SME Policy Index: Latin America and the Caribbean 2024

Abbreviations and acronyms

Argentina

AAICI

Argentine Investment and International Trade Agency

Agencia Argentina de Inversiones y Comercio Internacional

AFIP

Federal Administration of Public Revenues

Administración Federal de Ingresos Públicos

ANR

Non-Refundable Contributions

Aportes No Reembolsables

BCRA

Central Bank of Argentina

Banco Central de la República Argentina

BICE

Bank for Investment and Foreign Trade

Banco de Inversión y Comercio Exterior

BNA

National Bank

Banco de la Nación

CICyT

Interinstitutional Council of Science and Technology

Consejo Interinstitucional de Ciencia y Tecnología

CNV

National Securities Commission

Comisión Nacional de Valores

COFECyt

Federal Council of Science, Technology, and Innovation

Consejo Federal de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación

CoFeFuP

Federal Council of the Public Function

Consejo Federal de la Función Pública

CPPPE

Public-Private Council for the Promotion of Exports

Consejo Público Privado para la Promoción de Exportaciones

CUIT

Unique Tax Identification Code

Clave Única de Identificación Tributaria

EEAE

Specialised Entities for Entrepreneur Support

Entidades Especializadas de Apoyo al Emprendedor

ENACOM

National Communications Agency

Ente Nacional de Comunicaciones

FOGABA

Guarantee Fund Buenos Aires

Fondo de Garantías Buenos Aires

FOGAR

Argentine Guarantee Fund

Fondo de Garantías Argentino

FONTAR

Argentine Technology Fund

Fondo Tecnológico Argentino

GACTEC

Scientific and Technological Cabinet

Gabinete Científico y Tecnológico

GDE

Electronic Document Management System

Gestión Documental Electrónica

LUFE

Single Financial and Economic Record

Legajo Único Financiero y Económico

MDP

Ministry of Productive Development

Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo

MINCYT

Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation

Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación

OLES

Simple Export Logistic Operators

Operadores Logísticos Exporta Simple

ONPI

National Observatory of Industrial Parks

Observatorio Nacional de Parques Industriales

RENPI

National Register of Industrial Parks

Registro Nacional de Parques Industriales

RFCEM

SMEs Electronic Credit Invoice

Factura de Crédito Electrónica MiPyME

SIPRO

Supplier Information System

Sistema de Información de Proveedores

TAD

Distance Procedures platform

Plataforma de Trámites a Distancia

Brazil

ABDI

Brazilian Industrial Development Agency

ApexBrasil

Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency

Agência Brasileira de Promoção de Exportações e Investimentos

BMP

Brazil More Productive

Programa Brasil Mais Produtivo

BNDES

National Bank for Economic and Social Development

Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social

DREI

National Department of Business Registration and Integration

Departamento Nacional de Registro Empresarial e Integração

EGD

Digital Government Strategy

Estratégia de Governo Digital

EMBRAPII

Brazilian Company for Industrial Research and Innovation

Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa e Inovação Industrial

FINEP

Financing Agency for Studies and Projects

Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos

GTP-APL

Permanent Working Group for Local Productive Arrangements

Grupo de Trabalho Permanente para Arranjos Produtivos Locais

IBGE

Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics

Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística

INMETRO

National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology

Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia

IPCA

Broad National Consumer Price Index

Índice Nacional de Preços ao Consumidor Amplo

LGPD

Brazil’s General Data Protection Law

MDIC

Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services

Ministério do Desenvolvimento, Indústria, Comércio e Serviços

MEI

Individual Microentrepreneurs

Microempreendedor Individual

MGI

Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services

Ministério da Gestão e da Inovação em Serviços Públicos

PEIEX

Export Qualification Programme

Programa de Qualificação para Exportação

PNCE

National Export Culture Plan

PRONAMPE

National Programme for Supporting Micro and Small Enterprises

REDESIM

Simplification of Registration and Legalisation of Companies and Businesses

RFB

Federal Revenue of Brazil

Receita Federal do Brasil

SDIC

Secretariat for Industrial Development, Innovation, Trade and Services

Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Industrial, Inovação, Comércio e Serviços

