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MSME Clearinghouse:  Newsletter

arrow OAS MSME Newsletter: (March 2021):
 
This OAS MSME Newsletter is dedicated to measures recently announced by OAS Member States to drive the economic recovery of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). The policy responses vary from country to country and are specific to the economic circumstances of each Member State. Given that every day produces new developments, this inventory is in no way exhaustive.


Argentina

Launch of Productive Cooperation Plan with China

The Plan seeks to double the number of SMEs that export to China through training, technical assistance in the design of export plans, credit lines in pesos and dollars with a subsidized rate exclusively for exports to that market, and promotional actions.

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Productive Development launched the first financial assistance program for advanced ventures

Escalar Emprendedores is the first program that finances ventures in an advanced stage of production for up to 15 million pesos per project. The line will have a total amount of $ 500 million from the Trust Fund for the Development of Entrepreneurial Capital (FONDCE).

Government allocates more funds so that tourism SMEs are financed at zero rate

It was announced the expansion of the total amount of the zero-rate financing line for MiPyMEs Turismo to $ 4,000 million. The line that was launched last October initially had a total amount of $ 3,000 million, of which 98% has already been executed.

  • https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/el-gobierno-destina-mas-fondos-para-que-las-pymes-turisticas-se-financien-tasa-cero-0

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    Barbados

    Guidelines for Small Businesses Re: Financial Assistance

    The Ministry of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship is reminding small businesses eligible for Government’s financial assistance during the national pause that there are strict guidelines that govern the operation of this programme.

    New Regional Project A Boost For MSMEs

    The CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the CARIFORUM – European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Standby Facility for Capacity Building’s project entitled: Strengthening of the Regional Quality Infrastructure Programme in Barbados, Dominica, and St. Kitts and Nevis has been hailed as the “beacon of hope” to strengthen the sector and make it more competitive on the world stage.

    The regional project, which was launched virtually last week, is aimed at, among other things, strengthening the national and quality infrastructure across CARICOM member states.

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    Brazil

    Permanent credit for small businesses is approved by the Senate and goes to the House

    The Senate approved Bill 5.575 / 20, which converts the National Micro and Small Business Support Program (Pronampe) into an official and permanent credit policy. The program was created in May last year to help small businesses financially while maintaining jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the program granted more than R $ 37.5 billion in loans, covering around 517 thousand entrepreneurs.


    The craft market reinvents itself to survive the pandemic

    Digital presence is the solution found by the traditional sector to boost sales

    The crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic forced Brazilian businessmen to seek innovation as a way of trying to reverse the loss of income due to the reduced circulation of people and changes in the consumption habits of the population. Not even the traditional sectors were left out. A survey carried out by Sebrae, in partnership with the Getúlio Vargas Foundation, showed that entrepreneurs in the artisanal sector were the ones that most used WhatsApp as a sales tool (92%), among all segments of the economy. Small artisan companies come second when it comes to launching new products or services. In Sebrae’s survey, 53% of these entrepreneurs created news since the beginning of the crisis, only surpassed by food services, where this percentage was 56%.


    The federal government reopens debt renegotiation program

    At Sebrae's request, new possibilities have been reopened that will benefit small businesses.

    Small business owners got new rules and new deadlines to renegotiate their debts with the Federal Government. At the request of Sebrae, the Attorney General of the Republic of the National Treasury (PGFN) published Ordinance 2,381, of February 26, 2021, reopening the deadlines for entry into the Fiscal Recovery program, which brings back several notices that were open until December 2020.

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    Canada

    Government of Canada supports recovery and growth of women-led businesses across Ontario amid COVID-19 pandemic

    The Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, announced the 16 recipients of the $4.8 million in top-up funding the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) Ecosystem Fund in Ontario to support women entrepreneurs to navigate this crisis. This investment represents a top-up to the over $32 million in WES funding previously provided to these organizations.

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    Chile

    207 entrepreneurs from Tarapacá benefited from Sercotec's FNDR Crece Elijo Pyme 1 program

    The Technical Cooperation Service (Sercotec Tarapacá), made the Crece Elijo Pyme 1 program available to entrepreneurs, an initiative of Sercotec, financed by the Regional Government of Tarapacá and approved by the Regional Council through a National Development Fund Regional that was released at the end of July.

