The new Trade4MSMEs online platform is a tool designed to help small businesses find trade-related information that improves their ability to trade internationally. The platform is also intended for policymakers to help design measures tailored to the needs of small businesses. It is an initiative by the Informal Working Group on MSMEs, a group of World Trade Organization Members working on facilitating the engagement of smaller companies in the trading system.
The Trade4MSMEs online platform gives small businesses access to a variety of trade information from different sources. The platform contains short guides that provide key information on the steps companies need to take before exporting or importing goods or services, such as how to assess the export potential of the markets they target and their readiness to export.
It also provides information for policymakers, government officials and researchers, highlights important issues for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and provides insights into best practices. The platform also contains information on international and regional initiatives aimed at MSMEs and contains links to MSME data sources available for analytical purposes.
The current partners of the platform are the Global Trade Helpdesk, the International Chamber of Commerce and its Entrepreneurship Centers, the International Trade Center and Google. The United Kingdom and Canada also contributed financially to the development of the platform. Additional partnerships will be developed in the coming months.
For more information on Trade4MSMEs visit the website.