Competitiveness of the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): A special study on Arab countries

Due to their increasing importance to production growth and vital relation with various productive sectors in society, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have become one of the key instruments to face economic and social problems and achieve development objectives in most industrial and developing countries. They contributions to employment creation, productivity improvement, and income generation are underutilized in the Arab countries at a time when economic transformation is shifting the onus for productivity from the public sector to the private sector. Population growth and economic restructuring in many Arab countries make the creation of substantial new employment opportunities a necessity.SMEs play a significant role in Arab countries, both in terms of the total number of enterprises, as well as their contribution to employment levels.This book ultimate aim is to layout some general principles of support to enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs in the Arab countries.