SBA principle: Adapt public policy tools to SME needs

This chapter analyses public policy tools that help SMEs in accessing markets and procurement opportunities. The chapter is divided into two policy subdimensions: business services and public procurement. The first policy dimension gives an overview of the public policy tools to address information gaps and the limited availability of business services for small firms. The second focuses on giving SMEs an equal chance to participate in public procurement. Despite overall progress since the 2008 assessment and the fact that start-up support and incubators are now present in all economies, MED economies continue to perform poorly in the collection, analysis and dissemination of relevant of information for SMEs through both traditional and online channels.

Moving forward, MED economies could improve access to information on services for enterprises, continue the provision of tailor-made support services for SMEs, design business support services in a comprehensive way and not only as part of ad hoc initiatives, and step up efforts to facilitate SME access to public procurement.