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    Colombia

    The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism created the committee for gender issues and economic empowerment of women in the sector

    It will be the advisory body to incorporate the gender approach in the entity's activities, through the implementation of instruments, design of programs, development of strategies and coordination of intersectoral actions or with the private sector, all focused on entrepreneurship, formalization and business strengthening of women in the country.


    Spaces for cooperation between Colombia and Algeria are opened for the development of MSMEs

    In order to establish a cooperation roadmap on issues associated with the strengthening of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, the governments of Colombia and Algeria made a first approach in which they agreed to work on a joint agenda to determine concrete actions in favor of the development of MSMEs in the two countries.



    Mincomercio and Colombia Productiva launch 'Quality to grow', the strategy that will help companies improve the quality of their products

    Compliance with quality standards is increasingly necessary for Colombian companies to maintain and increase their presence in the local and international market, even more so after the COVID-19 pandemic, which has raised the requirements demanded by the destination countries of products and services made in the country.

    For this reason, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, and Colombia Productiva, through the strategy 'Quality to grow', launched four calls with which about 700 companies, production units and laboratories will be able to know, incorporate and raise the standards of quality in its products and processes, in order to advance in its economic reactivation, improve its productivity and better prepare its offer.



    The Women Emprende Fund is activated: Entrepreneurs can now project themselves as businesswomen!

    With an initial capital of $ 20,000 million, the autonomous patrimony created in the middle of the pandemic was activated, to strengthen the entrepreneurship of Colombian women, in all regions of the country. It is the Fondo Mujer Emprende, which is launching its first program –Núcleo E–, aimed at rural and urban women who want to expand their business initiatives.



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    Costa Rica

    Six SMEs Business Development Centers for high-level advice and training

    The National Learning Institute (INA) and the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC), announce the opening of five Business Development Centers (CDE), located in Liberia, Limón, Cartago, Heredia, Ciudad Quesada and San José; which join the San José Center, which began operations in November.

    In the Business Development Centers, SMEs and entrepreneurs are assisted by professional experts in business management, through personalized advice and high-level training, as well as talks, workshops and productive linkage processes for the development of their companies.

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    Dominican Republic

    MICM, MINPRE and AIRD launch a call for a Digital Productive Chain program

    The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Mipymes (MICM), the Ministry of the Presidency (MINPRE) and the Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic (AIRD), summoned companies to participate in the Digital Productive Chain Program (PEPD), which will be open to nominations for proposals until May 3.

    It is a project to finance the development of digital tools, so that supplying companies and providers of goods and services can be suppliers or have a more efficient relationship with large companies, through the use of technology-based tools.


    MICM and FAO analyze opportunities to promote micro and small agribusinesses

    The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs (MICM) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are studying collaboration opportunities to promote micro and small agribusinesses, especially those headed by women in rural areas.

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    Ecuador

    Initiatives for reactivation

    The Quito Promotion Agency announces the creation of the city's Entrepreneurship Fund with the objective of providing US $ 1 million of seed capital to promote small businesses.


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    El Salvador

    Seed Capital is delivered to Entrepreneurs in La Unión

    The National Commission for Micro and Small Enterprises (CONAMYPE) delivered the second disbursement to entrepreneurs participating in the Productive Corridors program of the department of La Unión.


    Funds for the implementation of quality and innovation standards in the artisan sector

    The Government of El Salvador, through the National Commission for Micro and Small Business (CONAMYPE) together with the Board of Directors of the Special Fund for Resources from the Privatization of ANTEL (FANTEL), delivered more than $ 29,000.00 to artisan people.

    It will be 41 artisan people, from the departments of Ahuachapán, Santa Ana, Sonsonate and La Libertad who will receive funds from the Financing Contest for the implementation of quality and innovation standards in the MSEs of the artisanal sector.

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    Jamaica

    Removal of CAF renewed fervour in MSME sector

    There is renewed enthusiasm within the Micro Small Medium Enterprise (MSME) sector, following the recent announcement by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service of the removal of the Customs Administration Fee (CAF).

    The removal of the CAF is effective April 1, 2021. The Customs Administrative Fee (CAF) is a fee imposed on or in connection with importation or exportation of goods.

