Economic Context and the Role of SMEs in Latin America and the Caribbean

During the last two decades, the Latin American and Caribbean region has registered relatively dynamic economic growth, above the OECD average, although less than that of other emerging countries such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This growth, which in many cases has been influenced by the levels of production and prices of basic products such as minerals, oil and food, has allowed the reduction of extreme poverty (from 29% to 16% between 2000 and 2014). ) and moderate poverty (from 17% to 14% for the same period)(OECD, 2016[1]).