OAS MSME Newsletter: ( August 2025):
This OAS MSME Newsletter is published by the Department of Economic Development of the Executive Secretariat for Integral Development (SEDI). It 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.
The new automated channel expands the service channels, facilitating access to information and support with procedures for MSMES. From now on, it will provide rapid responses and immediate access to key information for the strengthening of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and entrepreneurs throughout the country.
With this incorporation, the SME Help Center reinforces its role as a service, and expands its capabilities to guide, listen and resolve queries related to procedures before the National Public Administration (APN).
The official payroll that appears in the Integrated Payroll System of the INAES will be used to speed up the process and provide greater precision validating cooperatives. This new procedure applies to all applications beginning on June 1, 2025.
1500 new economic units are registered in Bolivia during July: A month of business growth
The Plurinational Trade Registry Service (Seprec), an entity under the Ministry of Productive Development and Plural Economy (MDPyEP), reports that during the month of July 2025, Bolivia registered the registration of 1,500 new economic units, consolidating a positive trend in the country’s business dynamics. These data reflect an increasingly favorable environment for entrepreneurship and business formalization in various regions of the national territory.
With the goal of promoting productive development and strengthening the capacities of micro and small businesses, the Government of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, through the Ministry of Productive Development and Plural Economy, delivered equipment this Friday to the Technological and Productive Innovation Centers (CETIP) for Wood and Textiles in the city of El Alto.
Brazilian entrepreneurship takes the lead when it comes to minimizing environmental impacts
Global Entrepreneurship Monitor points out that entrepreneurs in Brazil surpass other countries in the world in the adoption of sustainable measures. Brazilian entrepreneurs are the ones with the greatest environmental awareness in the world. In 2024, the country led the ranking in the category of initial entrepreneurs (at the head of businesses up to 3.5 years old) who took steps to minimize the environmental impact generated by their company, reaching 90.2% of the group. Energy savings and proper disposal of solid waste were the most adopted measures, followed by the use of recyclable material.
Encouraging small businesses is one of the priority areas of agreement between Brazil and Nigeria
A Memorandum of Understanding, involving Sebrae, ApexBrasil and the African country’s Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency, was signed. With markets on the rise, Brazil and Nigeria have stood out for being the largest economies in South America and Africa. To further strengthen trade relations, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding, in Brasilia, in which they commit to act in 14 priority areas, including the stimulation of entrepreneurship and the development of small businesses.
These productive units—with businesses dedicated to retail trade (stores, grocery stores, and hardware stores), tourism, gastronomy, beauty, fashion, and clothing—received their diplomas during the closing and certification event for a new cohort of the program. At this event, the microenterprises were recognized for having completed the required number of hours of training and specialized support in commercial, business, financial, human talent, and psychosocial development.
More than 450 entrepreneurs will participate in workshops on artificial intelligence
The initiative is articulated between the National Learning Institute (INA) and the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC). Entrepreneurs from various regions of the country will be trained for a whole day under the learning-by-doing modality in a “Boot Camp” with the theme “Artificial Intelligence applied in digital marketing 2025”.
This will be possible through the business scholarship program of the National Learning Institute in conjunction with the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC). The institutions developed a program for entrepreneurs and businesswomen, beneficiaries of the Development Banking System.
The initiative is promoted by the MEIC and the ESPH and is aimed at SMEs from all sectors in the cantons of Heredia, San Pablo, San Rafael and San Isidro. Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in Heredia will have the opportunity to strengthen their sustainability capacities, thanks to the free program: “Sustainable MSMEs, Engine of Development in Heredia”, promoted by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC) and the Public Services Company of Heredia (ESPH).
This first edition is aimed at SMEs from all sectors located in the cantons of Heredia, San Pablo, San Rafael and San Isidro, and will offer a total of 1000 places.
Government holds dialogue with MSMEs to promote and strengthen the national productive fabric
With the aim of continuing to promote a favorable environment for the growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, the Ministers of Finance and Economy (MHE), and of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs (MICM), held a meeting with representatives of MSMEs, as part of the Government’s commitment to permanent dialogue and the strengthening of the national productive apparatus.
During the meeting, held at the MICM headquarters, the ministers listened to proposals and concerns about key issues for the development of the sector. They also reiterated the willingness of the Government, to continue articulating efforts that guarantee greater access to financing, better operating conditions and the strengthening of the productive capacity of this sector, which represents 89.5% of the national productive fabric.
MICM Ministerial Cabinet outlines roadmap with focus on investment, MSMEs and transparency
During the meeting, the Sectoral Progress Index was presented, a new mechanism to measure the sector’s performance in foreign investment and export participation of MSMEs.
