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...
OpenAI launches new AI Accelerator for SMEs across Europe
OpenAI has launched the EU Economic Blueprint 2.0, introducing a new set of initiatives aimed at accelerating AI adoption across Europe and ensuring that businesses—especially small and medium-sized enterprises—can fully benefit from this transformati...
SME climate finance stocktake: Turning ambition into action
Small and medium-sized enterprises are vital to global climate action, yet access to green finance remains a major barrier to scaling their impact. This ICC–Sage report shows how digital and AI tools can help bridge this gap by simplifying reporting and...
