The engines of economic growth and job creation are a vigorous private sector and a well-functioning financial system. As the challenges of globalisation are significant and ever-evolving, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across all sectors need to be facilitated and supported to be able to innovate, improve productivity though product and process upgrading, and identify and exploit market opportunities.
A coherent national competitiveness strategy plays a major role in boosting companies’ competitiveness by creating and enabling a business environment where:
- Adequate infrastructure and regulatory frameworks, including business financing, are in place;
- Suitable skilled labour force is made available through developing (Technical) Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs that work jointly with the private sector;
- Linkages/partnerships between relevant public and private stakeholders, including academia and civil society, are facilitated.
Additionally, in an increasingly dominating global economy, the need of harnessing science, technology and innovation (STI) has become more evident. As globalisation has enhanced the dissemination of knowledge and expertise, there is a pressing need to couple STI outcomes with business enterprises and practical applications in the industrial and technical domains.
Our services contribute to reach the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8 “Decent Work and Economic Growth”.