Agriculture is an important sector for most developing countries given its significance in providing food security and as a key contributor to GDP. However, agricultural SMEs in complex global value chains (GVCs) struggle to develop the capabilities to diversify their revenue streams, access value added markets and upgrade to greener production practices.
Two main challenges include access to financing their operations and diversifying both products and buyers. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the severity of these two challenges threatening the development of sustainable GVCs.
In addition to demand shocks to trade due to the pandemic, the health-related measures put new barriers to selling and buying goods and services across borders. This has negatively impacted the reality of producers in developing countries supplying GVCs.
Key questions:
- What challenges do SMEs face in developing sustainable markets and produce sustainable products?
- How has COVID-19 impacted existing financing strategies for supporting SMEs in developing countries develop sustainable markets?
- What strategies have national development banks employed to best address current financing challenges facing SMEs in agri-commodity sectors in developing countries?
Continue the conversation in the dedicated chat on the Beyond Trade Network.
This session will be simultaneously translated into French, Spanish and English (when needed) via the Interactio application, by entering the code GTW2020 (please use headphones). Open the application in your Web browser or download it for iOS Mobile App or for Android App.