Small Business: The Case of Brazil

Image: Flickr, PROAdrien Sifre
Image: Flickr, PROAdrien Sifre

The Global Best Practice series examines a number of case studies in various sectors, with the aim of assessing their potential applicability in the Africa developmental context.

This is the fifth report in the series and in it the writer explains the need for ‘government involvement’ in ‘helping the SMME sector to evolve’. In Brazil, just like in most developing countries, SMMEs make up a large portion of existing businesses and they provide the most employment opportunities. But their contribution to the GDP output is minimal. However, the country has realised the importance of incorporating SMMEs into the formal commercial sector as well as the role they can play in future economic growth. This report describes the country’s SMME strategy and looks at policies and initiatives that the Brazilian government has undertaken to encourage a more formalised SMMe structure.

Download full report in PDF version

SAIIA: 2005
ISBN: 1-919969-48-9
Published by SAIIA and funded by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

Series editor: Elizabeth Sidiropoulos

The views expressed in this publication/article are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the views of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA).

18 Apr 2008