OAS MSME Newsletter: (April 2026):
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.
CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
CAF and Mastercard join forces to expand access to financing in Latin America and the Caribbean
CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean – and Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth announced today an alliance to support access to credit for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the region. The two institutions will identify opportunities to co-finance initiatives that strengthen the growth of MSMEs. Within the framework of the agreement, CAF will explore facilitating access to credit for MSMEs through financing to banks, non-bank financial institutions and digital credit institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean. In parallel, the Center will provide complementary support to strengthen the MSME ecosystem.
WTO – World Trade Organization
WTO MSME Group welcomes expansion, highlights successful entrepreneurs and MC14 plans
The Informal Working Group on Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) on 2 March welcomed South Africa as the 105th member participating in the initiative. Participants discussed plans for the upcoming 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) at the end of March and engaged with small business leaders to learn from their experiences. They also continued thematic discussions on the informal economy and received updates on other areas of the Group’s work.
The Belize Enterprise Empowerment Program – 2026
The Belize Enterprise Empowerment Project (BEEP) provides access to financial resources and business leadership skills to 95 MSMEs in Belize. For the Startup category, we focus on businesses operating for less than three (3) years.
More than 200 producers participate in the first version of the “Bolivia Produce” fair in El Alto
With the participation of more than 200 producers, this Friday the Ministry of Productive, Rural and Water Development, inaugurated the first version of the “Bolivia Produce” fair, an initiative that seeks to boost the economy and bring products from the family basket at affordable prices for the population.
Anuga Select: small entrepreneurs generate R$960 thousand in turnover
The entrepreneurs supported by Sebrae at Anuga Select Brazil 2026, the main food and beverage business fair in the Americas, reaped great results in this edition, which took place earlier this month in São Paulo. R$ 960 thousand in business volume were reached at the fair, with an expectation of R$ 7.6 million in the next six months.
Trade grows 0.6% in February with strong performance of small businesses
The Trade sector, which has already registered more than 348 thousand new small businesses in 2026, shows signs that the Brazilian economy continues to rise. In February this year, the volume of sales in the segment grew 0.6% compared to the previous month, according to the Monthly Survey of Commerce of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) – a record for the period since 2000, when the survey began.
Sebrae Nacional, presented the increased numbers for small businesses in the country, such as the formalization of companies, access to credit and assistance to entrepreneurs. The importance of carrying out actions that simplify the business environment and enable new opportunities for small entrepreneurs was highlighted.
In the last 10 years, Brazil has registered a 27% growth in female entrepreneurship. This jump was 16 percentage points (p.p.) higher than that seen among male entrepreneurs in the same period according to a study carried out by Sebrae based on quarterly data from the Continuous National Household Sample Survey (Continuous PNAD).
Canada Economic Development (CED) supports close to 100 businesses across Quebec to remain competitive in uncertain and changing market conditions. The government announced a total of $63,969,920 in financial assistance for 99 Quebec SMEs in the metal processing industry affected by tariffs. This funding will help them overcome challenges to commercialization and to transform in order to remain competitive in the long term. The global economy has changed, and the Government of Canada is responding with determination and strength to protect Canadian workers and businesses.
Canada’s new Defense Industrial Strategy to strengthen security and support small businesses
Through the Defense Industrial Strategy, the federal government is advancing a long-term, whole-of-government approach to strengthening the defense industrial base as a pillar of national security, economic resilience and prosperity. At a time of growing global uncertainty, Canada is focused on rebuilding, rearming and reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces, while ensuring Canadian workers and small businesses are at the centre of that effort.
Sercotec participates in regional initiative to strengthen export capacities of MSMEs
The project “Strengthening the export capacities of MSMEs in the Pacific Alliance through e-commerce” was launched with the aim of reducing the gaps faced by smaller companies in international trade and promoting their access to foreign markets through digital tools,. The initiative, led by ECLAC and financed by the Pacific Alliance Cooperation Fund, was carried out at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and brought together government authorities, international organizations, development agencies and business associations.
