Environmental innovation of small and medium businesses in Central Asian countries (on the example of the Republic of Kazakhstan)

This research aims to identify the dynamics of eco-innovations in Kazakhstan's small and medium-sized business sectors, as well as to assess the practical significance of these innovations for both ecology and society as a whole. To achieve this objective, a combination of methods was employed, including surveys of entrepreneurs and enterprise managers using structured questionnaires, as well as the analysis of statistical information. The research findings indicate that small and medium-sized enterprises in Kazakhstan are actively implementing strategies aimed at energy conservation and the utilization of environmentally efficient technologies, resulting in high levels of energy savings. This trend underscores the growing role of SMEs in the economy, as reflected in the increased gross value added and their share of gross domestic product. The increase in environmental protection investments since 2000 signifies an enhanced awareness of the importance of environmental issues and the strengthening of sustainable development strategies in Kazakhstan. The results of the correlation–regression analysis suggest variability in the relationship between the implementation of energy-saving systems and the level of greenhouse gas emissions, possibly explained by more intensive measures towards energy efficiency. Thus, SMEs are actively involved in reducing environmental impact and consider environmental innovations as a key factor for sustainable economic growth. The research findings provide a valuable basis for informed decision-making in the realm of ecological sustainability and the development of small and medium-sized businesses in Central Asian countries.

The development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is a key factor in economic growth and innovative development in the modern era of globalization and digital transformation. This article explores strategic approaches to SME development, analyzing theoretical aspects and practical models that contribute to the sustainable growth of this sector. Special attention is given to the role of government support, institutional factors, and the implementation of innovations. An analysis of existing strategies based on literary sources is conducted, identifying the main challenges and prospects for SME development in Russia. The article also offers recommendations for improving strategic approaches aimed at enhancing the competitiveness and resilience of SMEs. A tabular analysis demonstrates the effectiveness of various SME development strategies in different regional contexts. The study emphasizes the need for a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to achieve sustainable SME development, as well as the importance of collaboration between government bodies, the private sector, and academic institutions.

The development of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is encouraged in Indonesia because the SMEs were proven to be more sustainable than corporations during the economic crisis in 1997. Such the SMEs are In Islam, it is represented by entrepreneurship that has long been encouraged along with the Shari’ah. During the era of caliph Umar Ibn Abdul Aziz, the poverty was eliminated due to the role of Islamic economic welfare system. In development of the economic welfare system, the concept of Al-Manihah will play one of the important roles. Al-Manihah encourages the establishment of Islamic civilization and development of the SMEs based on maqasid shari’ah in the era of Sahabah (companions) and Islamic Financial Institution for current era. In addition, Al-Manihah is one of the alternatives to overcome the risk in financing SME towards Islamic financial institutions. The concept of Al-Manihah for development of SME through SWOT analysis and mix method research design show positive correlation between Al-Manihah concept and development of SMEs. Keyword : Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), Al-Manihah, Islamic Financial Institution, SWOT analysis, and Mix Method Research Design

