| AAICI | Argentine Investment and International Trade Agency Agencia Argentina de Inversiones y Comercio Internacional |
| AFIP | Federal Administration of Public Revenues Administración Federal de Ingresos Públicos |
| ANR | Non-Refundable Contributions Aportes No Reembolsables |
| BCRA | Central Bank of Argentina Banco Central de la República Argentina |
| BICE | Bank for Investment and Foreign Trade Banco de Inversión y Comercio Exterior |
| BNA | National Bank Banco de la Nación |
| CICyT | Interinstitutional Council of Science and Technology Consejo Interinstitucional de Ciencia y Tecnología |
| CNV | National Securities Commission Comisión Nacional de Valores |
| COFECyt | Federal Council of Science, Technology, and Innovation Consejo Federal de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación |
| CoFeFuP | Federal Council of the Public Function Consejo Federal de la Función Pública |
| CPPPE | Public-Private Council for the Promotion of Exports Consejo Público Privado para la Promoción de Exportaciones |
| CUIT | Unique Tax Identification Code Clave Única de Identificación Tributaria |
| EEAE | Specialised Entities for Entrepreneur Support Entidades Especializadas de Apoyo al Emprendedor |
| ENACOM | National Communications Agency Ente Nacional de Comunicaciones |
| FOGABA | Guarantee Fund Buenos Aires Fondo de Garantías Buenos Aires |
| FOGAR | Argentine Guarantee Fund Fondo de Garantías Argentino |
| FONTAR | Argentine Technology Fund Fondo Tecnológico Argentino |
| GACTEC | Scientific and Technological Cabinet Gabinete Científico y Tecnológico |
| GDE | Electronic Document Management System Gestión Documental Electrónica |
| LUFE | Single Financial and Economic Record Legajo Único Financiero y Económico |
| MDP | Ministry of Productive Development Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo |
| MINCYT | Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación |
| OLES | Simple Export Logistic Operators Operadores Logísticos Exporta Simple |
| ONPI | National Observatory of Industrial Parks Observatorio Nacional de Parques Industriales |
| RENPI | National Register of Industrial Parks Registro Nacional de Parques Industriales |
| RFCEM | SMEs Electronic Credit Invoice Factura de Crédito Electrónica MiPyME |
| SIPRO | Supplier Information System Sistema de Información de Proveedores |
| TAD | Distance Procedures platform Plataforma de Trámites a Distancia |
SME Policy Index: Latin America and the Caribbean 2024
Abbreviations and acronyms
Copy link to Abbreviations and acronymsArgentina
Brazil
| ABDI | Brazilian Industrial Development Agency |
| ApexBrasil | Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency Agência Brasileira de Promoção de Exportações e Investimentos |
| BMP | Brazil More Productive Programa Brasil Mais Produtivo |
| BNDES | National Bank for Economic and Social Development Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social |
| DREI | National Department of Business Registration and Integration Departamento Nacional de Registro Empresarial e Integração |
| EGD | Digital Government Strategy Estratégia de Governo Digital |
| EMBRAPII | Brazilian Company for Industrial Research and Innovation Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa e Inovação Industrial |
| FINEP | Financing Agency for Studies and Projects Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos |
| GTP-APL | Permanent Working Group for Local Productive Arrangements Grupo de Trabalho Permanente para Arranjos Produtivos Locais |
| IBGE | Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística |
| INMETRO | National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia |
| IPCA | Broad National Consumer Price Index Índice Nacional de Preços ao Consumidor Amplo |
| LGPD | Brazil’s General Data Protection Law |
| MDIC | Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services Ministério do Desenvolvimento, Indústria, Comércio e Serviços |
| MEI | Individual Microentrepreneurs Microempreendedor Individual |
| MGI | Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services Ministério da Gestão e da Inovação em Serviços Públicos |
| PEIEX | Export Qualification Programme Programa de Qualificação para Exportação |
| PNCE | National Export Culture Plan |
| PRONAMPE | National Programme for Supporting Micro and Small Enterprises |
| REDESIM | Simplification of Registration and Legalisation of Companies and Businesses |
