SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth | SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Institutions: Ministry of Commerce & Industry | Ministry of MSMEs
The International Trade Centre (ITC) has emphasised the need to closely align trade promotion activities with small business / MSME support, particularly in developing countries. The argument is that trade promotion (exports, market access, promotion campaigns) often operates separately from business support (capacity building, finance, regulatory support), which leads to inefficiencies and missed opportunities for small firms. ITC recommends integrating both functions into national trade support strategies β for example, ensuring that business development services anticipate export needs, matching firms with markets, and strengthening trade support institutions so they offer bundled services.
For India, this insight is timely. MSME/export policy has often focused on export incentives, export promotion councils, trade fairs etc., but less so on ensuring small firms have the support (finance, skills, compliance, market intelligence) to actually meet international demand. Ministries like Commerce & Industry, MSME, and Department of Trade Promotion & Export Development could enhance impact by ensuring that trade promotion schemes are designed in tandem with MSME support structures.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How can India institutionalise coordination between trade promotion bodies and MSME/business development agencies so that small exporters are fully enabled (infrastructure, finance, regulatory, compliance, market access) to translate promotional efforts into sustainable export growth?
Follow the full news here:
https://www.intracen.org/news-and-events/news/aligning-trade-promotion-and-small-business-support