About the report:

Analysis of the obstacles for micro-, small- and medium-seized enterprises (SME) that hampers their international presence, both in the EU and non-EU countries. The report presents the most up-to-date data on the significance of SMEs for the Polish economy as well as their impact on the export of goods and services. The barriers for SMEs were divided into four categories: know-how, economic, legal and fiscal as well as psychological ones. Furthermore, the report presents the existing system of aid programmes designed for Polish businesses. The paper includes a number of recommendations to eradicate above-mentioned barriers and accelerate the expansion of the Polish SMEs on global markets.

Key conclusions:

• The sector of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is the most important pillar of the Polish economy. From among a total of 2.3 million firms in Poland, as many as 99.8 per cent are micro, small or medium-sized.
• Although the role of SMEs in the internal market is significant, they hardly contribute to defining Poland’s position in international trade. This sector is still dominated by large companies, including multinational corporations. Micro, small and medium-sized businesses are responsible only for one third of the total export of goods and services from Poland.
• With regard to the barriers and non-optimal support mentioned in the report, we recommend the following steps to be taken to help SMEs commence and continue their export activities:
• implementing new IT tools for SMEs, e.g. creating digital platforms with information about foreign markets or comparing the costs and benefits of various forms of online sales or financial services for exporters;
• developing advisory and training systems using modern forms of remote communication – from e-learning to decision trees, which support business owners who wish to commence and continue international expansion;
• boosting cooperation between SMEs and their business environment;
• further digitalisation of administrative processes, which would make it easier for SMEs to expand their business on foreign markets – these processes should be made more flexible and most of the administrative burden should
  be shifted to the public sector.

The report is also available in the Polish version.