SEBRAE

Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service

Serviço Brasileiro de Apoio às Micro e Pequenas Empresas

SENAC

National Commercial Apprenticeship Service

Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Comercial

SENAI

National Industrial Apprenticeship Service

Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial

SETE

Extraordinary Secretariat for State Transformation

Secretaria Extraordinária para Transformação do Estado

SGD

Secretary of Digital Government

Secretaria de Governo Digital

Paraguay

AFD

Development Finance Agency

CAE

Entrepreneurship Support Centers

Centro de Apoyos a Emprendedores

CBP

Central Bank of Paraguay

Banco Central del Paraguay

CONACYT

National Council for Science and Technology

Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología

CST

Technology and innovation service centres

DNCP

National Directorate of Public Procurement

Dirección Nacional de Compras Públicas

EAS

Simplified Joint-Stock Companies

Empresas por Acciones Simplificadas

EGDI

Electronic Government Development Index

ENCONEC

National Connectivity Strategy

EPHC

Continuous Permanent Household Survey

Encuesta Permanente de Hogares Continua

FOGAPY

Paraguay Guarantee Fund

Fondo de Garantía del Paraguay

ITS

Higher Technical Institute

MIC

Ministry of Industry and Commerce

Ministerio de Industria y Comercio

MITIC

Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies

Ministerio de Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación

OCP

Open Contracting Partnership

ONN

National Standardisation Organism

Organismo Nacional de Normalización

PAC

Yearly Contracting Prorgamme

Programa Annual de Contrataciones

PCD

distance learning platform

Prociencia

Paraguayan Programme for the Development of Science and Technology

Programa Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología

Proinnova

Paraguayan Business Innovation Programme

Programa de Innovación en Empresas Paraguayas

REDIEX

Red de Inversiones y Exportaciones, or Investment and Export Network

RUC

Single Taxpayer Register

Registro Único del Contribuyente

SBDC

Small Business Development Centres

Centros de Desarrollo Empresarial

SIFEN

National Integrated Electronic Invoicing System

Sistema Integrado de Facturación Electrónica Nacional

SINAMYPIMES

National SME System

Sistema Nacional de MiPyMES

SUACE

Unified System for the Opening and Closing of Businesses

Sistema Unificado de Apertura y Cierre de Empresas

Uruguay

AGESIC

E-Government and Information Society Agency of Uruguay

Agencia de Gobierno electrónico y Sociedad de la Información de Uruguay

ANDE

National Development Agency

Agencia Nacional de Desarrollo

ANII

National Agency for Research and Innovation

Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovación

ARCE

Contracting and Purchasing Agency of the State

Agencia Reguladora de Compras Estatales

BCU

Central Bank of Uruguay

Banco Central del Uruguay

CONICYT

National Council of Innovation, Science and Technology

Consejo Nacional de Innovación, Ciencia y Tecnología

Dinapyme

National Directorate of Crafts, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Dirección Nacional de Artesanías, Pequeñas y Medianas Empresas

