Small States Digest Issue 2 - 2012

In this issue, small states’ practices and experiences are shared in the following articles:

• A Survey of the Impact of Technical Barriers to Trade on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in the Beverage Sector of Trinidad and Tobago: Making the Case for a Trade-related Capacity Building Approach by David Anyanwu
• Supporting Entrepreneurship in Small States: The case of Tonga by Watipaso Mkandawire
• Challenges for SMEs Development in Small and Developing Countries by Cassim Parak and Wonderful Hope Khonje

The article by David Anyawu is a survey on the impact of technical barriers to trade (TBT’s) on the food product-exporting SME’s in Trinidad and Tobago. In conclusion, the paper makes a case for a trade-related capacity building (TRCB) approach towards international competitiveness for SMEs in the beverage industry in Trinidad and Tobago.

Watipaso Mkandawire’s article emphasises on re-examining our interventions in SME’s support with a special reference to the Langafonua Handicraft Centre in Tonga. The paper concludes that with expert support services provided under the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation, the centre has since transitioned from a loss making enterprise to a profit making business.

Finally, the last article draws on the challenges facing MSE development in small and developing countries and offers some insights into possible ways of addressing these challenges.

As usual, the Digest also contains selected economic indicators, a listing of recent publications on small states and an up-coming events section. For further information regarding the Small States Digest, please contact Daniel Amin at smallstatesinfo@commonwealth.int.

Previous Issues

Small States Digest - Issue 1, March 2012
Release date: 15 April 2012

Small States Digest - Issue 4, December 2011
Release date: 15 January 2012

Disclaimer: “Views expressed in this issue are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Commonwealth Secretariat or of Commonwealth Member Governments.”