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Inter-American Dialogue of High-Level MSME Authorities
OAS MSME Digitization Plan in Costa Rica: Addition of E-commerce
Continuing with the OAS MSME Digitization Plan, launched as a result of the VI Inter-American Dialogue of High-Level MSME Authorities,
the e-commerce component was launched in Costa Rica, jointly with the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce . 5000 businesses will
join e-commerce per year to trade their goods and services online easily and quickly, free of charge.
Argentina
More than 1,500 SMEs sold their products with Exporta Simple
Through this simplified regime, companies can export goods that must not exceed US $ 15,000 for each operation and with an annual cap of US $ 600,000. This year,
the platform was updated, eliminating the weight cap (in kilograms) per operation and it is anticipated that in the next month, the billing will be carried out
by the SMEs, with the aim of reducing costs and increasing export volumes.
Exporta Simple is a platform that allows entrepreneurs and SMEs to sell products to any part of the world from a computer, without the need to carry out additional
procedures and be registered in Argentina’s registry of exporters and importers. In the two years since its launch, more than 750 small and medium-sized enterprises
have made their first exports using Exporta Simple.
Through this tool, more than 9,000 operations have already been carried out in 107 destinations, including the United States, Chile, Uruguay, Peru, Mexico, Spain,
the United Kingdom and France. More than 1,500 entrepreneurs and SMEs exported their products to international markets with Exporta Simple.
The Bahamas
Small Business Development Hits $8 Million in Approved Funding
The Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) has trained nearly 7,000 Bahamian entrepreneurs and approved approximately $8 million in funding since it was formed
in 2018, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. The official said that empowering micro-small and medium sized businesses will ultimately
enhance economic development, and promote sustainable growth.
Barbados
MSME Sector Being Assisted
Steps have been taken to unify the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector in Barbados and the relevant authorities are now better able to
see what impact that sector has on the country. The Small Business Development Centre, formed by way of a memorandum of understanding between the
Governments of Barbados, the United States and the Organisation of American States last November, is an operational framework used by the United
States to bring all of the small business agencies under one umbrella. They are using that framework to capture information on how the businesses
are doing. Under that umbrella body they are able to measure the impact of the micro, small and medium enterprises sector to both social and economic
development in Barbados.
Chile, New Zealand and Singapore
Digital Economic Association Agreement between Chile, New Zealand and Singapore
The Digital Economy Association Agreement (DEPA) was born out of the common interest of Chile, New Zealand and Singapore to harness the potential of the
Digital Economy to benefit smaller economies and to provide more opportunities for the inclusion of more people and MSMEs in the global economy.
The main objective of this agreement is to establish certain basic rules for the promotion of these countries as platforms for the digital economy. This
means having a friendly framework for companies, where they can export their digital services and products, but also to explore new technological subjects
which can serve society as a whole, through inclusive economic development.
Colombia
Launch of the Factories Internationalization Program
With the aim of increasing Colombia’s non-mining energy exports, promoting the export culture and expanding the export fabric, the Ministry of
Commerce, Industry and Tourism of Colombia, together with ProColombia, launched the Factories for Internationalization program.
This is an initiative that puts Micro, Small and Medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) at the center of foreign trade, which constitutes the bulk of the
business fabric. In 2019, they represented 75.1% of exporting companies but only 17.1% in value. However, it is important to note that this segment
has been gaining share in total value of exports in Colombia, since they represented 14.1% in 2018.
Panama
AMPYME and CENPROMYPE promote gender parity among entrepreneurs
Panama's Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Authority (AMPYME, for its Spanish acronym) and the Center for the Promotion of Micro and Small Enterprise
(CENPROMYPE, for its acronym in Spanish), held the event called “Elevador Pitch” aimed at women entrepreneurs in the Women's Entrepreneurship Program.
This training program, which is exclusively for women, has the objective of improving competencies and skills through the transfer of practical knowledge
to develop and innovate business models that allow women to achieve business and personal growth.
Dominican Republic
SBDCs Advisors to be trained in risk management and climate change related issues
In order to assist in the fight against climate change, SBDCs advisors will be trained to offer free technical assistance in water saving, solid waste
management, carbon footprint and energy efficiency, as well as in issues associated with comprehensive risk management.
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