DIPCI

Directorate of Trade and Investment Promotion Intelligence

EGDI

E-Government Development Index

FIS

Sectorial Innovation Fund

Fondo de Innovación Sectorial

FODIME

Market Diversification Fund

Fondo de Diversificación de Mercados

FSS

Social Security Trust Fund

Fidecomiso de la Seguridad Social

INEFOP

National Institute for Employment and Vocational Training

Instituto Nacional de Empleo y Formación Profesional

IRAE

Tax on Income from Economic Activities

Impuesto a las Rentas de las Actividades Económicas

LATU

Technological Laboratory of Uruguay

MEC

Ministry of Education and Culture

Ministerio de Educación y Cultura

MEF

Ministry of Economy and Finance

Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas

MIEM

Ministry of Industry, Energy, and Mining

Ministerio de Industria, Energía y Minería

OPP

Office of Planning and Budget

OUA

Uruguayan Accreditation Body

RUT

Single Tax Register

Registro Único Tributario

SIMPI

Industrial Productivity Monitoring Indicators System

TOCAF

Ordained Text of Accounting and Financial Administration

Texto Ordenado de Contabilidad y Administración Financiera

UDELAR

University of the Republic

UI

Unidades Indexadas

UNIT

Uruguayan Institute of Technical Standards

VUI

One Stop Investment Shop

Chile

ANID

National Agency for Research and Development

Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo

CCGVyEP

Global Value Chains and Productive Linkages Committee

CMF

Financial Market Commission

Comisión del Mercado Financiero

COBEX

Chile's Export Loan Coverage Programme

CORFO

Production Promotion Corporation

Corporación de Fomento de la Producción

CTCI

National Council of Science, Technology, Knowledge, and Innovation for Development

Consejo Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología, Conocimiento e Innovación para el Desarrollo

DIPRES

Chilean Budget Directorate

Dirección de Presupuestos de Chile

ENEF

National Financial Education Strategy

Estrategia Nacional de Educación Financiera

FIA

Foundation for Agricultural Innovation

Fundación para la Innovación Agraria

FOCAL

Quality Promotion Programme

FOGAPE

Small Business Guarantee Fund

Fondo de Garantía para Pequeños Empresarios

INDAP

Institute for Agricultural Development

Instituto de Desarrollo Agropecuario

PDP

Supplier Development Programme

Programa de Desarrollo de Provedores

REDVUCE

Inter-American Network of Single Foreign Trade Windows of the IADB

RUT

Unique Tax Number

Rol Único Tributario

SEGPRES

General Secretariat of the Presidency

SERCOTEC

Technical Cooperation Service

Servicio de Cooperación Técnica

SERNAC

National Consumer Service

Servicio Nacional del Consumidor

SUBREI

Undersecretariat for International Economic Relations

Subsecretaría de Relaciones Económicas Internacionales

UTP

Temporary Union of Suppliers

Unión Temporal de Proveedores

Colombia

ANIF

National Association of Financial Institutions

CONPES

National Council for Economic and Social Policy

Consejo Nacional de Política Económica y Social

DIAN

National Tax and Customs Directorate

Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales

DNP

National Planning Department

Departamento Nacional de Planeación

ENEEF

National Economic and Financial Education Strategy

Estrategia Nacional de Educación Económica y Financiera

FONTUR

National Tourism Fund

INCOTEC

Colombian Institute of Technical Standards and Certification

Instituto Colombiano de Normas Técnicas y Certificación

MINCIT

Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism

Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo

MinTIC

Ministry of Information and Communications Technology

Ministerio de Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones

PAS

Action and Monitoring Plan

Plan de Acción y Seguimiento

PES

Strategic Sectoral Planning

Planeación Estratégica Sectorial

RUT

Single Tax Register

Registro Único Tributario

SECOP

Electronic System for Public Procurement

Sistema Electrónico para la Contratación Pública

SENA

National Learning Service

Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje

SICAL

National Quality Subsystem

Subsistema Nacional de la Calidad

SNCI

National System for Competitiveness and Innovation

Sistema Nacional de Competitividad e Innovación

Mexico

BANCOMEXT

National Bank for Foreign Trade

Banco Nacional de Comercio Exterior

CENAM

National Metrology Centre

CITICSI

Inter-Ministerial Commission on Information and Communication Technologies and Information Security

Comisión Intersecretarial de Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación, y de la Seguridad de la Información

CNBV

National Banking and Securities Commission

Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores

CNCMIPYME

National Council for the Competitiveness of Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Consejo Nacional para la Competitividad de la Micro, Pequeña y Mediana Empresa

COFECE

Federal Economic Competition Commission

Comisión Federal de Competencia Económica

COMPEX

Joint Commission for the Promotion of Exports

Comisión Mixta para la Promoción de las Exportaciones

CONAHCYT

National Council for Humanities, Science and Technology

Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías

CONAMER

National Commission for Regulatory Improvement

Comisión Nacional de Mejora Regulatoria

CONDUSEF

National Commission for the Protection and Defence of Users of Financial Services

