Publications

Boosting the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises is crucial to transform Benin into a resilient and sustainable economy.Limited access to finance, low rates of quality certification and shortfalls in infrastructure prevent small firms from thriving in Benin, according to ITC’s...

Increasing the competitiveness of small firms in the Philippines is vital to build resilience to shocks while promoting sustainable and inclusive growth.Companies that were more competitive before the COVID-19 crisis were less affected by it, according to ITC’s SME Competitiveness Survey. Firms...

Advanced economies have developed highly competitive and innovative e-commerce services, making it simple for small enterprises to set up online stores, transport their goods and receive payments. Although entrepreneurs in developing countries can sell online by accessing these services, most are...

Companies in French-speaking Africa have not been spared by the COVID-19 pandemic. One-third are on the verge of bankruptcy, according to a joint study conducted by ITC and the Permanent Conference of African and Francophone Consular Chambers.Facing a fall in turnover, supply chain disruptions and...

The great Lockdown: Industrial Supply Chain DisruptionThis publication is an excerpt from the book COVID-19: The Great Lockdown and its Impact on Small BusinessThe excerpt, Country Profiles: Industrial Supply Chain Disruption, features information for 85 countries and territories.

Executive Summary - COVID-19: The Great Lockdown and its Impact on Small Business - SME Competitiveness Outlook 2020 The SME Competitiveness Outlook 2020 analyses the impact of the pandemic on small firms, international supply chains and trade. It provides projections and a 15-point action plan for...

African tech hubs play an important role in building fledgling entrepreneurial ecosystems and helping start-ups, but they struggle to earn revenue and become financially sustainable.This second edition has expanded its coverage, adding insights from East African hubs. The report, based on interviews...

The SME Competitiveness Outlook 2020 analyses the impact of the pandemic on small firms, international supply chains and trade. It provides projections and a 15-point action plan for businesses, policymakers and business support organizations to weather the crisis – and gear up for a ‘new...

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Botswana are engines of job creation with significant potential to foster economic diversification.Drawing on data from the SME Competitiveness Survey, this report shows that improved access to skilled labour has strengthened Botswana companies,...

One in three companies in French-speaking Africa is in a difficult financial position, according to ITC research. While it is evident that their financial situation is closely tied to their economic performance, evidence shows that their growth rests on access to finance. Yet one fourth of...

Thanks to a more services-based economy and the prestige associated with women’s entrepreneurship, new opportunities allow Nigerian women to play a more active role in business.Nigerian businesswomen need support for registration and certification, banking, skills development and flexible work...

Small and medium-sized enterprises in Kenya are an underexploited resource with significant potential to boost inclusive growth.Drawing on data from the SME Competitiveness Survey, this report finds that even though Kenyan companies organize their production processes professionally and have a...