The European Commission’s Annual Report on European SMEs
The European Commission has published its Annual Report on European SMEs (2025/2026) and a new report on women entrepreneurs in Europe, providing updated data to guide future policies and funding for small and medium businesses. Europe’s 34 million SMEs...
Alibaba Steps Up Global Outreach to SMEs
Alibaba Group has recently intensified efforts to bring AI tools and training to SMEs across several countries, a pattern worth noting for WUSME’s network. In Pakistan, MoUs signed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Alibaba’...
The Impact of the Iran Conflict on SMEs: Rising Costs, Disrupted Trade, and Tighter Finance
Geopolitical shocks are reaching small and medium-sized enterprises faster than ever. According to a recent analysis by Trade Finance Global, the conflict in Iran has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed up global energy price...
U.S. Small Businesses Pull Back on Hiring at Fastest Pace in Six Years
A cluster of fresh data released this week paints a cautious picture for small businesses in the United States: hiring ambitions are fading, foot traffic is declining, and owners are growing more hesitant about the months ahead. The share of U.S. small bu...
OECD SME Financing Scoreboard 2026 – Key Takeaways
On 31st May the OECD SME Financing Scoreboard 2026 was released. This report was produced by the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities (CFE), as part of the programme of work of the Committee on SMEs and Entrepreneurship. An OECD Sc...
China’s SMEs See Improved Development Environment in 2025
According to a new report, China’s pursuit of new, high-quality economic growth and targeted policy measures aimed at stabilizing employment, businesses, markets, and expectations contributed to the country’s small and medium-sized enterprises...
EU Single Market Report Flags Persistent Gaps for SMEs
The European Commission has published its sixth Annual Single Market and Competitiveness Report, drawing on 29 key performance indicators to assess the state of the EU economy. The picture that emerges is mixed: six indicators have improved, six have dete...
South African SMEs: Navigating the Path to Global Expansion
The State of South African Small Business 2025 report highlights that SMEs are increasingly the backbone of the national economy, with 83% reporting revenue growth and 90% expressing confidence in their future. However, while these businesses are primed f...
Energy Prices and Their Impact on Italy’s Micro and Small Enterprises
The structural disparity in electricity costs when compared to the European average is a growing concern for micro and small businesses throughout Italy, according to recent statements from Confartigianato. Confartigianato President Marco Granelli claims ...
First Report by the Observatory on SMEs and Capital Markets
The First Report by the Observatory on SMEs and Capital Markets highlights that Italian SMEs increasingly see capital markets as an opportunity for growth and innovation, yet many struggle to access them due to cultural, organizational, and size-related b...