Comisión Nacional para la Protección y Defensa de Usuarios de Servicios Financieros

DGDP

General Directorate for Productive Development

Dirección General de Desarrollo Productivo

EFIDT

Tax Stimulus for Research and Technology Development

Estímulo Fiscal a la Investigación y Desarrollo de Tecnología

EMA

Mexican Accreditation Entity

ENE

National Employment Survey

Encuesta Nacional de Empleo y Ocupación

ENMR

National Strategy for Regulatory Improvement

Estrategia Nacional de Mejora Regulatoria

FIRA

Trusts related to agricultura

Fideicomisos Instituidos en Relación con la Agricultura

FONAGA

National Guarantee Fund

Fondo Nacional de Garantías

HACIENDA

Secretariat of Finance and Public Credit

IMMEX

Maquiladora and Export Services Industry Programme

INADEM

National Institute for the Entrepreneur

Instituto Nacional del Emprendedor

INEGI

National Institute of Statistics and Geography

INMUJERES

National Institute for Women

LAASSP

Law on Public Sector Procurement, Leasing and Services

Ley de Adquisiciones, Arrendamientos y Servicios del Sector Público

LGMR

General Law on Regulatory Improvement

Ley General de Mejora Regulatoria

LIISPCEN

Law to Promote Sustained Growth in the Productivity and Competitiveness of the National Economy

Ley para Impulsar el Incremento Sostenido de la Productividad y la Competitividad de la Economía Nacional

