The overall objective of the SME Integrated Support Programme is to assist the Government of Lebanon, through the Ministry of Economy and Trade, in developing and implementing an integrated approach linking policy formulation, the development of a country-wide strategy for business support measures, the unlocking of finance for SMEs and the development of a number of incubators focused on innovative, export oriented SMEs in key sectors. Approximately €17M is available to the programme.

The technical assistance support is in seven main areas:

• The development of an SME Division inside the Ministry of Economy and Trade (MoET) to spearhead the development and implementation of policy and the associated long-term capacity building of staff resources.
• The creation of a more favourable environment for SME development, partly through the simplification of legislative and regulatory frameworks.
• The development of a national policy and action programme for delivering information and support services to SMEs.
• Implementing a grant scheme aimed at creating four locally owned incubator units for supporting innovative enterprises that are most relevant to regional priority sectors.
• The support of a €4M loan guarantee fund aimed at SMEs in priority sectors.
• Strengthening access to long-term financing of SMEs and start-up businesses.
• Creating strong coordinating mechanisms between the public and private sectors and the public sector and the donor communities.

The WYG International team consists of four long-term experts based in the Ministry of Economy and Trade in Beirut. They are assisted through international and local STEs. The team in turn supports counterparts nominated by the Ministry of Economy and Trade.