This study examined the impact of public policies on the growth and development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Kogi State, Nigeria, using a mixed-methods approach. The descriptive survey design collected quantitative data from SME owners and policymakers, while the documentary research design analyzed secondary data from government reports and policy documents. The target population included SME owners, managers, and policymakers, selected due to their direct experience with policy implementation. With approximately 895 registered SMEs in Kogi State, the study utilized primary data collection and multiple linear regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses at a 5% level of significance. Findings indicated that monetary policy (MP) has a strong positive correlation with entrepreneurship growth and a statistically significant effect on SME development. Findings revealed that monetary policy (MP) has a positive yet strong correlation with entrepreneurship growth. Findings also show that monetary policy has a highly statistically significant effect on the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises in Kogi State, Nigeria. The study reveals that government policies are the major challenges that affect SMEs' growth and development in the global competitive environment. The findings further show that this factor has a significant impact on SMEs' growth in Kogi State, Nigeria. To mitigate policy-related challenges, the study recommended that SME management adopt effective strategies, such as adapting to subsidy regimes and other government policies that affect business operations. The research underscores the need for policymakers to consider SME-friendly regulations to foster sustainable business growth in Kogi State and Nigeria.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are 99.9% of total businesses in Indonesia. Mapping/clustering potential of SMEs that built in accordance with the conditions of the region/administrative, potential resources (commodities) and business units (production centers and groups) can be used as an indicator and the benchmark for guidance, development and supervision in order to strengthen the spine and the national economic structure. Objectives of the study are (1) identify potential SMEs that built in accordance with business information and problems encountered; (2) compile a database of selected target SMEs in the form of statistical profiles that are relevant to the purposes of guidance, development and supervision (success indicators and critical); (3) develop a standard model or alternative development, SMEs development and built a successful surveillance with the potential clustering patterns (base development) in accordance with local circumstances, and economic sectors. In this study used techniques: (1) desk research of secondary data sourced from SMEs that built by PT. Sucofindo and literature on SMEs-related studies conducted; (2) a brief survey to the selected SMEs locations from the point (1) purposively to obtain primary data as a verification activity that is supported by effective semi-structured questionnaire. Data analysis carried out descriptively, both qualitative and quantitative. From the study guidance, development and supervision of SMEs that built by PT Sucofindo available facts and data (information business, determinants, the feasibility of the business sector, loan repayment status and conceptual models) that SMEs that built can be categorized pre-enterprise SMEs and businesses running. Business grouping determines the smoothness of debt servicing. Therefore, in order to establish indicators of the model guidance, development and supervision in accordance with the type of SME, then the PT. Sucofindo requires an assessment system that is easy, fast, accurate, reliable and trustworthy, that can later be used as an effective guide for guidance, development and supervision of SMEs in general and in particular SMEs that built by PT. Sucofindo used a generic approach in business performance indicators that are supported by indicators of business drivers. Model guidance, development and supervision SMEs that has done so far by PT. Sucofindo still be reliable, but for the speed and feasibility of the establishment of SMEs which will be built into the front according to selected economic sectors, would be equipped with an approach that resulted in the studies of guidance, development and supervision, namely the general model of guidance, development and supervision of SMEs that built based on SMEs that built issues, systems of SMEs that built, assumptions, conceptual models and variables that can be measured. Guidance, development and supervision of SMEs that built, with potential cluster approach can be performed on: (1) category of solid natural resources, when positioned on the outskirts of the city and labor intensive, when positioned in the center of town; (2) technical assistance and competency-based according to the phase business. Both of the thing are helping improve the performance and structural improvement of SMEs, increase their competitiveness and resilience of SMEs supported by the core business, supporting business and related businesses intensively interconnected

ICT plays a critical role in the growth and development of SMEs. Tanzania is a developing country where small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are perceived as the engine of growth, yet they have not attained the expected level. The adoption of ICT enables the SMEs to be more competitive. ICT plays a very important role in the current knowledge economy. The ICT sector presents a tremendous opportunity for economic growth. If ICT is adopted, it will significantly improve the performance and productivity of SMEs. The problem facing most of the SMEs is partial or non-adoption of technology. They have to adopt ICT in order to remain competitive and be competitive. The study investigates how the adoption of ICT could contribute to the success of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), examines impact of information and communication technologies in small and medium enterprises growth and development. Technology acceptance model was adopted by the researcher. The case study and cross-sectional survey research design was used to generate data. This is because with such a design it is easy to collect data in a short period of time from many respondents. The researcher used questionnaires to gather data from SMEs institutions covering Ilala district in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The researcher used the sample size of 82 respondents. Simple random sampling was used in sampling SMEs in Ilala district. The data collected from the survey was analyzed using simple percentage, mean, standard deviation, and regression analysis. The results show that T1 and T3 Pearson's correlation coefficient(r) equals .231*, indicating a strong relationship in terms of correlation. p< .037 and indicates that the coefficient is significantly different from 0. We can conclude that there is correlation between T1 and T3. In particular, it seems that the more the use of computer network it stimulates the growth and development of the SMEs (r = .231, p <.037). Also T1 and T2 Pearson's correlation coefficient(r) equals .196*, indicating a strong relationship in terms of correlation. p< .077 and indicates that the coefficient is significantly different from 0 (r = .196, p <.077). ICT has great potential in the growth and development of SMEs which is still untapped in Ilala district. The adaption of ICT in SMEs business has helped to transform business to another level, sharpen market intelligence, improve efficiency, reduce supply chain from B2C, B2B, and increase customer satisfaction.

Over the years, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) have been identified generally as the bedrock of an economy having the potential for employment generation, economic stability, wealth creation, increased Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Developing and sustaining this sector will greatly impact the economic growth of Nigeria. However, due to the minimal attention that have been paid to this sector over the years, its contribution to the GDP and employment generation has remained relatively non-substantial. Under the right business environment, SMEs can thrive and metamorphose into larger firms, thereby bringing about the much-needed economic revolution, technological advancement, self-sufficiency, poverty reduction and increased security. The success and failure of SMEs are characterized by several factors, both internal and external. This paper considers the importance of developing and promoting sustainable SMEs schemes to attain a competitive position in the local and international marketplace and also examines key determinants influencing the growth and development of SMEs in Nigeria. Several key factors were identified that should be addressed to enable SMEs attain robust growth and recognition, specifically the utilization of technology. Special attention was paid to the infrastructural gaps, the need to bridge the gaps to allow for a more efficient, vigorous and optimal deployment of resources. Key policy recommendations that could foster the development and sustenance of SMEs were proffered.

