INF/MSME/R/36  
 
22 March 2023  
(23-2057) Page: 1/3 
  Original: English  
 
INFORMAL WORKING GROUP ON MSME S 
OPEN -ENDED MEETING OF 13 MARCH 2023  
Summary of discussions  
The following communication, dated 22 March 2023 , is being circulated at the request of the 
Coordinator of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs.  
 
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The MSME Informal Group (MSME Group) met for its first open-ended meeting of the year on 
13 March 2023 . The MSME Group Coordinator welcomed the Group's two newest members, 
Barbados and the United States of America, which both join ed in December 2022, bringing the total 
number of Group members to 97. A total of 54 delegations1 attended the meeting, including 
12 non-MSME Group members (Angola; Botswana; Cabo Verde; Gabon; Iraq (Obs.); Maldives; 
Papua New Guinea; Seychelles; Sierra L eone; South Africa; Thailand; and Tunisia).  
 
1  SUMMARY OF DISCUSSIONS  
1.1.  Discussions by the members focused on the MSME Group's Work Programme. The Coordinator 
proposed a structure comprising five pillars, namely : 1) promoting MSMEs' access to information; 
2) building capacity to promote MSME trade inclusion; 3) providing policy guidance; 4) implement ing 
the December 2020 MSME package; and 5) strengthening engagement with the private sector  and 
other stakeholders . Members were supportive of this  proposed Work Programme.  
1.2.  Regarding the first pillar, work would focus on the further development of the Trade4MSMEs 
platform and support to the Global Trade Helpdesk. In addition to these tools, it was also suggested 
that the MSME Group should support ePi ng and its MSME accessibility.  
1.3.  For the second pillar, concrete deliverables were proposed in the form of Handbooks compiling 
the MSME and Policymaker Guides of the Trade4MSMEs platform and a compendium of good 
practices related to MSME integration in natio nal AEO programs, combined with an experience 
sharing session proposed for July.  
1.4.  In relation to the third pillar, the MSME Group will continue exploring issues of particular 
interest to MSME trade with a view, where relevant, to developing policy guidance in the form of 
recommendations. Suggested topics included those previously raised at MSME Group meetings such 
as MSME provisions in RTAs; digitalization; low -value shipments; sustainability; rural MSMEs; and 
informality. Additionally, one member suggested that the MSME Group should consider artificial 
intelligence and how this technology could benefit MSME access to information and trade 
 
1 Angola ; Argentina; Australia; Austria; Barbados; Botswana ; Brazil; Brunei Darussalam; Cabo Verde ; 
Canada; China; Colombia; Czech Republic; Dominican Republic; European Union; France; Gabon ; Georgia; 
Germany; Guatemala; Guyana; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; Iraq (Obs.) ; Ireland; Japan; Kenya; Korea, 
Republic of ; Malaysia; Maldives ; Moldova , Republic of ; Mongolia; Nigeria; Papua New Guinea ; Peru; 
Philippines; Poland; Portugal; Russian Federation; Seychelles ; Sierra Leone ; Singapore; South Africa ; Spain; 
Sweden; Switzerland; Chinese Taipei; Thailand ; Tunisia ; Türkiye; Ukraine; United Kingdom; U nited States  of 
America ; Uruguay . INF/MSME/R/36  
 
