (firms, establishments) and variation in industry classification and time periods used. M any issues relating to SM Es can only be addressed with sets of micro-level data that allow for tracing individual firms or establishments over time. In addition to problems of comparability, the sheer volume of the data sets involved, as well as questions of confidentiality, has prevented rapid progress in studies at international level.

There is an urgent need to strengthen the factual and analytical basis underpinning SM E policy-making. This covers basic statistics and data, international comparability, cross-country comparative studies and longitudinal studies. The 2nd OECD M inisterial Conference on SM Es represented a breakthrough in SM E Statistics. A high-level statistical workshop, organised by the Statistics Directorate, was held within the framework of this M inisterial M eeting, and the recommendations that emerged from this workshop were included in the Istanbul M inisterial Declaration. The action plan includes strengthening of international co-operation to address issues of common interest to both OECD and non-OECD economies. OECD responded to this already by setting up an international expert group on structural business statistics and by intensifying its statistical work in these areas.

The following sub-issues are presented separately in this section:

12.1 Collection of Business Statistics Data by Size Classes Related to Different Variables (e.g. Employment, Output, Export, Investment, etc. and by Gender)

12.2 Specific Surveys on SM Es Globalisation 12.3 Collection of Entrepreneurship Data (including W omen Entrepreneurship) 12.4 Specific Surveys Related to W omen Entrepreneurship 12.5 Other Issues

218

PARTIE 12 : DO NNÉES ET STATISTIQUES SUR LES PM E

La base de données empiriques dont les responsables des politiques publiques s’inspirent pour prendre des décisions éclairées dans le domaine des PM E et de l’entrepreneuriat est relativement médiocre. Les carences se situent à deux niveaux : la base statistique qui fonde factuellement l’analyse est insuffisante, et de plus la comparabilité internationale des données est faible et, par conséquent, on manque de travaux empiriques de qualité, en particulier d’études comparatives internationales et d’analyse longitudinales qui permettent d’analyser les dynamiques économiques importantes et d’évaluer l’impact des politiques mises en œuvre au cours du temps.

Différentes raisons expliquent cette situation, mais deux d’entre elles prédominent : premièrement, les statistiques concernant les PM E ne sont en fait qu’un sous-ensemble, organisé selon des critères de taille, des statistiques structurelles sur les entreprises. Particulièrem ent complexe, ce système statistique affiche des problèmes fondamentaux de méthodologies et de définitions internationalement comparables, notamment en ce qui concerne l’unité statistique de base à compter, mesurer ou suivre. Ces problèmes entravent les efforts de collecte et ont fait obstacle à un accord international sur les concepts et la méthodologie de base. Deuxièmement, sur le plan politique, il est hors de question d’augmenter le fardeau que représente pour les entreprises, et en particulier pour les PM E, le temps passé à répondre aux enquêtes, et il est difficile de faire admettre la nécessité de se doter d’une plus grande capacité statistique et de mieux se coordonner dans ce domaine. Or, on ne peut faire l’économie de cet investissement si l’on veut améliorer les choses. Étant donné ces problèmes fondamentaux, il ne faut pas s’étonner si l’établissement d’une base de données quantitatives sur les PM E et l’entrepreneuriat n’en est encore qu’à ses premiers balbutiem ents.

La demande de données fiables, pertinentes et internationalement comparables sur les PM E n’a cessé d’augmenter. Des offices de la statistique se sont attelés à la collecte et à la publication de ces données mais de graves insuffisances persistent. La comparabilité internationale est demeurée faible du fait des différences de définition des tranches de taille et de traitement des unités sous-jacentes (entreprises, établissements) et des différences de classification des secteurs et des périodes de temps retenues. De nombreuses questions ayant trait aux PM E ne peuvent être traitées qu’au moyen de séries de données microéconomiques permettant de suivre l’évolution d’entreprises ou d’établissements au fil du temps. Outre le problème de comparabilité, le simple volume des séries de données en jeu, ainsi que des questions de confidentialité, ont empêché de progresser rapidement dans les études à l’échelle internationale.

Il est urgent de renforcer la base factuelle et analytique qui sous-tend l’élaboration des politiques à l’égard des PM E. Cela concerne les statistiques et données de base, la comparabilité internationale, les études comparatives transnationales et les études longitudinales. A cet égard, la 2e conférence des ministres des PM E des pays de l’OCDE a marqué un tournant en matière de statistiques sur ces entreprises. Un atelier statistique de haut niveau, organisé par la Direction des statistiques, s’est tenu dans le cadre de cette réunion ministérielle et les recommandations formulées à l’issue de ses travaux ont été intégrées dans la Déclaration ministérielle d’Istanbul. Le plan d’action prévoit le renforcement de la coopération internationale pour s’attaquer à des problèmes d’intérêt commun pour les économies membres et les non-membres de l’OCDE. L’Organisation a déjà réagi en mettant sur pied un groupe d’experts internationaux sur les statistiques structurelles des entreprises et en intensifiant ses activités statistiques dans ces domaines.

Les sous-rubriques suivantes sont présentées séparément dans la présente section :

12.1 Collecte de données en fonction de catégories de taille de différentes variables (comme l’emploi, la production, les exportations, l’investissement, etc.) et en fonction du sexe ;

12.2 Enquêtes particulières sur l’internationalisation des PM E 13.3 Enquêtes particulières liées à l’entrepreneuriat féminin 13.4 Autres questions

219

12.1 COLLECTION OF BUSINESS STATISTICS DATA BY SIZE CLASSES RELATED TO DIFFERENT VARIABLES (E.G. EM PLOYM ENT,

OUTPUT, EXPORT, INVESTM ENT, ETC. AND BY GENDER) ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE/SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

The OECD SM E and Entrepreneurship Outlook is a flagship biennial OECD publication and an im portant repository of inform ation on policies and trends relating to SM Es and increasingly so, with respect to entrepreneurship. Its raison d’être is to m onitor policies and program m es affecting and targeting SM Es and entrepreneurship and to provide a broad overview of trends and policy developm ents for policym akers. It is available for 2000 and 2002.

STD / Trade and Structural Business Statistics Section (TASS)

As part of the 2nd OECD M inisterial Conference on SM Es, a M inisterial M eeting was held entitled, Special W orkshop on SM E Statistics towards a m ore System atic Statistical M easurem ent of SM E Behaviour, Panel 1. Strengths and W eaknesses of SM E statistics system s: the Producers’ Perspective and Panel 2. Strengths and W eaknesses of SM E Statistics System s: the Users’ Perspective In the Istanbul M inisterial declaration, m inisters recognised the need to develop a robust and com parable statistical base on which SM E policy can be developed and encouraged the action plan launched by the conference special workshop on SM E statistics. Background Paper prepared for the Istanbul M inisterial Conference on SM Es on SM E Statistics. 1) OECD activities on business and entrepreneurship statistics focus m ainly on detailed statistics on enterprises by size class and detailed structural statistics for industry and services. These two databases correspond to the m ain elem ents of “structural business statistics (SBS)” at EUROSTAT, with whom the OECD is now engaged in data sharing to reduce the response burden on m em ber countries and also to develop conceptually consistent and harm onized SBS data. The objectives of the Istanbul Action Plan essentially relate to “a) prom oting international convergence of statistical concepts and processes; b) fostering greater international com parability of statistics; c) developing an integrated business statistical register; d) prom oting data linking to m ake better use of existing data and reduce respondent burden on SM Es; e) carry-out policy-relevant em pirical analyses to underpin evidence-based policy m aking. “ In addition, this activity will aim at strengthening the statistical basis for carrying out gender-related cross-country com parative analyses and longitudinal studies concerning entrepreneurship (including wom en’s entrepreneurship). Future activities: 1) Future OECD work in this area will focus on further im provem ents in and extensions of the OECD databases on structural business statistics (SBS). In particular, an im proved and extended to m ore countries. a virtual discussion group, SBSNet, is organised by the Statistics Directorate (STD) in close co-operation with the CFE/SM E & Entrepreneurship Division. 2) It is proposed the OECD will carry out a project on SM E & Entrepreneurship-related Statistics (STD and CFE).