The activity brought together about 90 participants in person and 150 connected via streaming, including CDN heads, advisors, regional counterparts and teams from different Sercotec managements. The Technical Cooperation Service (Sercotec) held the first MeetUp of the Network of Business Development Centers (CDN), an instance aimed at reinforcing the strategic vision of associativity in the design of productive articulation projects, a key tool to strengthen the sustainability and competitiveness of the businesses advised by the network of centers.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, through iNNpulsa Colombia and in alliance with the Latin American Center for Purpose (CLAP), opened the Innpulsa Women call, an initiative that seeks to promote the growth of 5,900 businesses in the Popular Economy led by women throughout the country. The program is designed for microbusinesses in the Popular Economy, many of them developed in neighborhoods, villages and territories where women have historically sustained productive activity. Through an accompaniment route, which includes diagnosis, training and connection with markets, the aim is to improve productivity, increase income and open commercial opportunities.
Graduation of the Mujer Emprende program, together with the European Union and the AECID
The Government of El Salvador, through CONAMYPE, in coordination with ISDEMU, ESCO of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Presidential Commissioner for Operations and Government Cabinet, and with the support of the European Union and AECID, carried out the graduation of the Mujer Emprende program, as part of the project Economic Empowerment of Women in the Municipalities of Extreme Poverty of El Salvador.
Guatemala promotes access to credit for MSMEs through secured transactions
Antigua, Guatemala together with the capital city hosted this year’s First Departmental Congress on Secured Transactions, promoted by the Vice Ministry of Registry Affairs of the Ministry of Economy, through the Registry of Secured Transactions. During three days of training, conferences and training workshops, the use of movable property was promoted as a support to access financing, bringing these tools closer to more MSMEs and entrepreneurs in different regions of the country.
MINECO launches the Technological Innovation Fund
The Ministry of Economy launched the Technological Innovation Fund (FIT), a financing tool aimed at promoting innovation and the incorporation of technology in production processes. The FIT is aimed at micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), as well as cooperatives and associations that seek to strengthen or transform their productive activities. With an allocation of Q163 million, the fund will function as a revolving mechanism, allowing for the continuous reinvestment of resources in new projects.
Guyana Development Bank’s role in strengthening youth and women-owned businesses
Small business owners on the East Coast will gain better access to financing with the launch of the new Guyana Development Bank that is designed to help small businesses get funding when they can’t meet the strict requirements of regular banks. The initiative is aimed at stimulating economic growth and fostering innovation.
The “MSME Online” program, an initiative aimed at strengthening the digital capacities of the country’s MSMEs, facilitating their incursion into e-commerce. During the event, authorities highlighted the impact of the program in preparing Honduran companies to face the new challenges of the digital economy, allowing them to acquire practical tools to innovate, grow and access new markets.
The program resulted in 55 companies trained and up to 20 companies with access to specialized consultancies to obtain international certifications. The auto parts sector contributes to the goal of increasing industrial national content by 15% in line with the guidelines of Plan Mexico
Digital transformation: MIC promotes technological inclusion to strengthen MSMEs and young people
The Vice Ministry of MSMEs is advancing in its digital transformation strategy with a focus on developing people’s capacities, bringing technological tools to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, while training young people as agents of change in their communities. Currently, the project involves 40 young people, 11 universities and plans to impact some 400 beneficiaries between MSMEs and university entrepreneurs of digital services (ESD), through the delivery of digital kits, consolidating itself as one of the main commitments of the MIC to modernize the productive fabric and promote digital inclusion in Paraguay.
Financial capacities strengthened in cooperatives to improve support for MSMEs
The Vice Ministry of MSMEs, together with AFD and the CAF House of Integration, carried out the 4th Cohort of the Training Workshop for Facilitators in Financial Culture, an initiative that brought together representatives of twelve savings and credit cooperatives in the country with the aim of strengthening financial advice to this economic sector and training facilitators who replicate this knowledge in their communities and among their members.
