Overall development objectives may include employment creation, productivity, competitiveness, GDP growth, price stability; and external payments equilibrium; as well as social, sectoral and regional equality including poverty reduction. Positioning SME development policy against national targets makes it easier to co-ordinate the relevant activities of different ministries and to prioritise goals. It also establishes the basis for a tighter process of decision-making. Very often official statements concerning SME policy consist of a list of generalisations about the role of small business in society without any details as to the priorities and potential in this respect. Specific objectives can be set regarding the SME contribution to poverty.
