Provision of Non-Financial Business Development Services for SMEs

The project is supporting the provision of non-financial services to SMEs through:

1- BDS Capacity Building Facilitators who assist in building the capacity of the BDS Providers in developing new business development products and services.  

2- BDS Providers who directly interact with SMEs in providing Business Development Services through designing and delivering new demand driven non-financial services on a cost recovery basis. 

Improving SME Regulatory Environment

The Project uses a multi-faceted approach at the local, regional and national levels to mitigate the negative impact on SMEs caused by the excessive bureaucracy and regulatory impediments through:

• Reviewing laws, policies & regulations affecting SMEs growth. 
• Proposing and testing changes facilitating SMEs growth and development.
• Promoting the importance of the concept of BDS to policy makers.
• Cooperating with government and donor agencies.

The project cooperates with BDS Enabling Environment Facilitators, to:

• Promote the role of services provision to SMEs to increase demand for BDS provider services and focusing on advocacy and streamlining the policy and regulatory business environment for SMEs and expanding the demand for services by SMEs. 
• Provide awareness and coaching sessions with BDSF/Ps on the BDS concept (strategic and operational levels), fund management procedures/proposals and needs of women entrepreneurs and how cross cutting themes can be integrated in services.

Related Activities:

·         Access to Information

Facilitating access to information/ statistics relevant to SME development in Egypt thrtough the website: www.namaa.gov.eg

·         Improve Regulatory Processes

Establishing licensing One-Stop-Shops (OSS) where conditions are appropriate and local support and financing are available.   .

·         Access to Credit

Develop new financial services, products and procedures for SME’s with partner banks and local banking institutions.