OAS MSME Newsletter: (November 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.
Opportunities for SMEs, Youth, and Female Entrepreneurs
New pilot program, jointly implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Antigua and Barbuda Investment Authority (ABIA), and the Entrepreneurial Development Program (EDP). This initiative provides grants, loans, and interest subsidies aimed at supporting SMEs, youth entrepreneurs, and female entrepreneurs in Antigua and Barbuda. The program seeks to strengthen local entrepreneurship and expand access to financing opportunities for registered businesses.
Government recognized winners of the “Argentine Entrepreneurship” 2025 contest
The Government organized 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.
MSMEs in Belize Embrace a Digital Future
In today’s rapidly evolving economy, digitization is no longer optional. It is essential for business survival and growth. For Belize’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), adopting digital tools can expand customer reach, improve efficiency, reduce costs, and strengthen resilience in the face of market shifts.
At COP30, Sebrae signs partnership to include small businesses in global climate strategies
Responsible for supporting 23.6 million companies in Brazil, including individual microentrepreneurs, microenterprises and small businesses, Sebrae signed a commitment in favor of mobilizing governments around the world to train small and medium-sized businesses on issues related to combating climate change.
Small businesses enter the radar of green finance at COP30
The second day of Sebrae’s activities at COP30, opened space for debate on the opportunities and obstacles of green financing for small businesses, protagonists of the transition to the low-carbon economy. At the institution’s booth in the Green Zone, the Green Finance panel brought together representatives of BNDES, ABDE and Banco do Nordeste to discuss ways to expand the access of micro and small companies to sustainability credit.
A combined investment of more than $1 million from Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario to support new opportunities for Francophone talent across southern Ontario. A strong economy is one that works for everyone. That’s why the Government of Canada is investing in organizations that build inclusive, resilient communities by creating meaningful employment opportunities for official language minority communities and newcomers, while supporting the evolving workforce needs of local businesses.
Applications open for the seal that recognizes MSMEs and sustainable cooperatives in the country
The initiative of Sercotec and FEN UChile will distinguish smaller companies that have made outstanding progress in sustainability and will grant access to specialized advice to deepen their management in the matter. This was announced by Sercotec and the Faculty of Economics and Business of the University of Chile, entities that led the launch of a new version of the Sustainable Impact Seal.
The alliance seeks to promote articulated work between the network of Business Development Centers of the entity with the mining company’s supply chain. The announcement was made within the framework of an event that connected smaller companies with the large regional industry. With the presence of more than 120 companies, trade organizations, authorities and representatives of the business ecosystem of the region, the Conecta Gran Industria event was held in Antofagasta, an initiative promoted by Sercotec to promote the development of micro and small enterprises and cooperatives, bringing them closer to large companies in the mining and energy sector.
The new iNNpulsa Colombia heritage will begin operations on November 1, with a focus on reindustrialization, productivity and competitiveness. With the aim of strengthening reindustrialization, entrepreneurship, innovation, business development, productivity, competitiveness and productive chains, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism unified its assets Colombia Productiva and iNNpulsa Colombia. This new entity, which will operate under the name of iNNpulsa Colombia, will implement these strategies with a comprehensive vision.
The Ministry of Economy, Industry and Commerce (MEIC), invited micro and small enterprises (MSMEs), which do not yet have their SME Registration, or whose validity expires before December 31 of this year, not to miss the deadline of December 4th, 2025 to register or renew their SME status, and thus access the exemption from the 2026 Legal Entity Tax, granted by the Ministry of Finance pursuant to Law No. 9428.
Incentivo Emprende, an initiative from of the President for the reactivation of Galapagos
More than 200 entrepreneurs and actors of the Popular and Solidarity Economy benefited from a bonus of 1,000 dollars, aimed at improving productivity and promoting the economic reactivation of Galapagos, thanks to the Incentivo Emprende program, carried out by the Government.
The Government of El Salvador, through the National Commission for Micro and Small Enterprises (CONAMYPE), together with Mail Boxes, successfully developed the forum “Exporta SV: The path of SMEs for Export”, a space created to strengthen the export culture and provide practical tools to micro and small enterprises with internationalization potential. The event brought together more than 125 SMEs from different productive sectors; including handicrafts, textiles and clothing, footwear, food, beverages, agribusiness and technological development, which seek to expand their commercial horizons and position their talent in international markets.