With this study, we try to explore new evidence about financial innovation in small and medium enterprises (SME) financing impact on SME development in Bangladesh from 1985 to 2016. To bring insight, we apply Autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL)-bound testing approach of ascertaining the long-run relationship between financing innovation and SME development, and also investigate directional causality by applying Granger-causality under error correction model. Bound testing confirms the existence of long-run relationship between SME financing innovation and SME development in Bangladesh. Furthermore, Granger-causality test provides evidence to support feedback hypothesis between proxy indicators of financing innovation and SME development both in long-run and short-run. Furthermore, among all control variables, only trade openness confirms unidirectional causality toward SME development in short-run; on the other hand, in long-run, all the variables cause SME development at country level. The study suggests that well-functioned SME financing is a necessary condition but not sufficient to maximize the potential of SME in Bangladesh. So, the government should encourage financial institutions for bringing new ways of SME financing by ensuring cost-effective financial services with a uniform cost structure at large.

Poverty alleviation has been positioned high on the international development agenda following the adoption of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000. African countries initiated various missions to establish sustained economic growth by increasing productivity with an ultimate goal of poverty reduction. The significance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in poverty reduction and employment generation is widely acknowledged. Despite the high failure rate amongst SMEs, particularly in the African context, some are striving with excellent results and are demonstrating signs of growth, innovation and sustainability. This paper explores the development of SMEs as a strategic measure for job creation in sub-Saharan Africa. It examines the role of SMEs in achieving sustainable employment in Africa. This study will benefit governments in Africa, getting them to focus on the development of the SMEs, and guiding them on how best to integrate SME development to achieve poverty alleviation. The recommendations proposed in this study may be helpful in policy formulation, business operation and regulatory practice for sustainable growth and development in the sub-Saharan African context.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have a significant importance in the economy of all societies, regardless of their system and development plans. In Egypt, SMEs occupy the major part of the industry sector; hence, these enterprises have a vital role in the Egyptian economy despite all the difficulties and problems they face. efforts have been paid, on an international scale, to reveal economic and managerial effects of the SMEs; among these efforts was the development of many strategic models that have been constructed especially for this sector. The integration of design into strategic management is crucial to the success of the economy in general, and in the SMEs sector in specific, but its implementation is subject to unpredictable changes, particularly in the establishment’s external or internal environments, this can have a measurable effect on the performance of SMEs. Therefore the current study problem can be seen in The need to identify the knowhow of employing design strategies in the development of SMEs in Egypt. And the oObjective has been to investigate the importance of design strategy within Ceramic SMEs to evaluate the key success factors in implementing it for business management and development.

The effect of renewable energy (RE) development on the sustainable development of SMEs' potential in Nigeria was empirically done to unlock the possibility of deciphering the perennial energy problem in Nigeria. The development of renewable energy (RE) resources and utilization can greatly benefit Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria by providing a reliable, sustainable and cost-effective power supply. This is especially important, as many sectors of Nigeria's economy, including SMEs, are highly dependent on the poor power supply that is currently available. Thus, this study specifically examines the effect of RE resources availability, generation, system efficiency and effectiveness, and utilization on SMEs’ sustainable development potential in Nigeria. A survey research design was adopted and a population of 73,081 SMEs across Nigeria was utilized with a sample of 398 SMEs selected using multi-stage sampling techniques. A validated questionnaire was administered to the owners/managers of the selected SMEs, information obtained from the questionnaire was collated, scrutinized, and analyzed using Structural Equation Model (SEM) with the aid of SMART PLS 4 software through the structural model. The findings revealed that RE resources availability, generation, system efficiency and effectiveness, and utilization potentials of SMEs have a positive and significant effect on the potential development of SMEs in Nigeria. The study concluded that RE resources availability, generation, system efficiency and effectiveness, and utilization have significant influence on SMEs’ sustainable development potential in Nigeria. Thus, government, private sectors, and international development partners should focus on providing more resources, knowledge, and support to enable SMEs to access, generate and effectively use renewable energy resources more efficiently.