GOV TSI

OECD Territorial Database: Em ploym ent by firm size in all sub-national regions of M em ber countries, all sectors, selected years. Future activities:

220

12.1 COLLECTION OF BUSINESS STATISTICS DATA BY SIZE CLASSES RELATED TO DIFFERENT VARIABLES (E.G. EM PLOYM ENT,

OUTPUT, EXPORT, INVESTM ENT, ETC. AND BY GENDER) ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

GOV

OECD Territorial Database: Em ploym ent by firm size in all sub-national regions of M em ber countries, break down by NACE A17, 5-years periods from 1990 on

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP/Statistics Division

1) Im provem ent of National Accounts - Strategies on how to collect data on sm all establishm ents 2) Im provem ent of quality of business registers for Establishm ent Surveys Future activities: 1) Im provem ent of National Accounts - Strategies on how to collect data on sm all establishm ents 2) Im provem ent of m easurem ent of the non-observed econom y (with OECD)

UNECE RASP

To assist CITs and em erging m arket econom ies, the UNECE since 1995 regularly updates and reviews the developm ent of legislation and provides statistical data on sm all- and m edium -sized enterprises (SM Es) in an effort to highlight the problem s faced by the SM E sector under the econom ic transition process in individual countries. Docum ent OP/AC.32/2 consists statistics on SM Es in CITs in 2000-2001 Future activities: The UNECE Questionnaire on biennium review of statistics and legislation on SM Es for 2001-2002 is in progress and the Secretariat will analyse the status of SM Es and prepare docum ent on this issue in 2005.

UNECLAC/CEPAL Division of Production, Productivity and M anagem ent ECLAC Brasília Office ECLAC Brasília Office ECLAC Buenos Aires Office

- Data Base on SM Es in Latin Am erica 1996-2004 - Support Policies for SM Es in Latin Am erica: M ethodological Proposal -M ethodology for the Form ation of a Data and Analytical Network on SM Es in M ercosur - Second survey on innovation –1997/2001 Future activities: Latin Am erica and Caribbean Observatory on SM E statistics and policy practices

221

12.1 COLLECTION OF BUSINESS STATISTICS DATA BY SIZE CLASSES RELATED TO DIFFERENT VARIABLES (E.G. EM PLOYM ENT,

OUTPUT, EXPORT, INVESTM ENT, ETC. AND BY GENDER) ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

ILO IFP/SEED

Collection and harm onisation of em ploym ent data by size class for developing countries Collection of decent work indicators (wage, hours of work, ..) for selected countries Future activities: System atic collection of em ploym ent data via the LM IL (Labour M arket Inform ation Library) Network for all ILO m em ber countries Database available on request Depending on quality of data collected, possible diffusion of data through the KILM (Key Indicators of the Labour M arket) publication (also available on CDRO M )

UNIDO Sm all and M edium Enterprises Branch

Under its program m e of activities for the Global Com pact, UNIDO conducted a survey of GC Signatory SM Es to ascertain their m otivations for and expectations of their association with the Com pact. 193 Com panies were addressed by the survey and 78 com panies from 30 countries responded. The survey will help the UN system fine tune its strategy for supporting SM E involvem ent in the Global Com pact.

Future activities: Continuation of present activities

W orld Bank/ IFC SM E Departm ent

IFC has conducted som e business surveys showing this data, but it has not been system atic. Future activities: This work is likely to be increased and m ade m ore system atic.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB ERDI RSFI

PRC 3503: Establishing an Enterprise Sam ple Survey System (AOTA) REG 6075: Developm ent of a Fram ework for Sm all and M edium -sized Enterprise Support

APEC -APEC SM E Profile 2000; -Publication: Profile of SM Es and SM E Issues in APEC 1999-2000 (published in 20003) -APEC Entrepreneur Consortium

ASEAN SM EW G

Future activities: Resources perm itting, necessary data and inform ation to be collected on SM E capability and com petitiveness in selected priority sectors identified for accelerated integration within ASEAN

ECB

-In 2003, The ECB started to publish statistics related to the financing of SM Es -Since April 2003, the ECB publishes with a quarterly frequency the results of a bank lending survey for the euro area. The questionnaire is addressed to senior loan officers of a representative sam ple of euro area banks and includes questions on the changes in the credit standards applied to the approval of loans or credit lines of SM E as well as on the changes in the dem and for loans to SM E. Both questions are asked for th past three m onths and the forthcom ing three m onths. The sam ple group partidcipating in the survey com prises around 90 banks from all euro area countries and takes into account the characteristics of their respective national banking strucutes. -Second, since Decem ber 2003, the ECB publishes on a m onthly basis statistics on interest rates applied by M onetary Fianncial Institutions (M FI), which m ostly are credit

222

12.1 COLLECTION OF BUSINESS STATISTICS DATA BY SIZE CLASSES RELATED TO DIFFERENT VARIABLES (E.G. EM PLOYM ENT,

OUTPUT, EXPORT, INVESTM ENT, ETC. AND BY GENDER) ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

ECB

institutions. These ECB statistics cover M FI interest rates on new business and the corresponding new business volum es on other loans, i.e. loans other than bank overdrafts, to non-financial corporations with a loan size up to over 1€ m illion. In each m em ber state, the respective national central bank selects the reporting agents for M FI interest rate statistics, which m ay be all or a subset of the potential population. This sam ple contains m ore than 1, 8000 M FI. -Both statistics, together with m ore details, are available on the ECB website (www.ecb.int).

EIB Group Directorates for Lending Operations – Europe. A special unit deals with the Annual Report. EIF’s Risk M anagem ent and M onitoring Division is responsible for this activity. EIF’s Policy & Institutional Coordination Division is responsible for the figures in the Annual Report.

Over the past five years, the EIB Group's support for SM Es in the Union and the Accession Countries has been distributed as follows: -24.5 billion in global loans granted to 150 partner banks; -2.5 billion in EIF equity participations in 189 venture capital funds; -6.5 billion in EIF portfolio guarantees set up through 126 specialised banks. The total num ber of SM Es benefiting from the EIB Group's assistance over that period is estim ated at som e 275 000. Global loans and venture capital volum es and breakdowns are m onitored on a regular basis and reported in the Bank's Annual Report. Future activities: As the volum e of venture capital investm ents increases, these operations will be m onitored in m ore detail, with the help of software to be installed in the near future.