The Minister of Industry, Trade and MSMEs (MICM), highlighted the State’s commitment to strategic planning aligned with national development objectives. The session brought together representatives of 14 entities, focusing on the articulation of the Annual Operational Plans (POA) with the government goals for 2028.
CONAMYPE and FANTEL promoted the training of 90 MSEs in Logistics nationwide
The National Commission for Micro and Small Enterprises (CONAMYPE), together with the support of FANTEL, closed the Diploma in Logistics, a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening the capacities of MSEs at the national level in the main processes of the supply chain.
The program, developed virtually, had the successful participation of 92 entrepreneurs and businessmen from different productive sectors of the country, including commerce, handcrafts, technology, food and beverages, footwear, agribusiness, tourism and many more.
The National Commission for Micro and Small Enterprises (CONAMYPE), in coordination with the Fashion Cluster (SMODA), organized the discussion “Fashion as an Element of Transformative Culture”, an activity that sought to highlight the power of fashion as a tool for social and cultural change in El Salvador.
The conference addressed issues of foreign trade, export and import operations, rules of origin and Deep Integration between El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, with the participation of producers, businessmen and the general public interested in expanding international business opportunities and optimizing their trade processes.
Rediex and MSMEs present at Paraguayan Business Fair
The Paraguay Business Fair 2025 has the active participation of the Vice Ministries of Rediex and MSMEs, reaffirming the commitment of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC) in the promotion of investments, exports and the strengthening of the national productive sector.
Within the framework of the event, the International Business Roundtable took place. This event brings together more than 400 participants from nearly 20 countries, including Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, the United States, Mexico, Taiwan and Uruguay.
For the winners of the “We Are Crafts 2025” contest who come from more than 20 regions of the country, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) authorized the delivery of more than S/ 5.2 million in non-refundable economic subsidies to companies, associations and artisans that this year won the public tender of the “We Are Craftsmanship” strategy, an initiative aimed at boosting artisanal activity throughout the country.
PRODUCE: Cooperatives will be able to access all services and programs aimed at MSEs
The measure will contribute to the strengthening of the MSE ecosystem, as it will promote a more dynamic and competitive environment. Through the publication of Supreme Decree No. 016-2025-PRODUCE, the Government strengthens the competitiveness of the cooperative model by optimizing the access of user cooperatives and cooperative centers to all services and programs in the Production sector, on equal terms with micro and small enterprises (MSEs).
As part of the program, PRODUCE will organize the FICAFÉ 2025 National Business Roundtable, which will feature the participation of 60 companies and 12 national and international buyers
This event, considered the main showcase of specialty coffee in Peru, will bring together producers, buyers, roasters, exporters and importers, as well as representatives of the gastronomic sector, authorities, investors, coffee associations, specialized press and the general public.
Prime Minister Announces EC $350,000 Creative Economy Grant Fund
THE CEGF WILL PROVIDE DIRECT FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO SAINT LUCIAN ARTISTS, CULTURAL PRACTITIONERS, AND CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS TO DEVELOP ORIGINAL WORKS, GROW BUSINESSES, AND EXPAND MARKET REACH.
The EC $350,000 Creative Economy Grant Fund (CEGF), to be administered by the Ministry of Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information. The Fund is a major investment in Saint Lucia’s cultural and creative industries. The CEGF will provide direct financial support to Saint Lucian artists, cultural practitioners, and creative entrepreneurs to develop original works, grow businesses, and expand market reach.
SBA Opens Nominations for 2026 National Small Business Week Awards
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) opened nominations for the 2026 National Small Business Week Awards. National Small Business Week recognizes the contributions of America’s 36 million small businesses – which make up 99% of all businesses in America, create two out of every three new jobs, and employ about half of America’s workforce. Next year, National Small Business Week will take place on May 3 – 9.
The circular economy is a “new way of thinking about development”
The Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM) participates in the 2025 calls of the Circular Opportunities program, an initiative of the Uruguayan Agency for Developments that supports the transition of MSMEs towards more sustainable production models. The Ministry indicated that it is necessary to “produce intelligently to grow with justice and to innovate without losing sight of people or the environment,” something that is at the base of the Circular Opportunities program.
The Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining co-organized the launch of the Network of Good Practices in Policies for SMEs in Latin America and the Caribbean (RED-PPALC), an initiative that has SELA, OECD and CAF at the head of its technical secretariat. For two days, public and private sectors from member countries of the network spoke in Montevideo to exchange their visions on this network that aims to identify collective solutions to common barriers, promote regional integration as a path to development and move towards a fairer, more inclusive and sustainable productive governance. Among the agreements that emerged from this work, it was determined that Uruguay will be in charge of the presidency of the network during its first year of operation.
