OAS MSME Newsletter: ( March 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.
Training Opportunity: Learn How to Use QuickBooks Software
The Antigua and Barbuda Investment Authority (ABIA) is thrilled to announce an upcoming training course designed to empower individuals and businesses in the use of QuickBooks. This comprehensive QuickBooks training is open to the general public and aims to provide participants with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively use QuickBooks to manage their business or personal finance.
Check out the big numbers for small businesses in Brazil
Small businesses account for 97% of all companies in the country and are also responsible for 26.5% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This and other information were collected by Sebrae, with support from the Federal Revenue Service.
Attention, entrepreneur! Don’t lose sales—offer contactless Pix payments
Pix, the favorite payment method for small businesses when receiving payments for products and services, will have a new feature. Starting Friday, February 28th, financial institutions must offer the contactless payment option, according to regulations from the Central Bank. With this, customers will be able to pay their bills just by bringing their mobile phones close to the company’s card reader, similar to how credit and debit cards work.
Small tourism businesses expect a record number of foreign visitors during Carnival
Carnival is a time of celebration for Brazilian tourism and a special business opportunity for small companies in this sector. A survey by Embratur indicates that around 287,000 foreign tourists will arrive in Brazil during this festive period. This represents a 6% increase compared to 2024, when 228,870 tourists visited Brazil.
Government prepares credit lines to support small businesses
Small businesses are at the core of the country’s economic growth model and development policy. Responsible for more than 26.5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the sector will have better conditions and a more favorable environment for expansion in 2025. This is because the federal government is preparing three credit lines to support small and medium-sized entrepreneurs.
WES was launched in 2018 to help remove the systemic barriers women entrepreneurs face and advance women’s economic empowerment. WES represents nearly $7 billion in investments and commitments across 20 government departments, agencies and Crown corporations focused on strengthening the women’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Empowering entrepreneurship and fueling local business growth in Prince Edward Island
Community Business Development Corporations supporting development of small businesses through tailored financing, mentorship, and training programs. The Government of Canada is proud to support the growth and development of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in rural and coastal areas of Prince Edward Island.
This funding will enable the CBDCs to offer essential financial assistance, specialized training, expert guidance, and customized local initiatives to the rural businesses, organizations, and communities they support.
More than 400 neighborhood stores can take a digital leap with Sercotec’s competitive fund
The Technical Cooperation Service (Sercotec) has announced the opening of the year’s first national call for its development funds. This is the Digitalize Your Store program, which will allocate $1.598 billion to drive the technological transformation of neighborhood businesses.
The initiative provides non-repayable funding for investments that contribute to increasing the competitiveness of stores across the country by incorporating digital tools, strengthening their growth and modernization.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism inaugurated, this Monday, the first edition of the National Week of Women’s Entrepreneurship, which aims to highlight and promote micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) led by women. The event, titled “Women with Purpose and Vision: Entrepreneurship with Impact,” featured success stories and testimonies from renowned businesswomen and entrepreneurs in the country.
The beneficiaries will receive technical assistance and incentives to reduce operating costs, optimize energy and water consumption, and efficiently manage waste disposal and greenhouse gas emissions
MEIC offered a free seminar: “Boost Your SME in the State Sector”
The Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Commerce (MEIC), as part of the celebration of Private Enterprise and Entrepreneur Day, observed every February 23, invited entrepreneurs and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to a free seminar titled “Boost Your SME in the State Sector.”
MICM holds the first edition of Business Rounds and Commercial Enterprises in Santo Domingo
The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs (MICM) held the first edition of Business Rounds in Santo Domingo Este, where more than 40 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) participated. They had the opportunity to present their products to ten major commercial companies.
The objective of this Business Round is to facilitate the connection between MSMEs and commercial enterprises, thus creating strategic alliances for their growth and development.
The event brought together 150 entrepreneurs from the province to generate business opportunities and promote the region’s economic growth. More than 2,000 attendees participated, exploring innovative business proposals, academic offers, and engaging in various activities.
The ECOEMPRENDE Program, organized by the Solidarity Fund for the Microenterprise Family (FOSOFAMILIA) and aimed at Salvadoran entrepreneurs, provided knowledge and tools for integrating sustainable practices into their businesses, which will help reduce their environmental impact and improve long-term profitability.
The Ministry of Economy, within the framework of the presentation of the Policy for the Development of MSMEs in Guatemala 2024-2032, announces the update of this important initiative, which becomes a strategic framework designed to promote sustained growth, competitiveness, and innovation of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, a key sector for the national economy. One of its objectives is to strengthen the productive capacity and services for MSMEs to increase their efficiency and productivity. It is also intended to encourage the formalization of micro and small enterprises to fully integrate them into the formal economy. It is also intended to improve their access to financing and business development services by implementing training and ongoing development programs for entrepreneurs.
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) model, known in the SICA region as Centros de Atención a la MSME (CAM), is a specialized program designed to provide comprehensive support to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). It promotes strategic collaboration between the public, private, and academic sectors, a priority issue prioritized by the CENPROMYPE Board of Directors since 2010.
CABEI strengthens Guatemala’s female entrepreneurial ecosystem with US$6.5 million in financing
Aware that providing more financial opportunities to women entrepreneurs is a way to bet on more inclusive and sustainable development. In 2024 the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, through Financiera Consolidada S.A. (COFINSA) — part of Corporación Multi Inversiones – allocated $6.5 million in loans to 22 medium-size companies that are mostly women-owned.
