Que incentivos a ter em conta para o aumento das exportações de pequenas e médias empresas? caso Ipex

Abstract

The dynamics of the world economy today are characterized by increasing demands on the international market. In particular, it poses a large number of challenges for small and medium-sized enterprises in Least Developed Countries (pmd). The trade policy pursued by the government of Mozambique prioritizes, in the field of foreign trade, the promotion of growth and diversification of national exports with a view to improving the trade balance and economic growth1. In this context, the institute for the promotion of exports, has coordinated actions with small and medium-sized companies to facilitate the penetration of Mozambican products in foreign markets and promote production for export. The importance of smes for job creation is evident. However, the perspectives of these companies with regard to income generation differ according to sectorial, local and foreign market insertion conditions. Recent studies on the competitive performance of smes indicate that there are common limitations between companies in developed countries and those in developing countries, such as obsolete machines, inadequate management and difficulties in marketing their products in new markets (levistky 1996:12). The use of obsolete machines is widespread among smes due to the difficulties they encounter in obtaining credit. Both developed and developing countries have specific credit mechanisms for these companies, but they cannot always use them, due on the one hand to non-compliance with obligations 1 strategic commercial policy, April/March 1999 and on the other, the guarantees required for the granting of loans are sometimes high, inhibiting entrepreneurs, in particular those of small medium-sized companies. The definition of micro, small and medium enterprises depends on the objectives of each country with a view to determining the programs or policies to be carried out. In general, they are defined according to the staff they have and their turnover or their total annual balance sheet. Table 1: Concept of small and medium-sized companies from the perspective of the European Union Category No. of workers Volume of business Balance Micro enterprise To 10 2 million euros 2 million euros Small business up to 50 10 million euros 10 million euros medium company Up to 250 50 million euros 43 million euros Source: Institute for Support to Small and Medium Enterprises (iapme), 2004 In Mozambique, there is no concept of small and medium-sized companies along the lines mentioned above, but it defines a company as an entity (corresponding to a single legal unit or the smallest grouping of legal or institutional units) endowed with autonomy in the organization and decision of resources to their production activities, carrying out one or more activities in one or more locations (mozambique economic activities classifier - rev.l 1998). The aim of this course work is to contribute to the identification of incentives that contribute to the increase in exports of small and medium-sized Mozambican companies, as the meager base of the country's exports needs to be expanded