| RFB | Federal Revenue of Brazil Receita Federal do Brasil |
| SDIC | Secretariat for Industrial Development, Innovation, Trade and Services Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Industrial, Inovação, Comércio e Serviços |
| SEBRAE | Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service Serviço Brasileiro de Apoio às Micro e Pequenas Empresas |
| SENAC | National Commercial Apprenticeship Service Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Comercial |
| SENAI | National Industrial Apprenticeship Service Serviço Nacional de Aprendizagem Industrial |
| SETE | Extraordinary Secretariat for State Transformation Secretaria Extraordinária para Transformação do Estado |
| SGD | Secretary of Digital Government Secretaria de Governo Digital |
Paraguay
| AFD | Development Finance Agency |
| CAE | Entrepreneurship Support Centers Centro de Apoyos a Emprendedores |
| CBP | Central Bank of Paraguay Banco Central del Paraguay |
| CONACYT | National Council for Science and Technology Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología |
| CST | Technology and innovation service centres |
| DNCP | National Directorate of Public Procurement Dirección Nacional de Compras Públicas |
| EAS | Simplified Joint-Stock Companies Empresas por Acciones Simplificadas |
| EGDI | Electronic Government Development Index |
| ENCONEC | National Connectivity Strategy |
| EPHC | Continuous Permanent Household Survey Encuesta Permanente de Hogares Continua |
| FOGAPY | Paraguay Guarantee Fund Fondo de Garantía del Paraguay |
| ITS | Higher Technical Institute |
| MIC | Ministry of Industry and Commerce Ministerio de Industria y Comercio |
| MITIC | Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies Ministerio de Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación |
| OCP | Open Contracting Partnership |
| ONN | National Standardisation Organism Organismo Nacional de Normalización |
| PAC | Yearly Contracting Prorgamme Programa Annual de Contrataciones |
| PCD | distance learning platform |
| Prociencia | Paraguayan Programme for the Development of Science and Technology Programa Paraguayo para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología |
| Proinnova | Paraguayan Business Innovation Programme Programa de Innovación en Empresas Paraguayas |
| REDIEX | Red de Inversiones y Exportaciones, or Investment and Export Network |
| RUC | Single Taxpayer Register Registro Único del Contribuyente |
| SBDC | Small Business Development Centres Centros de Desarrollo Empresarial |
| SIFEN | National Integrated Electronic Invoicing System Sistema Integrado de Facturación Electrónica Nacional |
| SINAMYPIMES | National SME System Sistema Nacional de MiPyMES |
| SUACE | Unified System for the Opening and Closing of Businesses Sistema Unificado de Apertura y Cierre de Empresas |
Uruguay
| AGESIC | E-Government and Information Society Agency of Uruguay Agencia de Gobierno electrónico y Sociedad de la Información de Uruguay |
| ANDE | National Development Agency Agencia Nacional de Desarrollo |
| ANII | National Agency for Research and Innovation Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovación |
| ARCE | Contracting and Purchasing Agency of the State Agencia Reguladora de Compras Estatales |
| BCU | Central Bank of Uruguay Banco Central del Uruguay |
| CONICYT | National Council of Innovation, Science and Technology Consejo Nacional de Innovación, Ciencia y Tecnología |
| Dinapyme | National Directorate of Crafts, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Dirección Nacional de Artesanías, Pequeñas y Medianas Empresas |
| DIPCI | Directorate of Trade and Investment Promotion Intelligence |
| EGDI | E-Government Development Index |
| FIS | Sectorial Innovation Fund Fondo de Innovación Sectorial |
| FODIME | Market Diversification Fund Fondo de Diversificación de Mercados |
| FSS | Social Security Trust Fund Fidecomiso de la Seguridad Social |
| INEFOP | National Institute for Employment and Vocational Training Instituto Nacional de Empleo y Formación Profesional |
| IRAE | Tax on Income from Economic Activities Impuesto a las Rentas de las Actividades Económicas |
| LATU | Technological Laboratory of Uruguay |
| MEC | Ministry of Education and Culture Ministerio de Educación y Cultura |
| MEF | Ministry of Economy and Finance Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas |
| MIEM | Ministry of Industry, Energy, and Mining Ministerio de Industria, Energía y Minería |
| OPP | Office of Planning and Budget |
| OUA | Uruguayan Accreditation Body |
| RUT | Single Tax Register Registro Único Tributario |
| SIMPI | Industrial Productivity Monitoring Indicators System |
| TOCAF | Ordained Text of Accounting and Financial Administration Texto Ordenado de Contabilidad y Administración Financiera |
| UDELAR | University of the Republic |
| UI | Unidades Indexadas |
| UNIT | Uruguayan Institute of Technical Standards |
| VUI | One Stop Investment Shop |
Chile
| ANID | National Agency for Research and Development Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo |
| CCGVyEP | Global Value Chains and Productive Linkages Committee |
| CMF | Financial Market Commission Comisión del Mercado Financiero |
| COBEX | Chile's Export Loan Coverage Programme |
| CORFO | Production Promotion Corporation Corporación de Fomento de la Producción |
| CTCI | National Council of Science, Technology, Knowledge, and Innovation for Development Consejo Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología, Conocimiento e Innovación para el Desarrollo |
| DIPRES | Chilean Budget Directorate Dirección de Presupuestos de Chile |
| ENEF | National Financial Education Strategy Estrategia Nacional de Educación Financiera |
| FIA | Foundation for Agricultural Innovation Fundación para la Innovación Agraria |
| FOCAL | Quality Promotion Programme |
| FOGAPE | Small Business Guarantee Fund Fondo de Garantía para Pequeños Empresarios |
| INDAP | Institute for Agricultural Development Instituto de Desarrollo Agropecuario |
| PDP | Supplier Development Programme Programa de Desarrollo de Provedores |
| REDVUCE | Inter-American Network of Single Foreign Trade Windows of the IADB |
| RUT | Unique Tax Number Rol Único Tributario |
| SEGPRES | General Secretariat of the Presidency |
| SERCOTEC | Technical Cooperation Service Servicio de Cooperación Técnica |
| SERNAC | National Consumer Service Servicio Nacional del Consumidor |
| SUBREI | Undersecretariat for International Economic Relations Subsecretaría de Relaciones Económicas Internacionales |
| UTP | Temporary Union of Suppliers Unión Temporal de Proveedores |
Colombia
| ANIF | National Association of Financial Institutions |
| CONPES | National Council for Economic and Social Policy Consejo Nacional de Política Económica y Social |
| DIAN | National Tax and Customs Directorate Dirección de Impuestos y Aduanas Nacionales |
| DNP | National Planning Department Departamento Nacional de Planeación |
| ENEEF | National Economic and Financial Education Strategy Estrategia Nacional de Educación Económica y Financiera |
| FONTUR | National Tourism Fund |
| INCOTEC | Colombian Institute of Technical Standards and Certification Instituto Colombiano de Normas Técnicas y Certificación |
| MINCIT | Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism Ministerio de Comercio, Industria y Turismo |
| MinTIC | Ministry of Information and Communications Technology Ministerio de Tecnologías de la Información y las Comunicaciones |
| PAS | Action and Monitoring Plan Plan de Acción y Seguimiento |
| PES | Strategic Sectoral Planning Planeación Estratégica Sectorial |
| RUT | Single Tax Register Registro Único Tributario |
| SECOP | Electronic System for Public Procurement Sistema Electrónico para la Contratación Pública |
| SENA | National Learning Service Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje |
| SICAL | National Quality Subsystem Subsistema Nacional de la Calidad |
| SNCI | National System for Competitiveness and Innovation Sistema Nacional de Competitividad e Innovación |
Mexico
| BANCOMEXT | National Bank for Foreign Trade Banco Nacional de Comercio Exterior |
| CENAM | National Metrology Centre |
| CITICSI | Inter-Ministerial Commission on Information and Communication Technologies and Information Security Comisión Intersecretarial de Tecnologías de la Información y Comunicación, y de la Seguridad de la Información |
| CNBV | National Banking and Securities Commission Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores |
| CNCMIPYME | National Council for the Competitiveness of Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Consejo Nacional para la Competitividad de la Micro, Pequeña y Mediana Empresa |
| COFECE | Federal Economic Competition Commission Comisión Federal de Competencia Económica |
| COMPEX | Joint Commission for the Promotion of Exports Comisión Mixta para la Promoción de las Exportaciones |
| CONAHCYT | National Council for Humanities, Science and Technology Consejo Nacional de Humanidades, Ciencias y Tecnologías |
| CONAMER | National Commission for Regulatory Improvement Comisión Nacional de Mejora Regulatoria |
| CONDUSEF | National Commission for the Protection and Defence of Users of Financial Services Comisión Nacional para la Protección y Defensa de Usuarios de Servicios Financieros |
| DGDP | General Directorate for Productive Development Dirección General de Desarrollo Productivo |
| EFIDT | Tax Stimulus for Research and Technology Development Estímulo Fiscal a la Investigación y Desarrollo de Tecnología |
| EMA | Mexican Accreditation Entity |
| ENE | National Employment Survey Encuesta Nacional de Empleo y Ocupación |
| ENMR | National Strategy for Regulatory Improvement Estrategia Nacional de Mejora Regulatoria |
| FIRA | Trusts related to agricultura Fideicomisos Instituidos en Relación con la Agricultura |
| FONAGA | National Guarantee Fund Fondo Nacional de Garantías |
| HACIENDA | Secretariat of Finance and Public Credit |
| IMMEX | Maquiladora and Export Services Industry Programme |
| INADEM | National Institute for the Entrepreneur Instituto Nacional del Emprendedor |
| INEGI | National Institute of Statistics and Geography |
| INMUJERES | National Institute for Women |
| LAASSP | Law on Public Sector Procurement, Leasing and Services Ley de Adquisiciones, Arrendamientos y Servicios del Sector Público |
| LGMR | General Law on Regulatory Improvement Ley General de Mejora Regulatoria |
| LIISPCEN | Law to Promote Sustained Growth in the Productivity and Competitiveness of the National Economy Ley para Impulsar el Incremento Sostenido de la Productividad y la Competitividad de la Economía Nacional |
| LNPC | National Laboratory for Consumer Protection |
| NAFIN | Nacional Financiera, or National Finance |
| NFIP | National Financial Inclusion Policy |
| NMX | Mexican Standards |
| NOM | Mexican Official Standards |
| PADCE | Entrepreneurial Capacity Developers Padrón de Desarrolladoras de Capacidades Empresariales |
| PIIT | Research and Technological Innovation Park Parque de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica |
| PNI | National Innovation Plan Plan Nacional de Innovación |
| PROSECO | Economic Sectoral Programme Programa Sectorial de Economía |
| RESICO | Simplified Trust Regime Régimen Simplificado de Confianza |
| RFC | Federal Taxpayers Registry Registro Federal de Contribuyentes |
| RIF | Tax Incorporation Regime Régimen de Incorporación Fiscal |
| RISE | Internal Regulations of the Ministry of Economy Reglamento Interior de la Secretaría de Economía |
| RPC | Public Register of Commerce Registro Público de Comercio |
| SAT | Tax Administration Authority Servicio de Administración Tributaria |
| SE | Secretary of Economy Secretaría de Economía |
| SNICE | National Foreign Trade Information Service |
| TIPAT | Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement |
| T-MEC | North American Trade Agreement |
| VUCEM | Mexican Foreign Trade One-Stop Shop Ventanilla Única de Comercio Exterior Mexicano |
Peru
| BCRP | Central Reserve Bank of Peru Banco Central de Reserva del Perú |
| CEPLAN | National Centre for Strategic Planning Centro Nacional de Planeamiento Estratégico |
| CMCR | Multisectoral Regulatory Quality Commission Comisión Multisectorial de Calidad Regulatoria |
| CODEMYPE | National Council for the Development of Micro and Small Enterprises Consejo Nacional para el Desarrollo de la Micro y Pequeña Empresa |
| COFIDE | Development Finance Corporation |
| CONCYTEC | National Council of Science, Technology and Technological Innovation Consejo Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Tecnológica |
| CONID | National Advisory Council for Research and Development Consejo Consultivo de Investigación y Desarrollo |
| DGDE | General Directorate of Entrepreneurship Development Dirección General de Desarrollo Empresarial |
| INACAL | National Quality Institute |
| ITP | Technological Institute of Production Instituto Tecnológico de la Producción |
| ITSE | Technical Inspection Certificate for Safety in Buildings Certificado de Inspección Técnica de Seguridad en Edificaciones |
| PAI | Internationalisation Support Programme |
| PEDN | Strategic National Development Plan Plan Estratégico de Desarrollo Nacional |
| PENX 2025 | National Strategic Export Plan |
| PESEM | Multiannual Strategic Sector Plan Plan Estratégico Sectorial Multiannual |
| PRODUCE | Ministry of Production Ministerio de la Producción |
| Proinnovate | National Programme for Technological Development and Innovation |
| PromPerú | Promotion of Peru for Exports and Tourism |
| RUC | Single Taxpayer Register Registro Único del Contribuyente |
| SBS | Superintendency of Banks of Peru |
| SINACYT | National System of Science, Technology and Technological Innovation Sistema Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Tecnológica |
| SUNARP | National Superintendency of Public Registries Superintendencia Nacional de los Registros Públicos |
| SUNAT | National Superintendence of Customs and Tax Administration |
| UIT | Tax Units Unidades Impositivas Tributarias |
Ecuador
| CONEIN | National Council for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Consejo Nacional de Competitividad, Emprendimiento e Innovación |
| EAP | economically active population |
| ENCE | National Electronic Commerce Strategy Estrategia Nacional de Comercio Electrónico |
| INEC | National Institute of Statistics and Census of Ecuador Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos of Ecuador |
| INEN | Ecuadorian Standardisation Service Servicio Ecuatoriano de Normalización |
| LOSNCP | Organic Law of the National System of Public Procurement Ley Orgánica del Sistema Nacional de Contratación Pública |
| MPCEIP | Ministry of Production, Foreign Trade, Investment and Fisheries Ministerio de Producción, Comercio Exterior, Inversiones y Pesca |
| PNIF | National Financial Inclusion Policy Política Nacional de Inclusión Financiera |
| RIMPE | Simplified Regime for Entrepreneurs and Popular Businesses Régimen Simplificado para Emprendedores y Negocios Populares |
| RNE | National Register of Entrepreneurs Registro Nacional de Emprendedores |
| RUA | Single Register of Crafts Registro Único Artesanal |
| RUC | Registro Único de Contribuyente Registro Único de Contribuyente |
| RUM | Single Registry of MSMEs Registro Único de MiPyMES |
| RUP | Unified Registry of Suppliers Registro Único de Proveedores |
| SERCOP | National Service for Public Contracting Servicio Nacional de Contratación Pública |
| UTPL | Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja |
| VPEI | Coordination of Export and Investment Promotion Abroad |
| VUE | Ecuadorian Single Window |
Other
| ABL | Asset-Based Lending |
| PPPs | Public-Private Partnerships |
| ACTs | Agreements of Technical Cooperation |
| AEO | Authorised Economic Operator |
| BDS | Business Development Services |
| CAN | Andean Community |
| FDI | Foreign Direct Investment |
| GDP | Gross Domestic Product |
| GVC | Global Value Chains |
| IADB | Inter-American Development Bank |
| ICT | Information and Communication Technology |
| IFE | Financial Intermediaries Abroad |
| IFRS | International Financial Reporting Standards |
| ILO | International Labour Organization |
| KPI | Key Performance Indicators |
| LAC | Latin America and the Caribbean |
| LA9 | The nine Latin American countries included in this assessment (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay, and Uruguay) |
| MERCOSUR | Mercado Común del Sur, or Southern Common Market |
| MGS | Mutual Guarantee Societies |
| MNEs | multinational enterprises |
| MOOC | virtual open online courses |
| MPEs | micro and small enterprises |
| MRAs | Mutual Recognition Agreements |
| NCGS | National Credit Guarantee System |
| NDS | National Digitalisation Strategy |
| NFEP | National Financial Education Plan |
| NFES | National Financial Education Strategy |
| NFIS | National Financial Inclusion Strategy |
| NGOs | non-governmental entities |
| OSS | One-Stop-Shop |
| P2P | peer-to-peer |
| PA | Pacific Alliance |
| PISA | Programme for International Student Assessment |
| PPCs | public-private consultation |
| RIA | Regulatory Impact Analysis |
| SACU | Southern African Customs Union |
| SEZs | Special Economic Zones |
| SME | micro, small- or medium-sized enterprise; used in this study to refer collectively to all three of these size categories |
| SME PI | SME Policy Index (OECD) |
| SOE | State-Owned Enterprises |
| STEM | Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics |
| TFA | Trade Facilitation Agreement |
| TFI | Trade Facilitation Indicators |
| TiVA | Trade in Value Added (OECD) |
| UTD | Digital Transformation Units |
| VAT | Value Added Tax |
| VUCE | Foreign Trade Single Windows |
| WCO | World Customs Organisation |