As the fifth in a series of in-country events, the Assessment Consultation Meeting in Türkiye marked the official launch of the new cycle of the SME Policy Index for the Western Balkans and Türkiye 2026. It will set the structure for cooperation over the next year, aimed at generating timely, high-quality inputs for the OECD’s evidence-based assessment and reinforcing the Index’s national relevance.
The meeting brought together over 70 participants, including representatives from more than 40 institutions across the Turkish administration, as well as the Delegation of the European Union to Türkiye. It served as a critical platform to deepen stakeholder engagement, foster inter-institutional coordination, and ensure shared ownership of the assessment process.
Participants had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the updated SMEPI 2026 methodology, including the introduction of thematic clusters, and to exchange preliminary feedback on the inputs submitted so far. The discussions helped clarify roles, address data gaps, and lay the groundwork for a smooth and collaborative evaluation process.
Türkiye’s strong engagement reaffirmed the strategic role of the SME Policy Index as a reform enabler. Stakeholders recognised SMEPI as not only a benchmarking tool but also a valuable framework to strengthen SME resilience, advance policy alignment with the EU’s Small Business Act, and respond to emerging challenges such as digitalisation, decarbonisation, and supply chain disruptions. The meeting reinforced the OECD’s position as a trusted and long-standing partner for Türkiye in advancing SME policy reform and economic integration, setting the tone for a focused, action-oriented assessment cycle ahead.