EC The sixth edition of the publication “Enterprises in Europe”, published in 2001, provides data on European enterprises broken down by size classes (on the basis of their num ber, em ploym ent and turnover), m ainly on reference years 1996-1997. It aim s to identify the key events that have affected business life over the past few years and pays special heed to the m ain them es of the Com m ission’s SM E program m e. It contains them atic chapters on SM E access to innovation and finance, challenges on em ploym ent, regional developm ent and on enterprises in the candidate countries. From reference year 1999 onwards, a com prehensive set of data broken down by size class covering all enterprises is available in NewCronos, the reference database of Eurostat. The latest data available is for reference year 2000. In 2002, it has, for the first tim e, been possible to produce EU-15 estim ations for SM E data. In response to increasing needs for com parable statistics on business dem ography - the birth, death and survival of enterprises - a m ajor project to develop harm onised statistics has been initiated in 2000, with first results expected to be published in early 2003. The Com m ission has also been involved for a long tim e in the follow-up of the econom ic and financial situation of European com panies, and am ong these, SM Es are a specific subject of interest. A specific database was created in 1987 for that purpose – BACH21 – which contains harm onised annual accounts statistics for 11 European countries, Japan and the United States. It was set up with a view to supplem enting the inform ation sources already existing at European level and has been developed in co-operation with the European Com m ittee of Central Balance Sheet Data Offices (ECCB).

223

12.1 COLLECTION OF BUSINESS STATISTICS DATA BY SIZE CLASSES RELATED TO DIFFERENT VARIABLES (E.G. EM PLOYM ENT,

OUTPUT, EXPORT, INVESTM ENT, ETC. AND BY GENDER) ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

Annual qualitative survey on the business clim ate in European regions Future activities: Continuation of present activities

EURO-M ED TDS Secretariat, m em bers

Future activities: International observatory to m onitor the evolution of the distribution sector

224

12.2 SPECIFIC SURVEYS ON SM ES GLOBALISATION

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

See 8.1 and 8.2

STD/TASS SM E Indicators and links to trade and production indicators project.

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Inform ation, Com m unication and Space technology Division

Country studies on “ICT usage am ong SM Es in Cam bodia, the Philippines, Singapore and Viet Nam ”, based on interviews and national surveys of several hundred SM Es conducted through business organisations in Nov. 2003 Future activities: Coverage of country studies to be extended to m ost developing countries and countries with econom ies in transition of Asia and the Pacific

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC See 12.1

ASEAN SM EW G

Future activities: See answer 12.1B

ECB See 12.1

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS International Affairs Directorate

Surveys on EU-Russia and EU-US trade barriers, am ong others

225

12.3 COLLECTION OF ENTREPENEURSHIP DATA AND SURVEYS (INCLUDING W OM EN ENTREPRENEURSHIP)

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) STD/TASS and project staff

Three strands of work to be carried out as of 2005 can be identified: a) Stocktaking 2005 of existing data and entrepreneurship studies as part of a special project involving NGOs. b) M icro-data available from business surveys (special aggregations) c) Business Registers and Enterprise Dem ography.

226

12.4 SPECIFIC SURVEYS RELATED TO W OM EN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

See 11.1 and 11.2 and 12.1

STD/TASS See 12.1

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Inform ation, Com m unication and Space technology Division jointly with Em erging Social Issues Division; Governm ent of the Republic of Korea

Feasibility study in the selected countries on overall status of ICT and e-business applications in wom en’s green co-ops in eight LDCs from Asia And Pacific Region, DPR of Korea, Republic of Korea

UNECE UNECE Statistical Division, TOS on Social and Gender Date, TOS on W om en’s Entrepreneurship

Evaluation of data and m ethodology on sex-disaggregated data on SM Es in the CITs in the UNECE region Continuation of the work within the fram ework of the W orking Group on Gender Data of the European Conference on Statisticians

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC See 12.1

ASEAN SM EW G

See answer 12.1 B

ECB In 2003 the ECB started to publish statistics related to the financing of SM Es (available on the ECB web-site http://www.ecb.int) 1. First, since april 2003 the ECB publishes with a quarterly frequency the results of a bank lending survey for he euro area. The sam ple com prises around 90 banks from all euro area countries. 2. Second since Decem ber 2003 the ECB publishes on a m onthly basis statistics on interest rates applied by M onetary Financial Institutionq (M FI), which m ostly are credit institutions. These ECB statistics cover M FI interest rates on new business and the corresponding new business volum es on other loans. This sam ple contains m ore than 1,800 M FI.

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS A first European survey in the fram e of a project "W om en in Business and in Decision-

M aking". EU Affairs Directorate in co-operation with Eurocham bres W om en network Future activities: Continuation of present activities

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ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

1) The OECD organised a workshop on 26 and 27 Novem ber 2001, entitled W orkshop on Firm -Level Statistics and Enterprise Dem ography, to address these issues. The workshop brought together statistical agencies and researchers that work with these data.

STD / TASS DSTI / EAS 2) A W orkshop on SM E Statistics in preparation of the Istanbul Conference was held in Paris on 16-18 Septem ber 2003. It responded to the identified need for both better quantitative and qualitative inform ation relating to sm all and m edium -sized enterprises (SM Es) as one of the cross-cutting issues of the OECD Bologna Process. This workshop had four m ain them es: entrepreneurship, innovation, ICT use and e-com m erce, SM Es for developm ent require a m ore solid statistical underpinning. This workshop was jointly organised by the Statistics Directorate (STD), and the Econom ic Analysis and Statistics Division (EAS) of the Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry (DSTI).

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Inform ation, Com m unication and Space technology Division, UNDP TTF

Needs assessm ent survey on enterprise support agencies needs to acquire baseline inform ation from each GM S country regarding the current level of perception, knowledge, ICT and e-business adoption am ong SM E’s that will help to create a dem and driven strategic approach to the project and to e-business developm ent in general

UNESCW A Private Sector and Enterprise Developm ent (PSED) Team at SDPD

ESCW A prepared two directories on Support Institutions and Services for SM Es: one in Lebanon (2001) and one in Jordan (2003) Future activities: to be determ ined

ILO -Tool for assessing the quality of em ploym ent in M SEs. -11 country studies on job quality in M SEs.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ECB In 2003 the ECB started to publish statistics related to the financing of SM Es (available

on the ECB web-site http://www.ecb.int) 1. First, since april 2003 the ECB publishes with a quarterly frequency the results of a bank lending survey for he euro area. The sam ple com prises around 90 banks from all euro area countries. 2. Second since Decem ber 2003 the ECB publishes on a m onthly basis statistics on interest rates applied by M onetary Financial Institutionq (M FI), which m ostly are credit institutions. These ECB statistics cover M FI interest rates on new business and the corresponding new business volum es on other loans. This sam ple contains m ore than 1,800 M FI.

EC

Eurostat has started a m ini-series (3 issues, one per year starting in 2002) on “SM Es in Europe”. The first issue is dedicated to “Com petitiveness, innovation and the knowledgedriven society” and presents the latest available statistical data of relevance to this politically im portant topic. Results have been published in the form of an 8-page

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ACTIVITIES

EC

issue of “Statistics in Focus” and a 50-page com pendium in the “Detailed tables” series of Eurostat. W hile the 6th report of the Observatory of European SM Es was published as a full report in 2000, the 7th Observatory has been transform ed into a series of general and them atic reports m ainly dissem inated via the Internet24. The Observatory of European SM Es now consists of the following elem ents: basic statistics on SM Es, a yearly survey on m ore than 7 000 SM Es, and a series of reports on specific issues relying on the results of the survey and on research conducted by the ENSR Network, which gathers research institutes specialised in SM E-related issues. In 2002, in addition to the reports covering the basic statistics and the results of the yearly survey, them atic reports were published on regional clusters and on SM Es as well as social and environm ental responsibility.

