SME Internationalization

Promoting FDI by SMEs
Date
-
Event
Session Type
Conference
Session Themes
Investment Promotion
SMEs
Room number
Hall 6 Room 14
Contact Email
Amelia.Santos-Paulino@un.org
Claudia.Trentini@un.org
Kumi.Endo@un.org
17 October 2023
18:30 - 20:00 Abu Dhabi
Asia/Dubai

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of economies around the world. Only the most productive and dynamic SMEs engage in international trade, and even fewer invest in physical assets abroad. Cross-border investment by SMEs accounts for less than 10% of global FDI. Internationalization can be an important strategy for the survival, growth, and long-term viability of SMEs. However, the uncertainties and resource demands associated with foreign investments hinder their international growth. In addition, investment incentives, investment promotion agencies (IPAs) and special economic zone (SEZ) operators are often designed to attract large, employment-generating industrial investment, rather than SMEs.

The current global investment landscape sees the convergence of several megatrends including digitalization, the increasing importance of regional value chains, and lackluster growth of large-scale manufacturing investment. Each of these trends puts the lack of focus of investment promoters on SMEs in a new light. It calls for an improved understanding of the unique challenges faced by SMEs in their internationalization processes.

This session will bring together policymakers, business leaders and representatives from international organizations to explore the challenges and opportunities associated with the internationalization of SMEs. The panel will discuss how to reduce the common investment policy bias in home and host countries towards large MNEs, the role of SMEs in South-South and intra-regional FDI, and ways and means to maximize the development impact of SME-FDI.

Session themes:

  • What are the key differences in the internationalization processes of SMEs versus larger enterprises?
  • What are the specific challenges that SME investors face in foreign markets?
  • What policies and policy instruments are most effective in promoting and facilitating FDI by SMEs?

Speaker(s)

Ambassador, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Chile to the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Mumzworld
Head, Investment Research Branch, UNCTAD
Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, World Association of Investment Promotion (WAIPA)
Board Member, World Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (WUSME)
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, FairAtmos
Chief of Investment Issues Section, Division on Investment and Enterprise, UNCTAD
Managing Director, PRODOMINICANA
Secretary General, International Network for Small and Medium sized Enterprises (INSME)

Moderator(s)

Founder, Fingar Direct Investment and Senior Advisor, World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA)