1. ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SMALL BUSINESS ACT FOR EUROPE Preliminary results 22 May 2013

2. 1.Background 2.Methodology and process 3.Overview of preliminary results 4.Key issues for discussion Agenda 2

3. BACKGROUND 3

4. WITH THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION Euromed-Charter/SBA Assessment 4 Objective: To assess the level of implementation of key principles for SME and entrepreneurship policy – Framework based on the Small Business Act for Europe; – Focus on policy design and implementation; – Comparison across countries and time; – Performance benchmarked against EU and OECD good practices Analytical tool: the SME Policy Index; already applied to: – In the Western Balkans and Turkey (2007, 2009, 2012) – In the Eastern Partnership countries (2012) – In the Southern Mediterranean (MED countries) (2008, ongoing) – In the ASEAN (ongoing)

5. WITH THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION Euromed-Charter/SBA Partners 5 1.Regional Scope: ALG, EGY, LEB, MOR, ISR, JOR, PA, TUN 2.International partner organisations: Assessment and coordination by the European Commission, the European Training Foundation and the OECD; in consultation with the EIB 3.Med partners: a.National coordinators are the main contact point and facilitator in each country; b.Government agencies and bodies facilitate information and perform self-assessments; c.Private sector representative organisations provides substantial input throughout the process d.Local experts support assessment and collect data and information;

6. METHODOLOGY 6

7. WITH THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION The “assessment grid” 7 The Index is built on a number of dimensions organised according to the principles of the Small Business Act; Policy dimensions are subdivided into sub-dimensions and those in turn include a number of analytical indicators; Progress is assessed on the basis of a five-step policy development path at the level of individual indicator;

8. The SME Policy Index methodology 8 SBA PrinciplesDimensionsSub-dimensionsIndicators The policy dimensions of the 2012- 2014 Policy Index 1) Education and training for entrepreneurship 2) Bankruptcy and second chance 3) “Think Small First” principle 4) Public administration responsive to SME needs 5) Adapt public policy tools to SME needs 6) Access to finance 7) Encouraging SMEs to benefit from opportunities provided by the European single market 8) Promote skills upgrading and innovation 9) Promote green growth 10) Tapping into the opportunities of growing markets Dimensions Sub-dimensions 3)“Think Small First” Principle 3) 1. Institutional framework for enterprise policy 3) 2. Better legislation Subdimensions Indicators 3) 1.Institutional Framework 3)1.1.Delegation of responsibility for enterprise policy Indicators Level of reform 12345 Delegation of responsibility for enterprise policy Co-ordination with other ministries Enterprise development strategies

9. WITH THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION First Assessment in 2008, based on the Euromed Charter for Enterprise Current (2013) assessment based on the SBA for Europe Good level of comparability between the two assessments, as the majority of the indicators have remained unchanged 9 Evolution

10. WITH THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION Time-frame 10 1.January-March: Launching of the assessment process. Country team established, local advisors selected 2.March- May: Country assessments conducted 3.21 May to 18 June: Presentation of preliminary country results at bilateral meetings 4.25 June: Presentation Meeting of national coordinators and review of results at regional level 5.Mid- October: Finalisation of the results 6.First quarter 2014: Publication and launch of the regional report

11. WITH THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION The objective of this meeting is to discuss specific indicators and to compare the evaluation of the country and the independent assessment according to four criteria: Scores that are very different from 2008 Scores that vary between the country and the independent assessment Low scores Scores where more information is required Objective 11

12. National Coordinator: Dr. Nir Ben- Aharon, Ministry of Economy OECD advisors and key advisors: Dr. Dan Kauffman and his team; ETF key advisors Process launched on 5 March 2013 Israeli SBA assessment partners 12

13. OVERVIEW OF PRELIMINARY RESULTS 13

14. Over 380.000 enterprise active, 99% SMEs; Enterprise class structure similar to the EU, but lower M-Es representation; Healthy churning rate, 50% survival rate at the 4 th year; Highlights of the SME sector in Israel 14

15. Preliminary overall performance 15

16. StrengthsChallenges Principle 3: Advanced institutional framework and improved strategic approach Principle 2: Cumbersome and lengthy bankruptcy procedures, second chance neglected Principle 5: Wide range of services to SMEs and good accessibility Principle 3: Regulatory reform at an initial stage RIA not yet fully introduced Principle 6: Flexible and diversified range of financial products and services, including provision of risk capital Principle 4: No proper One Stop Shop, no on line registration Principle 8: State of art support to innovative and technologically oriented companies, particularly high tech start-ups Principle 9: Lack of instruments to support adoption of environmental standards by SMEs Key strengths and challenges 16