The development of small and medium enterprises (SME) at a satisfied level can be achieved only through the application of knowledge and best practices that are developed at private sector, considering as their main derivation - the creation of new work places. The purpose of this paper is that even in our theory and practice to be provided modern concepts regarding the management of small and medium enterprises and regarding the business decision making. Small and medium enterprises can be considered as engines for the creation of new working places, in other words, can be considered as incubators for innovation and entrepreneurship. But in many poor countries, small and medium enterprises are not considered as the main players in the local ecosystem, which makes many of them operating outside the formal legal system and which phenomena results in the increase of informality and in the decrease of productivity. In addition, the condition becomes harder as they lack the funding and the long-term capital which on the other hand are the basis for the creation and function of companies. The development of SMEs is considered as the basic generator of economic growth. This development should be based on the advantages which should be further developed and on the obstacles and weaknesses, which, through strategies and means of economic policy, must be overcome and revitalized. Based on our studies, in the overall context of this work can be conducted the structuring of SMEs and the process of making business decisions in Kosovo. The focus of the analysis in this paper is the creation of friendly conditions for the development of small and medium enterprises towards employment policies and structural reforms, institutional market economy, generating of new work places. The necessity of these actions lays on the fact that in Kosovo exists a very large army of unemployed youth. The world today is undergoing through a global financial crisis which had started in the United States in 2008 and which has spread all around the globe. It can be said that this global financial crisis has been the longest that this world has recognized. For this reason, to the government of any country is added one more task, which is even more difficult, that through its policies to do the impossible in order to overcome this crisis and to send the respective country towards economic development, more specifically towards the development of the small and medium enterprise which in turn will have an impact on the decrease of unemployment. In addition, the purpose of this study would be to identify the current situation of small and medium enterprises, their structuring and their components in Kosovo.

Small and medium enterprises are becoming increasingly important for the creation and development of a modern, dynamic and knowledge-based economy. This is because of their capacity to promote entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial skills, and because of their ability to be flexible and adapt quickly to a changing market, and to generate new jobs. SME sector is the backbone of the economy in countries with higher income, while it is less developed in the countries with the low incomes. Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reports that more than 95% of enterprises in the OECD area are SMEs. These enterprises employ about 60% of private sector workers, make a major contribution in the field of innovation and support regional development and social cohesion. Also, SMEs in most low income countries give significant contribution to GDP growth and the creation of new jobs. In Kosovo SMEs represent more than 99% of the total number of enterprises and their share in GDP amounts to more than 50% (CBK, 2011). For this reason, the identification of external factors affecting the development of SMEs in Kosovo is very important, in order to take all the necessary steps to reduce or remove barriers and create new opportunities for these enterprises. This research focuses primarily on the impact of external factors, with special emphasis on access to finance for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Kosovo. External factors such as access to finance, competition, corruption, and government policies have very important impact in the development of SMEs in Kosovo. Facilitating access to finance is essential to set up a favorable environment to develop SMEs. However, in general, SMEs in developing countries face numerous barriers to funding, although this problem is not unknown even in developed countries. Barriers that face SMEs usually relate to high administrative costs, high collateral requirements and the lack of willingness of banks to lend to SMEs. Raising the level of awareness of their role and availability of access to finance for SMEs can improve economic conditions in developing countries by promoting innovation, growth of GDP and reduce unemployment. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n9p701

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have a significant importance in the economy of all societies, regardless of their system and development plans. In Egypt, SMEs occupy the major part of the industry sector; hence, these enterprises have a vital role in the Egyptian economy despite all the difficulties and problems they face. efforts have been paid, on an international scale, to reveal economic and managerial effects of the SMEs; among these efforts was the development of many strategic models that have been constructed especially for this sector. The integration of design into strategic management is crucial to the success of the economy in general, and in the SMEs sector in specific, but its implementation is subject to unpredictable changes, particularly in the establishment’s external or internal environments, this can have a measurable effect on the performance of SMEs. Therefore the current study problem can be seen in The need to identify the knowhow of employing design strategies in the development of SMEs in Egypt. And the oObjective has been to investigate the importance of design strategy within Ceramic SMEs to evaluate the key success factors in implementing it for business management and development.

In South Africa, the post-apartheid regime offers small and medium enterprise (SME) construction firms opportunities to develop through targeted procurement strategies. However, there are limited studies that determine the level of the relationships between the procurement strategies and the development of SME construction firms. Hence, this study investigated whether there is a variation in the effect of procurement strategies on the development of SME construction firms. A quantitative research approach was employed in collecting data from 176 SME construction firms in South Africa. The data collected were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling, mean item scores and the Kruskal–Wallis test. The findings revealed that there is a relationship between procurement strategies and the socio-economic development of specific classes of SME construction firms in South Africa. The study also found that there is a slight mismatch between procurement strategy and SME development outcomes for different SME sizes. It was concluded that the achievement of SME development has little to do with preferences or the use of specific procurement strategies. The study recommends that public-sector clients should not entirely treat SMEs as a homogenous block when using traditional project procurement. Further studies that examine how different characteristics of SMEs influence SME development are recommended.