Brussels, 09/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - Only 13 % of EU SMEs are internationally active. The Commission is therefore working to establish a more coherent and effective EU strategy for supporting SMEs in penetrating new developing fast growth markets in Latin America and Asia.
A year after having submitted his new approach for EU industrial policy (EUROPE 10245), Commissioner for Industry Antonio Tajani unveiled on Wednesday 9 November the outline of the “Small Business, Big World” - a new partnership to help SMEs seize global opportunities.
Europe's SMEs account for two thirds of jobs in the private sector, around 80 % of new jobs created over the past five years and, as the main driving force for recovery after the crisis broke out in 2008, SMEs constitute Europe's main economic force. Only 13 % of EU SMEs are internationally active, however, through trade, investment or other forms of cooperation. Tajani explained during a press briefing that “often our SMEs are not exploring certain markets in Russia, the US, China or Australia. Why not? Because they feel weak and not well-informed enough.”
SMEs face particular obstacles to tapping the global market, not least when it comes to access to market information, locating possible customers and finding the right partners. They also face more complex issues such as compliance with foreign laws, for example mandatory rules of contract law, customs rules, technical regulations and standards, managing technology transfer and protecting intellectual or industrial property rights. In dealing with such challenges SMEs are usually less well equipped with in-house expertise and financial or human resources than larger enterprises.
In an effort to help European SMEs seeking to tap into new markets, find appropriate partners and potential customers and have greater access to appropriate information and adapted support mechanisms, the Commission is developing a strategy that seeks to be more coherent and efficient. It is based on optimised support services and full use of existing resources (including the Enterprise Europe network), as well as increased coordination.
This new EU strategy developed by the European Commission sets out to strengthen existing supply of support services in priority markets by opening new “SME centres” in third countries or opening an office for SMEs in each EU delegation in third countries; strengthening the existing supply of support services in priority markets; improving the governance structure of the Enterprise Europe Network to allow better collaboration with hosting organisations and stakeholders; making support schemes at EU level more consistent to raise their impact. Currently there are more than 300 support programmes at national level, often focusing on one growing region only whilst in the meantime new growth regions have emerged. The European Commission is also promoting clusters and networks for SME internationalisation. In addition; it is creating a single virtual gateway to information for SMEs wishing to do business beyond the EU borders. (EH/transl.fl)