Access to markets

 

The activities under this cluster aim at enhancing capacities of policy makers and MSMES to facilitate their access to markets, one of the current greatest challenges for MSMEs as there is a decreased demand, damaged supply and disruption of value chains. 

The project is conducting assessments on the impact of COVID-19 on the production and trade activities of MSMEs and the implications on recovery and long-term development prospects.  The assessments are based on a coherent framework that captures the interplay between trade, enterprise development, investment, labor and other policy tools.  They highlights areas for joint cooperation at the regional and global levels and the impact on the achievement of SDGs. 

Other activities include raising awareness at the political and technical levels on the role of competition policy in the Economic recovery of MSMEs by: 1) Highlighting the interphase and positive correlation of implementing effective and timely competition policy measures within and across regions in the wake of Covid 19 and the impact to MSMEs in accessing markets. 2) Promoting regional exposure to the interphase; and 3) Bringing together experts, and inter-state entities on further exploring the positive correlation of competition policy and the recovery of MSMEs in development countries and countries in transition. In addition, the project is also analyzing and collecting good practices on the policies implemented by the Latin American governments to face MSMEs crisis generated by COVID-19.  

African woman smiling on market

Outputs

Empowering MSMEs to harness opportunities in the transition to sustainable trade and a circular economy in the context of the post-COVID 19 recovery

UNECE
The objective of the project is to develop and implement capacity-building tools for governments and MSMEs in developing countries and economies in transition to strengthen the resilience of the MSME sector. This will help to facilitate its green, inclusive, and sustainable recovery in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Global Policy Dialogue (GPD): "Post COVID-19 Resurgence of MSMEs and Competition Policy." 1-3 Dec 2021 [09h00 Santiago, 13h00 Geneva, 14h00 Beirut, 19h00 Bangkok]

ECLAC, ESCAP, ESCWA, UNCTAD
Following the organisation of 5 regional dialogues across the world during the first part of 2021, UNCTAD and the UN Regional Economic Commissions (ECLAC, ESCAP, ESCWA) will bring together representatives and officials of government MSME bodies, as well as competition agency representatives from across the world to discuss how competition policy could support MSMEs post Covid-19.

E-learning course: Opportunities and challenges for MSMEs in cross-border e-commerce

ECLAC
The course is aimed at staff members in charge of MSME support programs including but not limited to: Trade Promotion Organizations, Single Windows, Government Ministries and Agencies in charge of productive development and MSMEs, persons involved in Competition Policy, Data Protection and cibersecurity in the Caribbean.

Curso - Oportunidades y retos para Mipymes en el e-commerce transfronterizo (Inscripciones abiertas)

ECLAC
El curso está dirigido a funcionarios a cargo de programas de apoyo a las Mipymes en, por ejemplo, los organismos de promoción comercial, Ministerios y organismos de desarrollo productivo y Mipymes, las ventanillas únicas de comercio exterior, políticas de competencia, protección de datos de América Latina y el Caribe.

Free competition in the post-pandemic digital era: The impact on SMEs

ECLAC
This document analyses the role of competition policy in the digital economy, with an emphasis on the relation between business strategies, technological innovation and market concentration; as well as the suitability of the current legal and institutional frameworks for competition in Latin American countries for facing the current challenges.