LNPC

National Laboratory for Consumer Protection

NAFIN

Nacional Financiera, or National Finance

NFIP

National Financial Inclusion Policy

NMX

Mexican Standards

NOM

Mexican Official Standards

PADCE

Entrepreneurial Capacity Developers

Padrón de Desarrolladoras de Capacidades Empresariales

PIIT

Research and Technological Innovation Park

Parque de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica

PNI

National Innovation Plan

Plan Nacional de Innovación

PROSECO

Economic Sectoral Programme

Programa Sectorial de Economía

RESICO

Simplified Trust Regime

Régimen Simplificado de Confianza

RFC

Federal Taxpayers Registry

Registro Federal de Contribuyentes

RIF

Tax Incorporation Regime

Régimen de Incorporación Fiscal

RISE

Internal Regulations of the Ministry of Economy

Reglamento Interior de la Secretaría de Economía

RPC

Public Register of Commerce

Registro Público de Comercio

SAT

Tax Administration Authority

Servicio de Administración Tributaria

SE

Secretary of Economy

Secretaría de Economía

SNICE

National Foreign Trade Information Service

TIPAT

Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement

T-MEC

North American Trade Agreement

VUCEM

Mexican Foreign Trade One-Stop Shop

Ventanilla Única de Comercio Exterior Mexicano

Peru

BCRP

Central Reserve Bank of Peru

Banco Central de Reserva del Perú

CEPLAN

National Centre for Strategic Planning

Centro Nacional de Planeamiento Estratégico

CMCR

Multisectoral Regulatory Quality Commission

Comisión Multisectorial de Calidad Regulatoria

CODEMYPE

National Council for the Development of Micro and Small Enterprises

Consejo Nacional para el Desarrollo de la Micro y Pequeña Empresa

COFIDE

Development Finance Corporation

CONCYTEC

National Council of Science, Technology and Technological Innovation

Consejo Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Tecnológica

CONID

National Advisory Council for Research and Development

Consejo Consultivo de Investigación y Desarrollo

DGDE

General Directorate of Entrepreneurship Development

Dirección General de Desarrollo Empresarial

INACAL

National Quality Institute

ITP

Technological Institute of Production

Instituto Tecnológico de la Producción

ITSE

Technical Inspection Certificate for Safety in Buildings

Certificado de Inspección Técnica de Seguridad en Edificaciones

PAI

Internationalisation Support Programme

PEDN

Strategic National Development Plan

Plan Estratégico de Desarrollo Nacional

PENX 2025

National Strategic Export Plan

PESEM

Multiannual Strategic Sector Plan

Plan Estratégico Sectorial Multiannual

PRODUCE

Ministry of Production

Ministerio de la Producción

Proinnovate

National Programme for Technological Development and Innovation

PromPerú

Promotion of Peru for Exports and Tourism

RUC

Single Taxpayer Register

Registro Único del Contribuyente

SBS

Superintendency of Banks of Peru

SINACYT

National System of Science, Technology and Technological Innovation

Sistema Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Tecnológica

SUNARP

National Superintendency of Public Registries

Superintendencia Nacional de los Registros Públicos

SUNAT

National Superintendence of Customs and Tax Administration

UIT

Tax Units

Unidades Impositivas Tributarias

Ecuador

CONEIN

National Council for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Consejo Nacional de Competitividad, Emprendimiento e Innovación

EAP

economically active population

ENCE

National Electronic Commerce Strategy

Estrategia Nacional de Comercio Electrónico

INEC

National Institute of Statistics and Census of Ecuador

Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos of Ecuador

INEN

Ecuadorian Standardisation Service

Servicio Ecuatoriano de Normalización

LOSNCP

Organic Law of the National System of Public Procurement

Ley Orgánica del Sistema Nacional de Contratación Pública

MPCEIP

Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade, Investment and Fisheries

Ministerio de Producción, Comercio Exterior, Inversiones y Pesca

PNIF

National Financial Inclusion Policy

Política Nacional de Inclusión Financiera

RIMPE

Simplified Regime for Entrepreneurs and Popular Businesses

Régimen Simplificado para Emprendedores y Negocios Populares

RNE

National Register of Entrepreneurs

Registro Nacional de Emprendedores

RUA

Single Register of Crafts

Registro Único Artesanal

RUC

Registro Único de Contribuyente

Registro Único de Contribuyente

RUM

Single Registry of MSMEs

Registro Único de MiPyMES

RUP

Unified Registry of Suppliers

Registro Único de Proveedores

SERCOP

National Service for Public Contracting

Servicio Nacional de Contratación Pública

UTPL

Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja

VPEI

Coordination of Export and Investment Promotion Abroad

VUE

Ecuadorian Single Window

Other

ABL

Asset-Based Lending

PPPs

Public-Private Partnerships

ACTs

Agreements of Technical Cooperation

AEO

Authorised Economic Operator

BDS

Business Development Services

CAN

Andean Community

FDI

Foreign Direct Investment

GDP

Gross Domestic Product

GVC

Global Value Chains

IADB

Inter-American Development Bank

ICT

Information and Communication Technology

IFE

Financial Intermediaries Abroad

IFRS

International Financial Reporting Standards

ILO

International Labour Organization

KPI

Key Performance Indicators

LAC

Latin America and the Caribbean

LA9

The nine Latin American countries included in this assessment (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay, and Uruguay)

MERCOSUR

Mercado Común del Sur, or Southern Common Market

MGS

Mutual Guarantee Societies

MNEs

multinational enterprises

MOOC

virtual open online courses

MPEs

micro and small enterprises

MRAs

Mutual Recognition Agreements

NCGS

National Credit Guarantee System

NDS

National Digitalisation Strategy

NFEP

National Financial Education Plan

NFES

National Financial Education Strategy

NFIS

National Financial Inclusion Strategy

NGOs

non-governmental entities

OSS

One-Stop-Shop

P2P

peer-to-peer

PA

Pacific Alliance

PISA

Programme for International Student Assessment

PPCs

public-private consultation

RIA

Regulatory Impact Analysis

SACU

Southern African Customs Union

SEZs

Special Economic Zones

SME

micro, small- or medium-sized enterprise; used in this study to refer collectively to all three of these size categories

SME PI

SME Policy Index (OECD)

SOE

State-Owned Enterprises

STEM

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

TFA

Trade Facilitation Agreement

TFI

Trade Facilitation Indicators

TiVA

Trade in Value Added (OECD)

UTD

Digital Transformation Units

VAT

Value Added Tax

VUCE

Foreign Trade Single Windows

WCO

World Customs Organisation