Lois Stevenson, Session 3: SHORT TERM ACTION PLAN – OBJECTIVES, presented at steering committee meeting, Phase II, Tunis, 08 December 2016

1. SME DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY IN LIBYA
PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE &
SHORT TERM ACTION PLAN MEETING
TUNIS, 8 DECEMBER 2016
Session 3: SHORT TERM ACTION PLAN – OBJECTIVES
Lois Stevenson, OECD Consultant
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2. OBJECTIVE OF SESSION 3
 To gain input from the Project Steering Committee
and other Libyan stakeholders on:
 the vision for SME development strategy,
 overall objectives of the Short-term Action Plan,
 the strategic priorities,
 the main elements to be included
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3. VISION STATEMENT FOR HIGHER-LEVEL
OUTCOMES OF SHORT-TERM ACTION PLAN
 Vision statement that could be later aligned to a
detailed national entrepreneurship and SME
development strategy for Libya when the political
situation improves
 Vision for the National SME Programme launched by
the NPC/NEDB in 2008 was to “make Libya one of the
most attractive places in the region for starting and
growing a business” so as to render a more
internationally competitive economy
 Suggestions for the framing of a vision statement
are welcomed from the Steering Committee and
other Libyan stakeholders 3

4. CONSENSUS AGREEMENT ON KEY STRATEGIC
OBJECTIVES OF THE SHORT-TERM ACTION PLAN
 Consensus on key strategic objectives - important to guide the
general direction of the Short-term Action Plan, and in setting the
indicators to monitor its outcome
 What are these higher-level objectives? What are the primary
outcomes to be realistically anticipated from the implementation
of the short-term Action Plan?
 For example, should it be:
 To increase the number of new entrepreneurs and start-ups (by how
many, by when?)
 To increase the level of employment creation by new and existing
small enterprises (to what?)
 To increase the number of SME exporters (from what to what)?
 To raise the level of productivity and competitiveness of existing
SMEs?
 To foster entrepreneurship and SME development in the regions and
balanced access to support programmes and services?
 To …………………………………………….?
 Discussion???? 4

5. STRATEGY OBJECTIVES IMPLIED FROM THE OECD-
LIBYA DIAGNOSTIC STUDY
 Broadening the entrepreneurial base and increasing the
rate of participation of private SMEs in the economy.
 Building an entrepreneurship culture and stimulating the
entry of a large number of entrepreneurial start-ups,
including innovative and high value-added start-ups (to
address the very low level of entrepreneurial activity and
unleashing of latent entrepreneurial potential of the
population)
 Increasing the rate of formality among SMEs.
 Reducing barriers to expansion and growth of existing
SMEs
 Increasing the availability of appropriately skilled workers
to meet the needs of SMEs.
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6. 7 STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AS STATED IN OECD-LIBYA
DIAGNOSTIC REPORT
A. Improve access to finance
B. Strengthen the culture of entrepreneurship
C. Promote the inclusion of vulnerable population and
regional balance
D. Improve access to networks and skills, including
through business development support (BDS) services
E. Improve the legal and regulatory environment for start-
ups and SMEs
F. Improve access to markets for SMEs
G. Develop innovation and technological capacity of SMEs
Are these the right ones? And with what priority?
Exercise on Worksheet 1: handout material (level of
priority and ranking) 6

7. PRELIMINARY ACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH STRATEGIC
PRIORITIES – OECD-LIBYA DIAGNOSTIC STUDY
 Diagnostic study identified a number of short-, medium- and
longer-term actions under each of the 7 strategic priorities
(see Annex of handout material – “Potential actions for
strategic priorities)
 These actions have to be realistic to be achieved over a 2-
year time frame, yet set the foundation for a later national
SME/entrepreneurship strategy
 Questions for discussion:
 Are these the major ones to be addressed in the Short-term
Action Plan?
 Should some be shifted from short-term to medium-term or
vice versa?
 Should other actions be included?
 Should emphasis be placed on certain target groups (e.g.
women, young people, new gradates, ex-combatants)?
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8. EX: STRENGTHEN THE CULTURE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP
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9. EX: IMPROVE ACCESS TO NETWORKS AND SKILLS,
INCLUDING THROUGH BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
SUPPORT SERVICES
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10. EX: IMPROVE ACCESS TO MARKETS FOR SMES
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11. EX: DEVELOP INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL
CAPACITY OF SMES
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12. COMMENTS/ QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION INPUT?
Repeating main questions for discussion
 Are these the major activities to be addressed in the
Short-term Action Plan?
 Should some be shifted from short-term to medium-
term or vice versa?
 Should other actions be included?
 Should emphasis be placed on certain target
groups (e.g. women, young people, new gradates,
ex-combatants)
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