The overall economic environment of SMEs

Abstract

This article presents some information on the current status of SMEs at local, national and int e r na tiona l l eve ls, str e ssing the r e l a tive inc r e a s e in va lue added in them. In countries with low income (less than $ 1,000 per capita), generating 16% of wealth; 39% in middleincome (1,000 to $ 11,500 per capita) and 51% in high-income (over $11,500 per capita), (IDB, 2002, 2). In Colombia, 96.4% are micro, small 3%, 0.5% and0.1% medium-large companies (DNP, 2007, DANE 2005); 97% of people employed in the industry in 2009, SMEs employed. Pereira has 95.48% of microenterprises. SMEs correspond to 4.42% and large companies represent only 0.10% (ACOPI, 2010).