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  participation. Members were encouraged to submit discussion papers on topics of interest in order 
to direct discussions.  
1.5.  The fourth pillar continues the MSME Group's implementation of the December 2020 Package. 
At this most recent meeting, three members reported on their inclusion of MSME information in their 
TPRs and one member reported on their plans to do so later in 2023 . In the context of this discussion 
and related to the second recommendation of the December 2020 Package, representatives from 
the ITC provided a presentation of their updates, outreach and plan of work for the Global Trade 
Helpdesk. MSME Group members we re again encouraged to review their information on the Global 
Trade Helpdesk to ensure its relevance. An update was also provided on the Trade4MSMEs platform 
including its new developer, revamp and additions of country -specific information.  
1.6.  In the fifth pi llar, the Coordinator noted the need to continue the Group's discussions with the 
private sector through the Group's Newsletter and annual meetings with the private sector, and the 
Trade4MSMEs Network with other International Organizations and development banks.  
1.7.  The winners of the 2022 Small Business Champions, Association Professionnelle 
Accompagnements Valeurs Expertises Conseils  (A.V.E.C)  (Benin) and the Tanzania Chamber of 
Commerce, Industry and Agriculture  (TCCIA) presented the progress of their projec ts. Both projects 
are well -under way. A.V.E.C began its initiative in Novem ber 2022 and has run several activities and 
events to identify partners and beneficiaries. A.V.E.C has successfully reached out the Benin 
government and hopes to receive some funds to support their efforts. TCCIA is working to organize 
a 3-day summit for MSMEs, NGOs and others to focus on the transition to the green economy. It 
was noted that Tanzania's environment policy is outdated but there is hope that this summit could 
fast-track much needed policy changes. Both representatives noted the importance of winning the 
ICC, ITC, WTO MSME Group Small Business Champions award for the exposure it provided and the 
way it allowed additional networking and identification of resources.  
1.8.  The Gr oup also received three presentations. The first was from the ITC regarding India's 
presidency of the G20 for which the ITC has been invited to serve as a knowledge partner. One of 
the G20 streams of work focuses on integrating MSMEs into international tra de through access to 
information, finance and markets. The ITC also presented on its most recent SME Competitiveness 
report titled "Connected Services, Competitive Business". Services are an important area of trade 
growth for MSMEs and quality services can  allow for substantial efficiency gains. Finally, the ICC 
presented their recent SME Climate Impact Report in which they identify policy levers that can help 
MSMEs take more climate action. These can be categorized into three broad areas of support, namely  
providing MSMEs with tailored guidance and training; promoting collaboration; and addressing the 
issue of MSME resource constraints.  
1.9.  The Group agreed to issue a call for research papers on the impact of MSME provisions in 
regional trade agreements. Papers  are due by 1 August 2023. The Coordinator also announced that 
the third edition of the ICC, ITC, MSME Group Small Business Champions would be released on 
16 March via social media. The deadline to submit proposals is 5 May 2023 and winners will be 
announc ed on MSME Day 2023.  
1.10.  Finally, Ambassador José Luís Cancela , who has been coordinator of the MSME Group since 
2018, announced his impending departure from Geneva in October 2023  and invited delegations 
interested in coordinating the activities of the Group to make their position known by 23 March. 
Ambassador Matthew Wilson from Barbados expressed an interest in taking over the position . 
2  NEXT STEPS  
2.1.  The next open -ended meeting of th e MSME Group is planned for 26 April, during which time 
the annual meeting with the private sector is also scheduled to occur. Additional meetings planned 
are for 27 June (MSME Day); 28 June; 12  October and 7 December.  
 
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  INF/MSME/R/36  
 
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  ANNEX  
PRESENTATIO N SUMMAR IES 
1  INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE (ITC) – KNOWLEDGE PARTNER TO INDIA'S 
G20 PRESIDENCY  
1.1.  In its role as the 2023 G20 president, India invited the ITC as a knowledge partner given India's 
interest of focusing on MSME inclusion in international trade. The ITC noted that MSME issues are 
not new for the G20, having first been introduced in 2015 in  the Turkish agenda linked to inclusive 
growth. MSMEs were also considered under China's G20 presidency in 2016 to integrate MSMEs in 
GVCs and Saudi Arabia's G20 presidency in 2020. In 2021, the Italian G20 presidency also issued 
its non -binding toolkit to  support MSMEs Born Green via Digital. In 2023, the ITC has been working 
with India to develop research notes looking at three key  challenges for MSMEs : access to 
information; access to finance; and access to markets. The G20 will discuss actions to be tak en 
during their first Trade and Investment Working Group (TIWG) meeting at the end of March 2023 
and the ITC will report back to the MSME Group.  
2  INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE (ITC) – 2022 SME COMPETITIVENESS REPORT  
2.1.  The ITC presented its annual flagship report  from 2022 titled " Connect services, Competitive 
businesses ". This study observes that countries are facing a growing challenge of reigniting economic 
growth in the face of multiple catastrophes, but se rvices are an exception, driving 80 % of growth in 
developing economies. The ITC chose to focus on a subset of tradeable, highly productive and 
"connected" services including transport and logistics; financial; information; and communication. 
These services  are considered connected because they bring firms together within value chains. 
Overall, the ITC found that services are critical for MSMEs in terms of increasing efficiency, thereby 
providing more opportunity for growth. They provide more value -added to exports than 
manufacturing (5 % compared to 3.7 %) and show a much higher increase in employment (8 % 
compared to 4 % for manufacturing). The report concludes with various recommendations for 
policymakers to support connected services development, including bu ilding networks; promoting 
innovation; deepening skills; and leveraging finance.  
3  INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (ICC)  
3.1.  The ICC presented The Climate Impact of SMEs report , which was launched at COP27 with their 
partner Sage. This report seeks to promote a global approach to climate regulation and put a 
renewed emphasis on MSMEs as key stakeholders for decarboniz ation. The report surveyed more 
than 4,000 SMEs in the United Kingdom and South Africa about their views on sustainability and 
how they apply to their businesses. Overall, the study found that MSMEs are eager to take climate 
and environmental action, howev er this action is often limited due to financial constraints. That is, 
MSMEs will tend to take action on "low -hanging" fruit when it comes to decarbonization and 16 % 
even report that switching to more environmental practices can attract new customers. Howe ver, 
MSMEs face significant hurdles when it comes to more substantial environmental changes. Overall, 
the report identifies 11 policy recommendations to help MSMEs transition to more sustainable 
business practices, including adapting standards and reportin g requirements; providing tailored 
guidance and training; fostering the use of digital technologies; and addressing trade barriers.  
 
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