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

M em ber of consultative Business Organisation network (FEBI) of Eurostat

YES for Europe (TUGIAD)

Database on m em bers inform ation Future Activities: Database on business inform ation

229

PART 13: ASSESSM ENT O F PO LICIES AND PRO GRAM M ES GEARED TO W ARD SM ES AND ENTREPRENEURSH IP

As SM Es and entrepreneurship are attracting a great deal of attention from policy-makers in OECD M ember countries and elsewhere, there is a need for systematic assessment and review of SM E policies and programmes. Regular evaluation is essential to identify ways of improving those programmes that should be retained and to provide a basis for reallocating funds where they should not. SM E policies and programmes can involve considerable sums of public money and evaluation contributes to ensuring that they are cost-effective. In practice, the commitment of policy-makers to evaluation and the extent to which it is undertaken systematically vary both among countries and among programmes within the same country.

M aking programme evaluation central to the policy process begins at the design stage. W hen legislation is being framed, clear objectives should be set to provide a basis for future evaluation. A budget for evaluation should be provided and any necessary data collection should begin as soon as feasible. It is also advantageous to formulate an evaluation methodology. Addressing these issues should not be left until after programmes are implemented. Assessment and evaluation should become more central to the policy-making process itself. It should not be undertaken solely as a historic accounting exercise to determine whether public money has been spent wisely. Assessment should be used to inform current policy, so that the objectives and targets may be modified at the light of evidence of policy effectiveness.

Assessment of policies and programmes geared towards SM Es and entrepreneurship should also identify which policies are most effective, the reasons for their success, and the extent to which the lessons are transferable from one country to another.

Therefore, it seems important to gather information related to assessment of policies and programmes which has been and is being gathered at the international level in order to facilitate the exchange of experiences.

The following sub-issues are presented separately in this section:

13.1 Financing 13.2 Entrepreneurship and Firm Creation 13.3 Employment and Human Resources 13.4 Innovation and Technology 13.5 Local Development (including Social Entrepreneurship) 13.6 Partnerships, Clusters and Networks 13.7 SM Es in Specific Industries 13.8 SM Es and Globalisation 13.9 SM Es in Developing and Emerging Economies 13.10 Environment and Sustainable Development 13.11 W omen Entrepreneurs and W omen-owned Businesses 13.12 Data and Statistics on SM Es

230

PARTIE 13 : ÉVALUATIO N DES PO LITIQ UES ET DES PRO GRAM M ES AXÉS SUR LES PM E ET L’ENTREPRENEURIAT

Étant donné que les PM E et l’entrepreneuriat suscitent un intérêt considérable de la part des décideurs des pays membres de l’OCDE et d’autres pays, il importe de réexaminer et d’évaluer systématiquement les politiques et programmes relatifs aux petites et moyennes entreprises. Une évaluation périodique est essentielle pour dégager des possibilités d’amélioration des programmes à retenir et pour déterminer comment réaffecter les fonds des programmes qui ne sont pas poursuivis Les politiques et programmes conçus à l’intention des PM E peuvent représenter des engagements publics considérables, et l’exercice d’évaluation contribue à en garantir la rentabilité économique. En pratique, la volonté d’évaluation des responsables des politiques et la systématisation de l’évaluation varient à la fois d’un pays à l’autre et d’un programme à l’autre dans un même pays.

Pour faire de l’évaluation, une partie intégrante et centrale de la mise en place des politiques, il faut prévoir cette évaluation dès les premiers stades d’élaboration des programmes. Au moment du cadrage de la législation, il faut préciser des objectifs clairs qui serviront de base à l’évaluation future. Un budget d’évaluation doit être prévu et les collectes de données nécessaires doivent commencer dès que cela est matériellement possible. Il est aussi conseillé de formuler une méthodologie d’évaluation. Il faut éviter de s’atteler à ces questions après la mise en œuvre des programmes. L’évaluation doit être au cœur du processus d’élaboration des politiques. Elle ne doit pas être engagée uniquement à titre d’exercice comptable rétrospectif pour déterminer si l’argent public a été judicieusement dépensé. L’évaluation doit éclairer les politiques en vigueur de sorte que les objectifs et cibles puissent être modifiés en fonction de l’efficacité des mesures.

L’évaluation des politiques et programmes axés sur les PM E et l’entrepreneuriat devrait aussi permettre de déterminer quelles sont les politiques les plus efficaces, quelles sont les raisons de leur succès et dans quelle mesure les enseignements tirés par un pays peuvent être appliqués dans un autre.

Il semble par conséquent important de regrouper les informations liées à l’évaluation des politiques et programmes qui ont été ou qui sont collectées à l’échelle internationale pour faciliter la confrontation d’expériences.

Les sous-rubriques suivantes sont présentées séparément dans la présente section :

13.1 Financement 13.2 Entrepreneuriat et création d’entreprises 13.3 Emploi et ressources humaines 13.4 Innovation et technologie 13.5 Développement local (y compris l’entrepreneuriat social) 13.6 Grappes, réseaux et partenariats d’entreprises 13.7 PM E et secteurs d’activités particuliers 13.8 PM E et mondialisation 13.9 PM E et développement (économies en développement et émergentes) 13.10 Environnement et développement durable 13.11 Femmes chefs d’entreprise et entreprises appartenant à des femmes 13.12 Données et statistiques sur les PM E

231

13.1 FINANCING ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

As part of the 2nd OECD M inisterial Conference on SM Es, this was a cross-cutting them e. In addition, a Background Paper prepared for the Istanbul M inisterial Conference on SM Es entitled :Evaluation of SM E Policies and Program m es Future activities: It is proposed for the OECD W PSM E to create a Handbook on Evaluation of SM E & Entrepreneurship Policies and Program m es. In the Istanbul M inisterial Declaration, M inisters recognised the need to develop a strong evaluation culture in m inistries and agencies responsible for SM E policies and program m es. They also invited the OECD to proactively dissem inate the work it has carried out in this area by developing and testing a handbook of best practices for evaluation of SM E policies and program m es. This activity would be expected to build upon the work carried out by the working party on SM Es & entrepreneurship over a num ber of years and the report prepared for the Istanbul M inisterial Conference. It would also draw upon the work of the LEED Com m ittee to im prove evaluation m ethodology as applied to local developm ent. The activity will be jointly carried out by the two com m ittees.

DAF All SM E activity jointly conducted by the OECD Investm ent Com pact and the EBRD, since October 2003, in co-operation with the European Com m ission (DG Enterprise) OECD Investm ent Com pact OECD Investm ent Com pact, the OECD Com petition Division OECD Investm ent Com pact, the OECD Public Governance and Territorial Developm ent Directorate OECD Investm ent Com pact, the OECD Corporate Affairs Division OECD Investm ent Com pact, the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Adm inistration DAF

Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Developm ent in the FYR of M acedonia (July 2001) Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Developm ent in Rom ania (M arch 2002) Enterprise and Policy Perform ance Assessm ent of Albania (June 2003) Enterprise and Policy Perform ance Assessm ent of Bosnia and Herzegovina (October 2003) Enterprise and Policy Perform ance Assessm ent of Bulgaria (Decem ber 2002) Enterprise and Policy Perform ance Assessm ent of Croatia (M ay 2003) Enterprise and Policy Perform ance Assessm ent of FYR M acedonia (October 2003) Enterprise and Policy Perform ance Assessm ent of M oldova (M ay 2003) Enterprise and Policy Perform ance Assessm ent of Rom ania (Decem ber 2002) Enterprise and Policy Perform ance Assessm ent of Serbia (M arch 2003) Enterprise and Policy Perform ance Assessm ent of M ontenegro (October 2003) South East Europe Region: Enterprise and Policy Perform ance A Regional Assessm ent (October 2003) Progress in Policy Reform in South East Europe: M onitoring Instrum ents, 1st Edition (June 2001) Progress in Policy Reform in South East Europe: M onitoring Instrum ents, 2nd Edition (Septem ber 2002) Progress in Policy Reform in South East Europe: M onitoring Instrum ents, 3rd Edition (M arch 2003) Com petition Law and Policy in South East Europe: A Program m e of Action (April 2003) Review of Regulatory Governance in South East Europe (M ay 2003) Regulatory Authorities South East Europe (October 2003) W hite Paper on Corporate Governance in South East Europe (June 2003) Tax Policy Assessm ent and Design in Support of Direct Investm ent: A Study of Countries in South East Europe (April 2003) A Survey of the Role of Taxation in Foreign Direct Investm ent in South East Europe (April 2003) Tackling the Inform al Econom y in Albania (Septem ber 2004) Enterprise and Policy Perform ance Assessm ent of Albania (July 2004) Enterprise and Policy Perform ance Assessm ent of Bosnia and Herzegovina (July 2004) Enterprise and Policy Perform ance Assessm ent of Bulgaria (July 2004)

