Through the use of case studies, this report draws lessons and suggests policy recommendations based on previous experiences related to the implementation of regulatory reforms to improve the business environment for SMEs.

The report includes four case studies evaluate the role of regulatory reforms in creating a proper business environment supporting SMEs. The case studies focus on the following areas: 1) dedicated agencies to assist SMEs with growth, development, compliance and internationalization; 2) agencies and institutions that specialize in supporting SME finance; 3) regulatory tiering; and 4) SME-friendly Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIA). The case studies describe the background and some of the challenges SMEs are facing. The case studies, prepared through a combination of literature analysis and interviews to key experts in the relevant areas, contain examples from several APEC economies, which are used to examine the need for regulatory reforms and the processes involved in order to achieve specific policy objectives.