Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Southern Mediterranean

In the context of the renewed European Neighbourhood Policy, this study focuses on Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia and has four objectives. First, it seeks to describe micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) in these countries, their contribution to employment, the sectors in which they are active, as well as the constraints they face. Second, it moves on to assess both the EU’s and Member States’ development assistance commitments for MSME support. Third, it provides a picture of foreign direct investments (FDI) and partnerships concluded between European and Egyptian, Jordanian, Moroccan and Tunisian SMEs. Fourth, it reviews the visa policies which apply to business people in the region. Finally, it provides recommendations to support the development of MSMEs within the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.

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