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    Mexico

    Secretaría de Economía presents Comercia MX, the new digital and global network for Mexican MSMEs

    The Ministry of Economy in collaboration with ConnectAmericas, the virtual platform to help the internationalization of SMEs of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), presented Comercia MX, a new digital platform that allows companies in Mexico, especially small and medium-sized companies, to expand their business into the global market.

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    Panama

    Ampyme delivers Seed Capital for B / .250 thousand to 143 entrepreneurs

    Some 143 beneficiaries received from the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Authority (Ampyme), seed capital for an amount of B / .250,000.

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    Paraguay

    MSMEs trained to strengthen business management

    Micro, small and medium-sized companies, members of the footwear and textiles sector, received training in "Quality", continuing the series of talks and workshops within the Project/"Paraguay produces and sells", which is carried out by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC) with the Association of Importers and Traders of Paraguay (ASIMCOPAR).


    Entries for the 2021 National MSMEs Award launched in a webinar

    The third edition of the National MSMEs Award, organized by the Project to Strengthen the Capacity of the Guidance System for MSMEs of Paraguay (FOMIPYMES), a joint agreement between the Technical Mission of Taiwan and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC), launched in a webinar. This award seeks to recognize and promote micro, small and medium-sized companies, with an interest in the proposed categories, in order to encourage social responsibility and what they require to grow in terms of formalization, industry, design and communication. The contest awards five (5) categories: "Excellence", "Empowerment of Women", "Entrepreneurial Youth", "Climate Action and Circular Economy" and "Fair Trade and Community Development".

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    Peru

    Entrepreneurs will be able to formalize in a week with Create Your Company

    The web platform "Create Your Company" was launched, which will allow during 2021 to promote the formalization of some 6 thousand entrepreneurs in the country, without leaving home and in a week.


    1MSMEs led by women generate more than 4 million jobs

    In the country there are 1,331,502 micro and small enterprises (MSMEs) led by women, which generate 4.8 million jobs.


    Micro and small businesses will have up to 12 more months to reschedule their credits

    Companies can access this benefit until July 15

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    The Bahamas

    Retooled Bahamas Development Bank will better meet the needs of small businesses

    The Bahamas Development Bank (BDB) has invested in retooling and re-energizing the organization to better meet the needs of small businesses across The Bahamas sector.

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    United States

    American Rescue Plan Act Elevates Small Business Support in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

    The American Rescue Plan Act’s Small Business Assistance and Support

    The American Rescue Plan Act provides additional relief for the nation’s small businesses and hard-hit industries for programs the SBA is currently administering and adds new efforts, including:

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          International and Regional Organizations

    Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI)

    CABEI benefits more than 22,000 people in Nicaragua through the MSME Support Facility

    The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) continues to support the financial sustainability of Nicaraguan MSMEs affected by COVID-19. Since the implementation of the Financial Sector Support Facility for financing MSMEs to date, the Bank has placed a total of US$48.5 million in intermediary financial institutions.



    More than 1,200 jobs for Costa Rican MSMEs to be supported with new CABEI disbursement of $4 million to the financial sector

    Nearly 1,200 jobs in Costa Rican Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) will be supported with a new disbursement made by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) as part of its Financial Sector Support Facility Program for MIPYMES Financing.


    CABEI disburses an additional US$ 1.0 million to finance micro and small enterprises in Guatemala

    The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) through its Financial Sector Support Facility for the Financing of Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs), approved a disbursement of US$1.0 million in Guatemala, with the objective of contributing to the adaptation, solvency and transformation of companies as part of their economic reactivation in the face of the pandemic's effects.


    CABEI grants US$20 million to boost El Salvador's business sector

    The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) has approved a Global Line of Credit to Banco Atlántida El Salvador, S.A. of the Republic of El Salvador for up to US$20 million.


    International Monetary Fund. Rising Market Power - A Threat to Recovery?


    OAS and Facebook to Cooperate on Electoral Integrity, Human Rights and Economic Recovery, among other areas

    The Organization of American States (OAS) and Facebook signed a cooperation agreement to work on initiatives in several areas, including electoral integrity, human rights and economic development in the Americas.

     

     

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