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ACTIVITIES

OECD Investm ent Com pact, Em erging M arket Econom ics, the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Adm inistration

Enterprise and Policy Perform ance Assessm ent of Croatia (July 2004) Enterprise and Policy Perform ance Assessm ent of FYR M acedonia (July 2004) Enterprise and Policy Perform ance Assessm ent of M oldova (July 2004) Enterprise and Policy Perform ance Assessm ent of Rom ania (July 2004) Enterprise and Policy Perform ance Assessm ent of Serbia (July 2004) Enterprise and Policy Perform ance Assessm ent of M ontenegro (July 2004) South East Europe Region: Enterprise and Policy Perform ance A Regional Assessm ent (Septem ber 2004) Progress in Policy Reform in South East Europe: M onitoring Instrum ents, 4th Edition (Forthcom ing, M arch 2004)

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCW A Private Sector and Enterprise Developm ent (PSED) Team at SDPD

ESCW A prepared a study entitled: SM Es: Strategies, Policies and Support Institutions (1999) A Regional W orkshop entitled: “Building The Business Developm ent Services (BDS) Network For M icro And Sm all Enterprises In The ESCW A Region” was organized For business developm ent services organisations in the ESCW A region, in Am m an, from 21-23 June 1999) Future activities: to be determ ined

UNCLAC/CEPAL Executive Secretary ECLAC Buenos Aires Office

-ECLAC is preparing an official docum ent, to be subm itted to its General Assem bly in June-July 2004, under the generic them e of “Policies for the prom otion of productive developm ent in open econom ies”, in which different policies towards the developm ent of SM Es are analyzed and proposed. -A new approach to policies for fostering SM E growth in Argentina, 2003

ILO IFP/SEED W EDGE Social Finance Program m e

Studies on financing issues for growth-oriented wom en entrepreneurs: Ethiopia; Kenya; Tanzania (with AfDB) Future Activities: Studies on financing issues for W Es in M auritius; Zam bia; Senegal; Cam eroun; Uganda

W orld Bank/IFC SM E Departm ent, Project Developm ent Facilities.

Local assessm ents. Future activities: will continue on an as-needed basis

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB OED

SRI - Second Sm all and M edium Industries Project

APEC -Guide for SM Es in APEC— Helping Your Business Grow; -Publication: Guide for SM Es in the APEC Region; -Best Practice Guidelines for Financing Chain; -APEC Sym posium on Best Practices for Enhancing Financing Chain for SM Es at Different Growing Stages.

ASEAN SM EW G

This is an area of special focus. Future activities: Activities will continue in focus

233

13.1 FINANCING ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

EIB Group EIB http://www.eib.org/ EIF http://www.eif.org/

Global loans advanced by the EIB in 2002 am ounted to 12.2 billion, of which nearly 6.2 billion targeted ventures carried out by som e 30 000 SM Es. EIF concluded 31 guarantee transactions in 2003 for an am ount of 2.25bn. EIF’s total guarantees portfolio is now EUR 6.5bn. In 2003, EIF signed 14 new venture capital funds for EUR 135m . At end-2003 the EIF's total portfolio am ounted to 2.5 billion, invested in 189 funds operating across the Union and in a num ber of Accession Countries. These venture capital operations benefited over 1 800 businesses (out of an estim ated 10 000 high-tech firm s in the EU). The EIF has thus becom e a key player in taking forward the Lisbon Strategy objective of closing the Union's com petitiveness gap, particularly in leading-edge technologies.

FBE The FBE Secretariat co-ordinates the FBE’s work in this field.

The FBE will continue to support initiatives at EU level, under the "M ulti annual program m e for enterprise and entrepreneurship, and in particular SM Es", to im prove the relations between banks and SM Es. These initiatives have been helpful to date. In the future they are likely to encom pass m easures to prom ote SM Es’ understanding of financial issues, such as the new capital adequacy rules.

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

Participation in EU evaluation of financial assistance schem es. Evaluation of M AP 2001-2005.

IKED -IKED is operating a Venture Capital Program m e. In this context, IKED is engaged in policy reviews and recom m endations directed to countries and regions on how to design supportive policies and create fram eworks that are conducive to the venture capital industry. As an illustration, IKED is involved in a project that addresses issues linked to the developm ent of cross a border venture capital m arket in the Öresund region. -A Handbook for how to prom ote Business Angle Networks has been produced with assistance from IKED in order to generate solid knowledge about the role of business angles in the Nordic econom ies and how their contribution to innovation and growth could be strengthened. The initiative to produce the Handbook was taken by Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship and has been supported by the Nordic Industrial Fund, Svenskt Näringsliv, Statens Næ rings- og Distriktsutviklingsfond (SND) and Norges teknisk-naturvetenskapliga universitet (NTNU), and Dansk Business Angel Netvæ rk (DBAN) in Denm ark. -IKED has initiated and is chairing the first Them atic W orking Group (TW G) within the organisation International Network for SM Es (INSM E). The Them atic W orking Group is a room for e-discussions on the INSM E portal with so far 10 specialised organisations participating worldwide. -IKED highlights the im portance of Venture Capital in a series of articles for the Knowledge Econom y Developm ent Gateway.

234

13.2 ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND FIRM CREATION

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

Peer Review prepared for the Istanbul M inisterial Conference on SM Es entitled :Sm all and M edium -sized Enterprises in Turkey: Issues and Policies

DAF See 13.1

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCW A See responses in 13.1

ILO IFP/SEED

-See 2.1 above for assessm ent tools with regard to the policy and regulatory environm ent for SM Es -Active collaboration with the Donor Com m ittee for Sm all Enterprise Developm ent and its working groups for Enabling Environm ents and Im pact Assessm ent -Assessm ent tools for im pact of Start and Im prove Your Business program m es, and im pact assessm ent studies. East, W est and Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Viet Nam . -Assessm ent tools for im pact of training to im prove productivity through better working conditions, and im pact assessm ent studies. Sri Lanka, Trinidad, Zim babwe. Future activities: Continuing im pact assessm ents of these program m es.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

ADB OED

M ON--Em ploym ent Generation Project

APEC See 13.1

ASEAN SM EW G

This is an area of special focus. Future activities: To be continued in focus

EUROCHAM BRES EU Affairs Directorate

Input to EU institutions on debate on Green Paper for Entrepreneurship and Action Plan

EC Action Plan: The European Agenda for Entrepreneurship COM (2004)70 Final 11.02.2004

