Developing markets are usually disconnected and unregulated, which limits their opportunity to bridge market gaps and balance demand and supply.

The fragile connection among micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) often results in lost business opportunities, higher production costs, and limited scalability.

Their insufficient knowledge and skills in business development, accompanied by limited access to technology and finance, pose real obstacles to industrial upgrading and innovation.

Building strong market linkages strengthens trade and investment ties at the local and international levels. It helps local markets cope with the needs of globalisation by boosting productivity, jobs, incomes, and standards of living.

Within the same market, business linkages bring enterprises together to reduce market risks, exchange knowledge, and eliminate unequal market power. Internationally, it helps local enterprises penetrate new markets and magnify national exports.

MSMEs require support on multiple levels. They need help to:

• Develop and scale
• Get access to markets
• Access new credit and investment opportunities
• Overcome regulatory restrictions
• Reduce their operating expenses
• Widen their networks
• Gain access to skills and technology

In particular, they lack the skills, systems, and qualifications required to grow and benefit from donor support programs. Women-owned enterprises especially need further attention from investors and development agencies if they are to grasp potential business opportunities.

Furthermore, business associations do not necessarily meet the needs of their clients, and due to a lack of capacity and strategy, they may not fully support their respective sectors and industries.

Essentially, the future of business development services relies on the role of associations in facilitating quality services, promoting a culture of enterprise development, and supporting the roll-out of new competitive processes and products.

Leaders International works with the entire value chain to connect local enterprises and build their capacity to meet local needs and expand into global markets. We go beyond capacity building and funding schemes to foster the crucial role that MSMEs play in developing the whole supply chain of promising industries.

This approach extends the lifespan of small businesses and amplifies their consistency and reliability as suppliers to both local and international markets.

Leaders International facilitates the cooperation between MSMEs, business development service providers, business associations, chambers of commerce, regulators, and governmental bodies. In doing so, we create a holistic framework where all parties grow to achieve one mutual goal: economic wellbeing.

Through numerous projects, Leaders International has provided technical and financial assistance to thousands of MSMEs to facilitate their access to markets through skills development, product development, research, and product qualification and certification.

We further utilise our global network of partners, especially in Europe and the Middle East, to connect local enterprises with international buyers and gateway markets through trade fairs, exhibitions, conventions, B2B meetings, business incubators and accelerators (including our own BOOST voucher system), and startup-pitch competitions.