17. Institutional framework: lack of strategy, limited coordination and fragmented implementation No systematic tackling of administrative burden Areas for improvements highlighted in the 2008 report 17

18. Institutional framework: SME development strategy introduced, implementation under way Transformation of the SME Authority into the Small Business Agency, with clear mandate on policy coordination, advocacy and programme implementation Main policy improvements since 2008 18

19. Regulatory simplification: Work started on priority areas: business licence requirements, expedited business licence; Amendment to the VAT Act Steps to introduce systematic application of RIA Main policy improvements since 2008 19

20. ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION 20

21. Israel has developed a well structured and innovative SME policy framework; We observed an increased convergence towards the EU SBA framework, with Israel more advanced than the EU in areas such as support to innovative enterprises and access to finance for high-tech and high growth enterprises; Israel has still to catch-up on regulatory reform and administrative simplification Key challenges in SME policy 21

22. Point of strength of the Israeli policy framework:  Intense dialogue with the private sector and constructive public-private cooperation;  Government action can focus on areas where its actions benefit most (i.e. promoting entrepreneurship in marginalised communities)  Extensive network system supporting dynamic enterprises; Key challenges in SME policy 22

23. Downside risks:  Two speed enterprise sector: high-tech versus low tech, centre versus periphery, export oriented enterprises versus enterprises serving the domestic market.  Growing missing middle syndrome: limited domestic market force company to choose between going international or staying small. Key challenges in SME policy 23

24. Principle 2: ensure that honest entrepreneurs who have faced bankruptcy quickly get a second chance Key issues: – Bankruptcy procedures: low score for “cost (% of the estate)” – Second chance: low score for “Promoting positive attitude towards giving entrepreneurs a fresh start” 24

25. Key issues: – Low score for “Cost-benefit analysis of new enterprise legislation and regulation” (RIA) Principle 3: Design rules according to the “think small first” principle 25

26. Key issues: – Low score for “Official cost of obtaining the company registration certificate”, “Silence-is-consent” principle and “On-line registration” – One-stop-shop, not really in place? divergence between the two assessments. – Different current configuration of the registration/notification/compliance process, divergence between the two assessments. Principle 4: Streamlining public administration to be responsive to SME needs 26

27. Key issues: – Ensuring that payments are made on time –an issue that quite often SMEs are complying on, mainly on payments of municipals and public, non-governmental entities. – Availability of information on business service providers, what is provided by public or by private sector? divergence between the two assessments. – Business incubators: Hi-tech oriented incubators versus non-hi- tech incubators. divergence between the two assessments. – Online information for enterprises: what is the status of the AMBA portal? divergence between the two assessments. Principle 5: Adapting public policy tools to SME needs 27

28. Key issues: – Micro-finance: Unclear how the Micro-finance sector looks like. More information is needed on key players to determine the score. divergence between the two assessments. – Private equity: Strong bias towards high-technology start-ups – Financial literacy: where we stand by today? – General legal framework versus specific law: leasing, risk capital, and capital market Principle 6: Facilitate SMEs’ Access to Finance and develop a legal and business environment supportive to timely payments in commercial transactions 28

29. Key issues: – Low score for “Level of computerisation of procedures for foreign trade” – Low score for “ Virtual one-stop-shop to deal with the formalities of foreign trade” – Low score for “ Euro-Med inter-firm clusters and partnerships” – Low score for “ Euro-Med networks of business support services” – Enterprise Europe Network Principle 7: Help SMEs to benefit more from the opportunities offered by the single market 29

30. Key issues: – Budget provision for SME innovation–most innovation funds are spent by the Chief Science Office of the Ministry of Economy for technological innovation. For these funds, there are almost no distinctions between small and big companies – Good performance of “Incubators serving innovative start-ups which are linked to technology content” – What about supporting non technological innovation? Principle 8: Promote the upgrading of skills and all forms of innovation 30

31. Key issues: – Low score for: “Promoting the use of environmental management systems and standards” Principle 9: Enable SMEs to turn environmental changes into opportunities 31

32. Key issues: – Export promotion strategy: divergence between the two assessments Principle 10: Encourage and support SMEs to benefit from growth markets 32