OAS MSME Newsletter: ( October 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.
Access to Funding for Green and Digital Transformation Projects
The Antigua and Barbuda Investment Authority (ABIA) announced the launch of the BRIDGE Facility, a funding initiative by the Caribbean Export Development Agency, and supported by the European Union through the Global Gateway initiative. The BRIDGE Facility aims to help micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across the Caribbean transition to more sustainable and digitally competitive business models.
Training Opportunity: Introduction To Strategic Business Planning!
The Antigua and Barbuda Investment Authority (ABIA) is pleased to announce an upcoming training course designed to help entrepreneurs and business Leaders strengthen their ability to plan and grow strategically. This two-day workshop will introduce participants to the core principles of strategic business planning and provide practical tools to set goals, allocate resources, and align operations for long-term success.
Within the framework of the Argentine Cultural Industries Market (MICA) 2025, the thirteenth edition of the Argentine Good Design Seal was held, in which 478 products designed and manufactured by national SMEs were distinguished. The Argentine Seal of Good Design is an official distinction granted by the Ministry of Economy of the Nation to the products of the national industry that stand out for their innovation, their positioning in the market and their design quality.
Government recognized the winners of the “Argentine Entrepreneurship” 2025 contest
The Government of Argentina carried out the “Argentine Entrepreneurship” contest, a meeting that brought together 46 outstanding enterprises from all over the country, previously selected in provincial instances. The initiative recognizes and makes visible the most innovative proposals with the greatest growth potential within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The competition, organized by the Secretariat of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, Entrepreneurs and Knowledge Economy of the Ministry of Economy of Argentina, seeks to strengthen the Argentine entrepreneurial environment by generating a meeting space that fosters collaboration, the exchange of knowledge and the construction of networks between entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders and representatives of the public and private sectors.
The Belize delegation, including DGFT, Customs & Excise, BELTRAIDE, and the Ministry of Economic Development, was warmly welcomed by the Costa Rican Trade Promotion Agency (PROCOMER).
The Ministry of Productive Development and Plural Economy (MDPyEP) and UN Women, with funding from Koica, delivered 125 productive assets to women entrepreneurs in the department of Santa Cruz on Tuesday, with the aim of strengthening their productive units and promoting their economic autonomy.
Success, for the small entrepreneur, has another name: Purpose
What is success for an entrepreneur? For those who are used to hearing as an answer a direct association with financial results and rapid growth of the company, you will not find among the owners of small businesses in the service sector a supporter of this vision. As revealed by the Services 2025 Survey – Qualitative and Quantitative, which Sebrae has just carried out, contrary to the dominant narrative of “grow fast, scale and profit”, small Brazilian entrepreneurs in the service sector reveal a more sensitive, stable and humanized vision of success.
For 72% of entrepreneurs, innovation is essential for the survival of the business
In the week in which National Innovation Day is celebrated (October 19), a survey by Sebrae Minas reveals that, for 72% of people who start a business in Minas Gerais, innovation is essential for the survival of the business. In addition, more than half of them (56%) say that the company has already innovated in products, services or processes, or still intends to innovate (25%). The survey was conducted in 2024 and heard from 848 small business owners across the state, including individual microentrepreneurs (60%) and micro and small businesses (40%).
Small businesses can now apply for a refund of taxes paid on exports.
Micro and small exporting companies can now request a refund from the federal government of the taxes paid throughout the production chain of their sales destined for the foreign market. The measure, which is part of the Acredita Exportação Program, guarantees the return of the value equivalent to 3% paid during the manufacture of the products, and can be used to offset federal taxes or even to obtain the reimbursement of the amounts in cash.
Funding available to support Black entrepreneurs across in southern Ontario
The Government of Canada is focused on reducing barriers for Black Canadian entrepreneurs, helping them gain better access to capital and achieve long-term success for economic development and prosperity.
The Ecosystem Fund is a core component of the BEP. This renewed investment provides support for not-for-profit organizations to develop new or expand services such as mentorship, networking, financial planning and business training. With funding through 2030, the Ecosystem Fund will continue to support Black-led not-for-profit organizations in empowering Black entrepreneurs and businesses in southern Ontario to grow their companies now and into the future.
The advisory program for the scaling of micro and small enterprises and cooperatives commemorated its first 10 years of operation, highlighting the achievements made in job creation, increase in sales and internationalization.
About 13,000 women trained in business strengthening schools and 4,000 SMEs doing international trade are some of the results achieved in the country by the network of Business Development Centers (CDN), a Sercotec program that this week commemorated its first decade of operation promoting the scaling of micro and small enterprises and cooperatives in Chile.
MSMEs and productive cooperatives in the Pacific Alliance are moving towards internationalization
With a rich agenda and the participation of businessmen and experts from Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, the IV Meeting of Exporting MSMEs and II Forum of Cooperatives of the Pacific Alliance was held in Bogotá, with the support of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
The objective of the event was to contribute to the strengthening of capacities and the use of the opportunities that arise for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in this integration block in their internationalization process. They are the engine of regional integration and productive transformation.
Costa Rican SMEs are trained to be sustainable and competitive
With the aim of providing small and medium-sized enterprises with practical tools to advance on the path to sustainability, 30 SMEs successfully completed the free program “Sustainability Management for SMEs”, promoted by the Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC) in coordination with the entities that make up the Sustainability Advisory Council (CAS).