From Macro to Micro: MSMEs and their impact on the reduction of monetary poverty in the country
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce stressed that micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, which represent 90% of the business fabric, are key in reducing monetary poverty in Paraguay, in a context in which more than 213,000 Paraguayans managed to get out of this condition in the last year, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE).
Formalization of recyclers and MSMEs with access to credit and social security promoted
The Vice Ministry of MSMEs announced a plan to advance in the formalization of grassroots recyclers and collection companies, through access to financing, social security and better working conditions. The aim is to benefit 25,000 recyclers and 2,500 stockpiling companies through the new Circular Economy Group. The initiative aims to transform waste pickers into formal entrepreneurs, allowing them to access health coverage and benefits from the social security system, while strengthening MSMEs in the sector with soft loans to improve their infrastructure.
Cyber Wow 2026: 200 MSEs from 15 regions will offer the best of their production from April 20 to 23
Within the framework of its digital strengthening strategy, the Ministry of Production (PRODUCE), through the National Program Tu Empresa, promotes the participation of 200 micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in the first edition of CyberWow 2026, with the aim of promoting their insertion in e-commerce and expanding their business opportunities in digital environments.
With the aim of expanding the economic opportunities of women linked to artisanal fishing, the Ministry of Production (PRODUCE), through the General Directorate of Artisanal Fisheries, developed a capacity-building day in Chancay aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, promoting formalization and consolidating new lines of productive development in the sector. The activity brought together 85 artisanal fishing agents at the Artisanal Fishing Landing (DPA) of Chancay, where practical tools were provided to improve management capacities, generate sustainable income and expand the participation of women in complementary activities to the fishing chain.
Within the framework of World Entrepreneurship Day and with the participation of more than 60 micro and small enterprises (MSEs) interested in strengthening their digital transformation, the Ministry of Production, through the National Program Tu Empresa, developed a new Digital Training Session (SED MYPE) in the district of Chorrillos. Under a practical workshop methodology, local entrepreneurs strengthened their capacities in the management of social networks, consolidating them as a strategic channel for the growth of their businesses. They also learned about various tools for the creation of content aimed at boosting their sales through e-commerce.
Commonwealth Secretariat and St. Kitts and Nevis team up to strengthen e-commerce laws
The Government of the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis has taken a significant step toward strengthening its e-commerce laws and digital trade framework. Together with the Commonwealth Secretariat, the twin-island nation hosted a National E-Commerce Legislative Gap Analysis Validation Workshop at the end of March to modernize legislation for online business, electronic transactions and digital services, making it easier, safer, and more efficient for individuals and businesses to participate in the growing digital economy.
The Department of Commerce officially convened this 2026 Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Forum on Thursday, April 9, 2026 under the theme “Breaking Barriers, Enabling Business,” prioritizing administrative efficiency, digital transformation, and the removal of systemic bottlenecks to foster a more resilient domestic business environment.
‘W.I.N. Entrepreneurial Summit’
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments and Aviation addressed Tourism Development Corporation (TDC) entrepreneurial summit. The ‘W.I.N. Entrepreneurial Summit,’ as it was called, was a free event to empower Bahamian entrepreneurs and small businesses.
SBA Announces Dates for National Small Business Week 2026 Virtual Summit
The U.S. Small Business Administration and America’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) announced the dates for the National Small Business Week 2026 Virtual Summit. The free online summit, cosponsored by America’s SBDC, will take place on May 5 and 6 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET and registration is required: https://www.cntvhybrid.com/nsbw2026.
The CIU will accompany the enterprises selected in the circular economy acceleration event
The Chamber of Industries of Uruguay (CIU) was chosen as the institution in charge of providing technical support to the nine enterprises selected as beneficiaries among the participants of the call for acceleration in circular economy of the food sector, developed by ReValora in coordination with ANDE. The process received applications from seven institutions, whose proposals were evaluated based on their experience, technical capacities and methodological approach. As a result, the CIU was chosen for presenting a strong, comprehensive proposal aligned with the program’s objectives. It stands out for its track record in strengthening production, supporting innovation and transitioning to circular economy models.
