Publication:
Building Kuwait’s Future, One Small Enterprise at a Time

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2016-03
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2016-03
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The number of Small-to-Medium enterprises (SMEs) in Kuwait is high, particularly in retail and non-financial services, but their overall contribution to the economy is marginal—just 3% of GDP. This paradox is especially troubling when compared to high income and emerging economies, where SMEs comprise most of the economic activity in the private sector and contribute to 50% and 40% of GDP (respectively). According to a recent survey of nearly 50,000 firms in 104 countries, SMEs provide as much as two-thirds of all employment, with small firms contributing more to employment in low-income countries than high-income countries.
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Abukumail, Ali H.; Karam, Nadia; Al-Otaibi, Ghanimah. 2016. Building Kuwait’s Future, One Small Enterprise at a Time. MENA Knowledge and Learning Quick Notes Series;No. 153. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/23945 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.
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