The program, in its second edition, brought together SMEs from various sectors such as advertising agencies, hardware stores, architecture firms, logistics services, tourism, jewelry, beauty and wellness, furniture stores, condiments, veterinary clinics and medical solutions, among others. These companies participated in synchronous virtual training and a face-to-face session, where they delved into topics such as environmental footprint management, access to green financing, State programs and certifications in sustainability, supply chain management, and communication for sustainability.
Digi-Chiquihuites and the Diploma in Financial Education promote tourism MSEs in El Salvador
Digi-Chiquihuites is a package of digital resources and capabilities designed for tourism MSEs to better manage their businesses, optimize sales and elevate the experience of their visitors. With its implementation, enterprises have access to tools that facilitate organization, information registration, promotion, and customer service in key destinations in the country.
The Ministry of Economy and Meta announce actions to strengthen Made in Mexico MSMEs
The Ministry of Economy and the technology company Meta announced today a series of actions that are in addition to the “Made in Mexico” Program, an initiative through which the government of Mexico seeks to contribute to the growth of Mexican micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
Among the projects is an online training program focused on MSMEs: “Impulsa lo Hecho en México.” It seeks to make Mexican companies take full advantage of Meta’s digital tools to boost their businesses, with content focused on creativity, advertising and best practices in WhatsApp for Business.
Panama to implement MAIA: digital tool at the service of small and medium-sized enterprises
MAIA is an innovative tool based on artificial intelligence (AI) that boosts productivity, formalization and decent work for MSME producers, which was implemented in coffee and vegetable value chains, in rural regions with high informality in Panama and will be scaled up nationwide.
The presentation of the MAIA (Mype Artificial Intelligence Advisor) digital tool was made available by the Authority of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (AMPYME) of Panama, with the technical support of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA), the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development (MITRADEL), and the National Institute of Vocational Training and Training for Human Development (INADEH).
MSMEs: MIC presents “Reportá” a tool that seeks to eliminate bureaucracy
With the aim of identifying and reporting the administrative obstacles that slow down the business of Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and contribute to the construction of a more agile Paraguay for entrepreneurs and MSMEs, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, through the Vice Ministry of MSMEs, launched the “Reportá” tool.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce, through the Vice Ministry of MSMEs, made a presentation on the main advantages of the new MSME Law, highlighting the regulatory advances that strengthen the development and formalization of Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the country, during the third and final day of the First Meeting of the National Network of Rural Women of Paraguay. Likewise, the opportunities and services offered by the Vice Ministry for the entrepreneurial ecosystem and MSMEs were shared, including: access to credit and market for entrepreneurs, the new Contact Center, a direct channel of information and assistance on the benefits and programs of the Vice Ministry and participation in fairs and marketing spaces developed in different parts of the country, with a special focus on the inclusion of women leaders and rural women.
The MIC enables an exclusive Contact Center for MSMEs
As of this Wednesday, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, through the Vice Ministry of MSMEs, enabled a Contact Center, a new tool that aims to receive and evacuate all inquiries from Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs in the country. This new tool seeks to become a direct channel of communication, guidance and assistance for one of the most dynamic sectors of the Paraguayan economy.
MSMEs and entrepreneurs will receive answers on issues of innovation and digitalization, business formalization, training, technical advice, access to financing programs, as well as support for the internationalization of products and services. Users will be able to access key information to enhance their ventures.
PRODUCE promotes sales of MSEs from 7 regions of Peru at the Amazon Expo in Tarapoto
The Peru Produce stand has the participation of MSEs that offer clothing for the whole family, footwear, jewelry, handicrafts, among others. So far this year, the Tu Empresa Program has promoted the participation of more than 1000 MSEs from different regions in commercial events nationwide.
The Ministry of Production (PRODUCE), through the National Program Tu Empresa, promotes the participation of 15 micro and small companies in the Peru Produce stand at the Amazon Expo, in the city of Tarapoto.
SBA Announces 12th Annual National Veterans Small Business Week
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it will celebrate the 12th consecutive year of National Veterans Small Business Week (NVSBW) from Nov. 3–7, 2025. The week honors America’s 1.6 million veteran-owned small businesses and the commitment to excellence, quality, and strength that defines veteran entrepreneurship across all sectors, including manufacturing. The theme of this year’s NVSBW is “Honoring Veteran-Owned, American Made.”
SBA Awards $1.1 Million to Support Made in America Manufacturing
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced it has awarded $1.1 million in grants to three applicant organizations who will provide training and technical assistance to support small manufacturers in the SBA’s Empower to Grow (E2G) Program. These qualified awardees will deliver regional support to small manufacturers in critical industries, in support of the agency’s Made in America Manufacturing Initiative to restore American jobs, industry, and national security.
Uruguay-Chile Free Trade Agreement (FTA): Concrete actions in the gender and trade chapter
Within the framework of the gender chapter of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Uruguay and Chile, a training and networking day was held aimed at women entrepreneurial leaders with export potential. The activity took place at the Telecommunications Tower and brought together more than 80 businesswomen from all over the country, summoned to strengthen capacities and expand their networks towards internationalization.