Ten Entities Win Industry Ministry’s Small Business Pitch Competition
Ten outstanding businesses have won the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC) Small Business Pitch Competition. This follows an impressive showcase at the MSME (micro, small and medium-sized enterprise) Business Roadshow. Out of the 20 businesses that participated in the competition, 10 were selected as winners, with the top five receiving a $400,000 cash grant each, to support their ventures.
Positive Economic Impact from MSME Business Roadshow
Micro entrepreneurs have received grant assistance and business development support from the DBJ, Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) and Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO). Additionally, MSMEs have also benefited from network linkages and market access opportunities facilitated through the events.
MSMES Urged to Prioritise Exports
The government is reiterating the call for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to make export a top priority as part of their business strategy. MSMEs must export goods and services to foreign markets to achieve business success while simultaneously contributing to national development.
Mastercard Partners with NCB to Support Unbanked MSMEs
Mastercard is partnering with National Commercial Bank (NCB) to support unbanked micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across the island. It aims to provide unbanked merchants with access to secure and reliable payment platforms, enabling them to participate fully in the digital economy and expand their customer base to include international visitors.
MIC presents a new strategy for Business Development Centers
The initiative aims to unify the methodology, administration, and designation of SBDC and CAE Centers, consolidating them under the Network of Business Development Centers – CENTROS. With this new model, the coverage of these spaces increases sevenfold, expanding from three to 21 Centers nationwide. This restructuring will enable more efficient and effective management, facilitating support for a greater number of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and entrepreneurs.
More than 2,000 women have received guidance through Business Development Centers
In celebration of International Women’s Day, the Business Development Centers promote women’s economic empowerment, with female participation reaching 66% among the 3,335 clients served since the program’s launch on September 11, 2023.
Results and plans presented to strengthen MSME and small producer Business Rounds
The government presented the progress and planning of the Business Rounds under the Zero Hunger in Schools Program. This initiative, led by the Government of Paraguay, promotes the inclusion of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, as well as family farming producers from across the country, into the school meal program’s value chain.
PRODUCE: Women-led businesses generate more than 2 million jobs in Peru
On International Women’s Day, celebrated every March 8th, the Ministry of Production (PRODUCE) reaffirms its commitment to promoting equal opportunities. In this regard, it reported that more than 2 million jobs in the country are generated by women-led businesses.
The Vice Ministry of MSMEs and Industry participated in the presentation of an innovative technological solution designed to close knowledge gaps and improve business management. This digital tool aims to promote the country’s sustainable development by facilitating access to resources and opportunities for both individuals and businesses.
PRODUCE: Gamarra Viste al Perú y al Mundo: Fashion, Innovation, and Growth for MSMEs
At the II Fashion Show “Gamarra Viste al Perú y al Mundo,” an event that brought together more than 30 MSMEs from the textile sector to showcase their creativity and quality, demonstrating great potential to conquer international markets.
PRODUCE and CLARO PERÚ promote the digitalization of MSMEs nationwide
The Ministry of Production (PRODUCE), through the National Program Tu Empresa, has renewed its inter-institutional agreement with the company CLARO PERÚ through an addendum, to offer new benefits to micro and small enterprises (MSMEs) across the country and strengthen their business management capacity. CLARO PERÚ and PRODUCE will bring MSMEs closer to the use of the internet, telephony, digital tools, and specialized training, among others. These resources will be key to the operation of their businesses.
The Programme aimed at supporting biodiversity-enhancing micro-enterprises in agriculture, fisheries, and nature-based industries. The programme provides a total of USD $160,500, with individual grants of up to ECD $135,000 available to small farmers, agri-business operators, and fisherfolk. The initiative seeks to promote climate-smart, resilient agricultural practices, foster market linkages, and encourage private sector partnerships for sustainable business growth.
SBA Announces 2025 National Small Business Week Program and Specialty Award Winners
The U.S. Small Business Administration announced the national program and specialty award winners for SBA’s 2025 National Small Business Week, which will take place May 4-10, 2025. These awards recognize businesses and resource partners for their efforts in government contracting and disaster recovery as well as individual awards for exporter, small business investment company and surety bond agent of the year.
SBA Announces Made in America Manufacturing Initiative
Effort will cut $100B in regulation, expand access to capital and create dedicated infrastructure to support blue-collar boom. The U.S. Small Business Administration announced the agency’s new Made in America Manufacturing Initiative to restore American economic dominance and national security by empowering small manufacturers.
Incubacoop opens its eighth call to incubate innovative cooperative ventures
We invite teams with innovative projects who wish to become cooperatives, as well as already formalized cooperatives looking to explore new business units and inter-cooperative projects. In 2025, Incubacoop will support the selected groups for a maximum period of 12 to 16 months, providing guidance and training throughout the defined incubation stages: Awareness, Pre-Incubation, Incubation, and Graduation.
Applications continue for the Introductory Course on E-commerce and Digital Economy for MSMEs 2025
MIEM-Dinatel, together with the National Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (INEFOP), has opened applications for a new edition of the introductory course on e-commerce and the digital economy. It is aimed at micro, small, or medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and up to one additional worker who are taking their first steps in commercial digitalization; business owners and one additional worker can participate. The application period has been extended until March 17, and the course will start the week of March 24.