MICI promotes inclusion and female leadership in the promotion of Panamanian exports
With the aim of expanding access to export opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially those led by women, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI) culminated the Technical Workshop on Training and Accompaniment of Exporters to Canada, with the technical execution of the specialized firm Globally Cool. During the day, collaborators from the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA), the Aquatic Resources Authority of Panama (ARAP) and the MICI received training on key topics to strengthen their role in accompanying exporting companies.
Thanks to the joint work between the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MICI) and the Government of Canada, a hundred Panamanian instructors from the National Institute of Vocational Training and Training for Human Development (INADEH) began today a national training in sustainable agriculture, entrepreneurship, export development and inclusion. This training is part of the project “Sustainable Agriculture and Entrepreneurship, with a Focus on Indigenous Women of Panama”, an initiative that seeks to bring practical knowledge and development tools to the country’s rural communities, especially those facing more economic and social challenges.
The government announced the automatic issuance of 340 thousand MSME Cards by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, with which the benefits established in Law No. 7444/2025 for this economic sector are immediately applied.
Training on Paraguayan Quality Standard aims to strengthen the competitiveness of MSMEs
Within the framework of the “Paraguayan Quality Seal for MSMEs” Project, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC), together with the National Institute of Technology, Standardization and Metrology (INTN), started a course on the Paraguayan Quality Standard for MSMEs, aimed at professionals in the area of productivity, quality, technology, industrial engineering, business management and other related fields. The participants of the training will acquire knowledge about the Paraguayan Standard NP 38 002 16, Management Model for MSMEs, the requirements of the Standard, strategic planning, technical support, operation, monitoring and measurement, continuous improvement, among others, to later accompany MSMEs in the process of certification of their products.
MIC and UIP sign agreement to finance MSME business plans
The Vice Ministry of MSMEs and the Paraguayan Industrial Union (UIP) signed a co-financing agreement for the management of the MSME Competitiveness Project (PCM), an initiative that seeks to strengthen the productive, innovative and sustainable development of the country’s micro, small and medium-sized enterprises through the financing of business plans. The agreement contemplates that the IPU will act as the managing entity of the project, with responsibilities that include the preparation of the baseline, an initial record of the situation of the beneficiary MSMEs, technical advice during the execution of the business plans, and the conduct of technical visits.
The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) participated in Expoalimentaria 2025, through 18 beneficiary organizations of the Productive Export Route – RPE strategy, with the aim that these micro, small and medium-sized enterprises can close contracts with international buyers, thus positioning the Peruvian agricultural offer in the world.
Within the framework of Peru’s official agenda in the United States, Peru participated in the VIII Ministerial Meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) – Pacific Alliance (PA), a meeting aimed at strengthening the relationship between the two blocs and following up on the 2021-2026 Work Plan, with the presence of ministers and senior authorities from the region.
The government reaffirmed Peru’s commitment to deepening ASEAN-AP cooperation and highlighted the great potential of both blocs to promote forward-looking projects, especially in the digital economy, which opens great opportunities for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
Mincetur calls on innovative MSMEs to transform rural tourism with support of up to S/893 thousand
The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur), in alliance with the National Program for Technological Development and Innovation (ProInnóvate), of the Ministry of Production, announced the launch of the Rural Tourism Challenge, a national contest that seeks innovative solutions to transform the management of community tourism in Peru.
Basic entrepreneurship skills training strengthens agricultural sector in Wanica
The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation (EZOTI), in collaboration with the World University Service of Canada (WUSC Caribbean Suriname Ltd), organized a three-day training course “Basic Skills Entrepreneurship”. The training is part of the project “The Sustainable Agriculture in the Caribbean” (SAC). The basic skills entrepreneurship training focuses on the development of fundamental entrepreneurial competencies, cost price calculation, business model development (Business Model Canvas), administration and drawing up a business plan. With this, the ministry aims to support starting and small entrepreneurs in building sustainable and profitable businesses.
SURGE Project strengthens entrepreneurship with Business Development Services training
The Ministry of Economic Affairs, Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation (EZ) is in the process of implementing the Suriname’s Growth Enterprises (SURGE) project, which is part of the Suriname Competitiveness and Sector Diversification Project (SCSD). In this context, the first SURGE Business Development Services training courses have been launched for companies that have participated in the program.
