The Informal Working Group on Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) on 2 December launched the Trade4MSMEs platform, a tool aimed at helping small companies find trade-related information that improves their ability to trade internationally. The platform will also help policymakers design measures tailored to the needs of small companies.
The new platform will allow small businesses to access a diverse range of trade information brought together from a variety of sources. It contains short guides providing key information on the steps that companies need to follow before exporting or importing goods or services, such as how to assess the export potential of the markets they are targeting and their readiness to export.
Trade4MSMEs also provides information for policymakers, government officials and researchers, outlining important issues for MSMEs and highlighting best practices. The platform provides information on international and regional initiatives aimed at MSMEs and contains links to MSME data sources available for analytical purposes.
The platform was developed with the financial support of the United Kingdom’s Trade and Investment Advocacy Fund (TAF2+) and UKAid. Additional funding from Canada will be available, it was announced at the launch event. Current partners include the Global Trade Helpdesk, the International Chamber of Commerce and its Centres for Entrepreneurship, the International Trade Centre and Google. Additional partnerships will be developed in the coming months.
Access the platform here.
Source: INSME Secretariat
