OECD Guidelines for SMEs

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) represents a forum where governments address social, economic, and environmental challenges at a global level. Acting as a macro institutional setting, this milieu allows governments to compare policy experiences, share best practices, and find global solutions to tackle critical changes through the coordination of national and international political agendas. In this context, since the early 1940s SMEs have been considered by the OECD as a driver to advance trade and industrialization in developed nations (OECD 1997 and 2004). A specific center has been set up to help local, regional, and national governments to enhance entrepreneurs’ and SMEs’ potential as well as inclusive and sustainable growth. The work of the OECD and other international institutions is fundamental to strengthen SMEs’ contribution to economic and social cohesion, as well as through the role played by women and young entrepreneurs. OECD guidelines yield a comparative analysis of regulative frameworks and policies to improve SMEs’ contributions and provide insights on the challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurs and SMEs, as well as an updated overview of each country profile relative to SMEs’ performance. Within the broader OECD strategy on SMEs, the Recommendation on SME and Entrepreneurship Policy was adopted in June 2022 – and launched on the occasion of a special event, the “UN Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day” that took place on June 27 – on the proposal of the Committee on SMEs and Entrepreneurship with the aim to provide a holistic framework to develop effective SME and entrepreneurship policies and foster their contribution to inclusive and sustainable growth.