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Strategy and policy
Reform Support

SMEs support strategy post 2020

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Supporting reforms to foster an attractive business environment and increase competitiveness

Funding Programme
Year
  • 2018

SMEs support strategy post 2020

The Commission supported the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade in its efforts to develop the National SME Support Strategy 2021+ and the associated Action Plan and to create the enabling conditions for improving local SMEs' productivity, competitiveness, and innovative performance as part of a national strategy to strengthen local enterprises to compete, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth.

Context

The Ministry of Industry and Trade requested support to update and upgrade the Small and Medium Enterprises Support Strategy 2014-2020. Although SMEs represent more than the 99% of the economy, employing more than the 60% of all working-people and creating over 50% of value added, the Czech entrepreneurship and SMEs productivity rates were low compared to international standards. Therefore, the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade requested support for developing a new small and medium enterprise (SME) support strategy (SME Support Strategy) and implementation plan for the period 2021 – 2027 (Implementation Plan) based on a strong and independent analytical framework. 

Support delivered

The project was implemented together with the World Bank. The support provided to the Ministry of Industry and Trade has been delivered in two phases and entailed the following activities:

a) Development of a comprehensive independent analysis on current and emerging challenges, market and institutional failures affecting SME development, followed by clear recommendations and proposed policy and actions to be taken in the period 2021+. The recommendations served as an input to the design of the SMEs Strategy 2021 and its action plan. 

b) Provision of capacity building and of advisory work in developing the SMEs strategy and the action plan 2021, including exchanging views and providing recommendations for improvement.

Under the TSI support was provided to holistically tackle the challenges and unlock the opportunities faced by SMEs. This comprehensive approach focused on pivotal areas including the business environment, access to market, skills and training, innovation, entrepreneurial culture, access to technology and related digital infrastructure.

Results achieved

The analytical support contributed directly to the development of the Czech SME Support Strategy for the period 2021-2027, which the Czech Government approved in 2021.