Cheaper and Faster Start-Up In response to a call from the Lisbon European Council, the Com m ission conducted a Best Procedure benchm arking exercise during 2001 with the active participation of M em ber State experts and officials41. The exercise established a clear m apping of procedures in each M em ber State and assem bled considerable data on actual practice, including illustrative cases of best practice. A series of benchm arks provide realistic targets for national authorities. The analysis showed that there has been steady progress in reducing delays in adm inistrative procedures in recent years, although som e of the basic elem ents of the 1997 Com m ission Recom m endation 42 in this area have yet to be im plem ented. In October 2000, the Com m ission organised jointly with the French authorities a Forum on “Training for Entrepreneurship”. As a follow-up, a Best Procedure project on ”Education and training for entrepreneurship” was launched by the Com m ission, in close co-operation with the adm inistrations of the M em ber States and Norway. The objective

235

13.2 ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND FIRM CREATION

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

EC

of the project, concluded in Novem ber 2002, was to identify and com pare initiatives from across Europe that aim to prom ote teaching entrepreneurship in the education system s, from prim ary school to university. See 13.3

236

13.3 EM PLOYM ENT AND HUM AN RESOURCES

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) DAF See 13.1

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCW A See responses in 13.1

UNIDO Sm all and M edium Enterprises Branch

See 3.4

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC See 13.1

ASEAN

This is an area of special focus. Future activities: to be continued in focus

EC See 13.2 and 13.4 As a follow-up of the eEurope Go Digital initiative, the Com m ission established in Septem ber 2001 an ICT Skills M onitoring Group with representatives of all M em ber States and Norway58. The objective of the ICT Skills M onitoring Group was to analyse and m onitor the dem and of ICT and e-business skills and the actions aim ed at im proving the availability of these skills in the M em ber States. The work of the ICT Skills M onitoring Group was carried out in the fram ework of a Best Procedure project. The final report of the ICT Skills M onitoring Group, “e-Skills in Europe: Benchm arking M em ber States Policy Initiatives”, was presented at a high-level conference – European eSkills Sum m it – organised on 17-18 October 2002 in Copenhagen. As a com plem ent to the Best Procedure project, an initiative on “Inform ation and Com m unication Technologies and e-Business skills for User Industries and SM Es” was launched in April 2002, with the objective to identify ICT and e-business skills and job profiles in a num ber of industry sectors, with a special focus on SM Es. This initiative will help to develop and to adapt ICT skills profiles in response to the specific needs of SM Es.

237

13.4 INNOVATION AND TECHNO LOGY ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / SM E & Entrepreneurship Division

In addition, as part of the 2nd OECD M inisterial Conference on SM Es, a M inisterial M eeting was held entitled, Joint Session of M inisters and business Representatives on SM Es Com peting in a Knowledge-based Econom y

DAF See 13.1

GOV In the context of a broader assessm ent of econom ic com petitiveness, OECD’s work on territorial developm ent (GOV) includes system atic analysis of the innovation and technology system s at national and regional level, in urban and rural areas, and how they im pact on the productivity of local enterprises. Please see for m ore inform ation: www.oecd.org/gov/territorialpolicies Future activities: “The OECD Policy Agenda for Growth: The Regional Dim ension” includes a focus on innovation-led strategies for regional developm ent in rural and urban areas.

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCW A See response 13.1

UNCLAC/CEPAL See Response 13.1

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC See 13.1

ASEAN SM EW G

This is an area of special focus. Future activities: Rem aining im portant

EC See 13.3 Benchm arking national and regional policies in support of e-business for SM Es The Best Procedure benchm arking initiative on national and regional policies in support of e-business for SM Es was conducted by the Com m ission in close co-operation with all M em ber States and Norway. It resulted in June 2002 in a final report which identified 19 exam ples of good national and regional policies for helping sm all businesses to “go digital”.

INSM E Online Observatory on Policies on Innovation and Technology Transfer: A dedicated section of the INSM E portal (www.insm e.org) to inform about policies at initiatives at international, regional and national level focused on innovation and technology transfer to SM Es through interm ediaries and their networks Future activities: Continuation of present activities

238

13.4 INNOVATION AND TECHNO LOGY ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

Lobbying at EU level regarding the definition and outcom e of m ajor R&D fram ework program m es Future activities: Continuation of present activities

IKED -IKED has provided the Norwegian M inister of Trade and Industry with an external and independent review of Norway’s fram ework conditions for growth and innovation. The report “Towards a New Growth and Innovation Policy in Norway” brings forward a num ber of challenges for the Norwegian governm ent in their work towards a com prehensive innovation policy. -IKED is engaged in organizing several international m eetings regarding innovation and technology transfer. Exam ples:

- M arch, 2004 IKED convened a workshop in collaboration with the National Research Center for Science and Technology for Developm ent (NRCSTD), M inistry of Science and Technology, and the International Statistical Inform ation Center (ISIC), National Bureau of Statistics of China. The m eeting discussed scope, m ethodology and im plem entation details for a project on m easuring and analysing regional digital divides in China. Participants at the workshop include researchers from China, Sweden, Thailand, Vietnam and Cuba. - February, 2004: IKED and INSM E co-organised an International Roundtable M eeting in which around 80 delegates contributed to addressing issues regarding SM Es, innovation, growth and current policy challenges including venture capital and national and local SM E services. - June, 2003: In the workshop “Designing policies for innovation and enterprise developm ent” IKED brought together experts and policy-m akers from the public and private sector in the Baltic States and Poland, the Nordic countries, as well as representatives from international organisations to exchange views and experiences on policies for innovation and enterprise developm ent. - M arch, 2003: In co-operation with the Swedish M inistry for Foreign Affairs IKED organized the ASEM Conference on Globalisation and ICT – The Role of Governm ent, Private Sector and Civil Society in an Inform ation Society for All.

239

13.5 LOCAL DEVELOPM ENT (INCLUDING SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP)

ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) CFE / LEED Program m e Evaluating social econom y ( docum ent presented to the LEED directing com m ittee,

Nov.1999) Publication “The non profit sector in a changing econom y”(2003) (chapters on evaluating the non profit sector)

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCW A See response in 13.1

UNCLAC/CEPAL See Response 13.1

ILO Cooperative Branch/LED Program m e

Future activities: Developm ent of Im pact M easurem ent M ethodology (poverty reduction household level and LED process) in Ghana, M ozam bique, South Africa and Angola

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC See 13.1

ASEAN SM EW G

Issues assum ing increasing im portance Future activities: Rem aining im portant

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

IKED See response 5.2

240

13.6 CLUSTERS, NETW ORKS AND PARTNERSHIPS ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) GOV In the context of a broader assessm ent of econom ic com petitiveness, OECD’s work on

territorial developm ent (GOV) draws on experiences with clusters and other SM E-based approaches to building external econom ies in both urban and rural contexts. The 2003 OECD High-Level M eeting on territorial policy identified clusters as one of the key policy areas for further work on regional com petitiveness. Future activities: Continuation of present activities and “The OECD Policy Agenda for Growth: The Regional Dim ension” includes assessm ents of the im pact of cluster policies and their appropriateness in different types of region.

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Trade and Investm ent Division

Future activities: Subnational innovation system s and technology capacity building policies to enhance com petitiveness of SM Es – study, regional m eetings and establishm ent of network (2005-2006)

UNESCW A See responses in 13.1

UNCLAC/CEPAL See Response 13.1

W orld Bank/ IFC SM E Departm ent, Project Developm ent Facilities

Local assessm ents. Future activities: W ill continue on an as-needed basis.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC See 13.1

ASEAN SM EW G

Issues assum ing increasing im portance Future activities: To be continued in focus

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS EU Affairs Directorate

- “W est East Industrial District Program m e” covering EU and accession countries (2001-2004) Future activities:Continuation of present activities

IKED See response in 6.5

241

13.7 SM ES IN SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) ECH See ECH work presented in Table 9 concerning activities in the Baltic States and South

Eastern Europe.

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Inform ation, Com m unication and Space technology Division; jointly with UNDP

Assessm ent and developm ent of a project to support sm all and m edium scale enterprises (SM Es) in traditional sectors in M alaysia to prom ote their use of ICTs (“addressing the digital divide am ong SM Es”)

UNESCW A See responses in 13.1

UNIDO Sm all and M edium Enterprises Branch

Assessm ent of im pedim ents for Inform ation Com m unication Technology industry Future activities:Continuation of present activities

W orld Bank/ IFC SM E Departm ent, Project Developm ent Facilities

Local assessm ents conducted for strategic sectors. Future activities: W ill continue on an as-needed basis.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC See 13.1

ASEAN SM EW G

This is an area of special focus. Future activities: To be continued in focus

242

13.8 SM ES AND GLOBALISATION ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCW A See responses in 13.1

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC See 13.1

ASEAN SM EW G

This is an area of special focus.. Future activities: To be continued in focus

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS Global Cham ber Platform

International Affairs Directorate Future activities: Continuation of present activities

IKED -At the 14th International SM E Conference on Opportunities for SM Es in a Globalised W orld (Tel Aviv) IKED m ade a presentation on “ICT and Innovation: Opportunities for SM Es and Policy Challenges”. IKED also played an active role in drafting the conference declaration, which sets directions for innovative policies and program m es in the area. Future activities: -In co-operation with the Centre for Econom ics and Business Research, Denm ark, IKED is preparing a three-year program m e on interregional co-operation focused on networking and collaboration within enterprise developm ent and innovation. The program m e will aim to: im prove understanding of how favorable integration processes in key European regions can be supported m ost effectively, and through close co-operation with the participating governm ents, regional authorities, private industry associations and other actors, help catalyzing the im plem entation of concrete joint initiatives of strategic im portance.

243

13.9 DEVELOPM ENT OF DEVELOPING AND EM ERGING ECONOM IES ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) DAF See 13.1

DCD DCD/STAT

Statistics on SM Es developm ent and business services and other areas that m ay be relevant to private sector developm ent. Database on trade capacity building Future activities: Statistics on SM Es developm ent and business services and other areas that m ay be relevant to private sector developm ent. Database on trade capacity building

ECH See ECH work presented in Table 9 concerning activities in the Baltic States and South Eastern Europe.

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCAP UNESCAP / Inform ation, Com m unication and Space technology Division; UNDP TTF

Desk study on the developm ent status, key challenges, lim itations and strengths of e-business practices in the econom ies of the GM S.

UNESCW A See responses in 13.1

ILO IFP/SEED W EDGE

Tools for assessing im pact of SED support on em ploym ent in sm all enterprises Future activities: -Im pact of W ED and SM E support on wom en and gender equality -Tools for m easuring im pact of SED support on job quantity and quality

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC See 13.1

ASEAN SM EW G

Technical assistance from ASEAN-6 to ASEAN-4 being a m ajor objective. Future activities: To be continued

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

IKED See Table 9

244

13.10 ENVIRONM ENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPM ENT ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCW A See responses in 13.1

UNCLAC/CEPAL See Response 13.1

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC See 13.1

ASEAN SM EW G

Issues assum ing increasing im portance Future activities: To be continued

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EURO-M ED TDS Secretariat

2 International Conferences: -“Euro-M editerranean Conference on Fisheries” (Ancona, 29 – 30 Nov 2002) -“Euro-M editerranean Fisheries: from Problem s to Solutions” (Pescara, 7-8 Nov 2003). The conferences dealt with the problem of sustainability of fishing in the M editerranean Sea.

245

13.11 W OM EN ENTREPRENEURS AND W OM EN-OW NED BUSINESSESORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) DCD The DAC Network on Gender Equality (GENDERNET) takes an active interest in issues related to gender and trade. And DCD/POL

A num ber of the individual m em bers of the DAC Network on Gender Equality (GENDERNET) have well-developed policies and program m es designed to support wom en entrepreneurs and wom en-owned businesses and to increase wom en's participation and influence at all levels. Future activities: The DAC Network on Gender Equality (GENDERNET) is considering a specific activity on wom en and trade which m ay distil "lessons learned" and good practice from m em bers' experience in supporting wom en's entrepreneurship.

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCW A See response in 13.1

UNCLAC/CEPAL See Response 13.1

ILO IFP/SEED W EDGE

Gender equality in SM E policies: Tanzania Future activities: Gender equality issues in SM E policies: Ethiopia; Zam bia

W orld Bank/ IFC SM E Departm ent, Project Developm ent Facilities

Local assessm ents, as needed. Future activities: W ill continue on an as-needed basis.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC See 13.1

ASEAN SM EW G

Issues assum ing increasing im portance Future activities: Rem aining im portant

EC -At the end of 2001, within the fram ework of the Best Procedure, the Com m ission launched the project “Prom oting entrepreneurship am ongst wom en”. [Best Reports, No2-2004] Carried out in co-operation with the W ES network, the project aim s at the identification and evaluation of national m easures in the areas of start-ups, inform ation/advice, funding, training, m entoring and networks related to the prom otion of fem ale entrepreneurship, in the EU and EEA EFTA countries. A database containing 132 actions/m easures adopted by public adm inistrations has been created. All these m easures are public, and have been adopted either at national level or regional level. These m easures will be evaluated in order to identify good practices, and relevant good practices in the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand will also be registered. These practices will be presented to all interested actors during a European Forum to be held at the beginning of 2003. -“Good Practices in the Prom otion of Fem ale Entrepreneurship” (2002) -Fem ale Entrepreneurship Database (CDrom )

246

13.11 W OM EN ENTREPRENEURS AND W OM EN-OW NED BUSINESSESORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BERS

To be defined

IKED See Table 11.

247

13.12 DATA AND STATISTICS ON SM Es ORG ANISATION / INSTITUTIONS

ACTIVITIES

O RG ANISATIO N FOR ECONOM IC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPM ENT

(OECD) DAF See 13.1

UNITED NATIO NS O RG ANISATIONS

UNESCW A See responses in 13.1

W orld Bank/ IFC SM E Departm ent, Project Developm ent Facilities

Local assessm ents Future activities: W ill continue on an as-needed basis.

O THER INTERNATIO NAL INSTITUTIONS AND FORA

APEC See 13.1

ASEAN SM EW G

Issues assum ing increasing im portance Future activities: activities rem aining im portant

NO N-G O VERNM ENTAL ORG ANISATIONS

EUROCHAM BRES EU Affairs Directorate

M em ber of consultative Business Organisation network (FEBI) of Eurostat Future activities: Continuation of activities

248

ANNEX 1

DAF/Investm ent Com pact Policy Reform Reports, Assessm ents and Other Publications

I. M onitoring Process and Instruments:

• Progress in Policy Reform in South East Europe: M onitoring Instruments, 1st Edition (June 2001)

• Progress in Policy Reform in South East Europe: M onitoring Instruments, 2nd Edition (September 2002)

• Progress in Policy Reform in South East Europe: M onitoring Instruments, 3rd Edition (M arch 2003)

• Progress in Policy Reform in South East Europe: M onitoring Instruments, 4th Edition (Forthcoming, M arch 2004)

• M inisterial Declaration, “Attracting Investment to South East Europe: Common Principles and Best Practices” (July 2002) The M inisterial Declaration is available in English, French, German, Albanian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Croatian, M acedonian, Romanian, and Serbian.

