The conference started with the two panel discussion on good practices in SME policy, the first panel “Creating a favourable business environment and enhancing access to finance for SMEs” and the second panel “Enhancing entrepreneurial skills and innovation capabilities to better integrate SMEs in the global market”. Following the panels, opening statements of the main part of the conference, the Launch of the SME Policy Index for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2016 were done by Mr Douglas Frantz, Deputy Secretary General at OECD and Mr Eric Mamer, Director, Competitiveness and European Semester, DG GROW, European Commission.  

Ms Efka Heder, SEECEL Director was one of the speakers in the introductory remarks and key findings alongside other distinguished participants from the partner organisations. Finally, countries were invited to comment key findings of the report and share their views on the way forward for advancing SME policy development.

Heder also elaborated on the peer learning methodology used in the Small Business Act of Europe process in the South East Europe and Turkey and presented the new SEECEL publication Building Capacities: Entrepreneurial Learning and SME Skills – Insights from the Small Business Act for Europe Process in South East Europe and Turkey.

Thus, the purpose of this event was to present the findings of the Small Business Act of Europe Assessment and discuss key developments and remaining challenges for the business environments, particularly for SMEs in the EU enlargement region. Also, it was a great opportunity for SME experts, policy makers and entrepreneurs to discuss the good practice examples from new EU member states and EU enlargement economies in specific areas relevant to SME growth.

Besides Heder, SEECEL was represented by Mr Thomas Farnell, Entrepreneurial Learning Expert and Mr Stjepan Srhoj, Programme Officer and Liaison. 

Source: SEECEL