• M inisterial Statement, “Pushing Ahead with Reform: Removing Obstacles to FDI in South East Europe” (July 2003)

• Business Statement at the 2003 M inisterial M eeting, “Private Sector Partnership in Stimulating Reform and Investment in South East Europe” (July 2003)

• M inisterial Statement at the 1st M eeting of the M inisters of Finance “Tax Policy in Support of Investment” (December 2003)

• Investment Compact for South East Europe Brochure (September 2002)

II. Enterprise and SM E Development:

• Enterprise and Policy Performance Assessment of Albania (June 2003)

• Enterprise and Policy Performance Assessment of Bosnia and Herzegovina (October 2003)

• Enterprise and Policy Performance Assessment of Bulgaria (December 2002)

• Enterprise and Policy Performance Assessment of Croatia (M ay 2003)

• Enterprise and Policy Performance Assessment of FYR M acedonia (October 2003)

• Enterprise and Policy Performance Assessment of M oldova (M ay 2003)

• Enterprise and Policy Performance Assessment of Romania (December 2002)

• Enterprise and Policy Performance Assessment of Serbia (M arch 2003)

249

• Enterprise and Policy Performance Assessment of M ontenegro (October 2003)

• South East Europe Region: Enterprise and Policy Performance A Regional Assessment (October 2003)

III. Public and Private Governance:

• Competition Law and Policy in South East Europe: A Programme of Action (April 2003)

• Review of Regulatory Governance in South East Europe (M ay 2003)

• Regulatory Authorities South East Europe (October 2003)

• W hite Paper on Corporate Governance in South East Europe (June 2003)

•

IV. FDI Policy and Promotion:

• Tax Policy Assessment and Design in Support of Direct Investment: A Study of Countries in South East Europe (April 2003)

• A Survey of the Role of Taxation in Foreign Direct Investment in South East Europe (April 2003)

• Putting the Policy Frameworks in Place: Experiences from Slovenia and South East Europe (December 2002)

• National Treatment of International Investment in South East European Countries: M easures Providing Exceptions (October 2003)

• Regional Roundtable for Investment Promotion Business Opportunities (2002, 2003)

• Regional Roundtable for Investment Promotion Success Stories (2002, 2003)

• Regional Roundtable for Investment Promotion Business Card (September 2003)

• Strategic Investment Promotion: Successful Practice in Building Competitive Strategies (June 2002)

• Investment Guide for South East Europe 2001 (September 2000)7

• W hite Book: Proposals for Improvement of the Investment Climate in Serbia (M arch 2003)8

• Investment Guide for South East Europe 2002 (September 2001)

• Investment Guide for South East Europe 2003 (September 2002)

• Investment Guide for South East Europe 2004 (September 2003)

Copies m ay be downloaded from the website (www.Investm entCom pact.org) .

7 Published by the Bulgaria Economic Forum with the assistance of GTZ and with support from the Investment

Compact within the framework of the SEE Regional Roundtable for Investment Promotion. 8 The FIC Serbia and M ontenegro was established with the support of the OECD Investment Compact Team,

and the W hite Book prepared by FIC members is the first edition of an annual review.

250

INDEX

A Access to M arkets (National and International)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Access to Capital … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Access to Equity M arkets … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Access to ICT (see E-commerce)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Assessment of SM Es and Entrepreneurship-related Policies and Programmes … … … … … … … … … … B Biotechnologies… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Business Services (Provision of)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Business Environment (see Entrepreneurship)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … C Capital (SM Es Access) … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Clusters, Networks and Partnerships… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Co-operation (see Innovative Networks)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … D Development of Developing and Emerging Economies… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Data and Statistics on SM Es and Entrepreneurship… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Data Collection… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … E E-commerce and Access to ICT … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Emerging Economies (see Developing and Emerging Economies)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … Employment and Human Resources… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Entrepreneurial Business Environment, EBE (see Entrepreneurship)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … Entrepreneurship and Firm Creation… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Environment and Sustainable Development… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Environment Facilitating New and Small Business… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Environment Related Activities (of SM Es)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Environment Related Industries… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Environment Related Innovations… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Equity M arkets (SM Es Access) … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Evaluation of SM Es and Entrepreneurship-related Policies and Programmes … … … … .… … … … … … Export Promotion (see Networking)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … External M arkets (see Developing Economies, Globalisation)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … F Financial and Technical Assistance (International Aid) … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Financing … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

251

Financing Issues for Innovative SM Es (Access to Venture Capital, etc.) … … … … … … … … … … … … Financing Issues for Globalisation Financing of W omen-owned Businesses… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Financing Schemes for Firm Creation… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Firm Creation (see Entrepreneurship)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Firm Creation by W omen … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Foreign Direct Investment (see Developing Economies, Globalisation, Networking)… .… … … … … Foreign Investors (SM Es Linkages with)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … G Global Firms (Partnership with, see Globalisation) Globalisation (Surveys on SM E Globalisation)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Globalisation Strategies of SM Es… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Globalisation and SM Es… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … H Human resources (see Employment)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … I ICT (Access to)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Incubators and Start-up … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Innovations (and SM Es)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Innovation and Technology… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Innovative Networks… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … International Aid (see Financial and Technical Assistance)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … International Investment (see Clusters, Developing Economies, Globalisation) .… … … … … … … … … International Trade (see Clusters, Developing Economies, Globalisation)… … … … … … … … … … … … Internationalisation of Industrial Districts … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Investment (International, see Clusters, Developing Economies, Globalisation) J Job Creation… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … . L Labour Skills… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Labour Skills and M anagement Capabilities… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Labour Skills and M anagement Training for New Entrepreneurs… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Large Firms (Co-operation with, see Innovative Networks, Partnership)… … … … … … … … … … … … Linkages with Foreign Investors (see Developing and Emerging Economies)… … … … … … … … … … Local Development Policies… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Local Development (including Social Entrepreneurship) … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Local Partnership… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

252

M M anagement Training… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … M anagement Capabilities (see Labour Skills)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … M arkets (see Access to M arkets) N Networking for Export Promotion, FDI and Sub-contracting … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Networks for International Trade and Investment… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Networks (see Clusters)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … New Entrepreneurs (see Entrepreneurship)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … P Partnership (see Clusters)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Partnership with Large Firms… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Partnership with Global Firms… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Partnership with Public Sector… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Partnership with SM Es… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Patents and Property Rights… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Policies and Programmes (Assessment of)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Public Centres (see Innovative Networks) … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Public Sector (see Partnership)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … R New Regulations on SM Es (Impact of )… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … S SM Es and Entrepreneurship-related Policies and Programmes… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Social Entrepreneurship… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Services… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Specific Industries (SM Es in)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Start-up (see Incubators)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Statistics (see Data)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Sub-contracting (see Networking)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Surveys on SM Es Globalisation… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Surveys Related to W omen Entrepreneurship … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Sustainable Development (see Environment)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … T Technology (see Innovation)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Trade (International Trade, see Clusters, Developing Economies, Globalisation) Training (see Employment)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Transition (see Developing and Emerging Economies)… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

253

V Venture Capital (Access to, see Financing Issue for Innovative SM Es)… … … … … … … … … … … … … W W omen Entrepreneurs and W omen-owned Businesses… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … W omen Entrepreneurs: specific problems concerning training… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … W omen Entrepreneurship (Surveys Related to)… … … .… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … W omen, Firm Creation by… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … W omen-owned Businesses (Financing) … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …