Industrial Clusters and SME Promotion in Developing Countries

Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: SMEs and their Role in Economic Development 2.1 Definitions of SMEs 2.2 Characteristics of SMEs in Developing Countries 2.3 The Contributions of SMEs to Development 2.4 Why Support SMEs? 2.5 Approaches to SME Promotion Policies Chapter 3: A Cluster Perspective 3.1 General Characteristics of Clusters 3.2 Rationale for Promoting Industrial Clusters Chapter 4: Case Studies of Clusters Underlying Economic Development 4.1 The Shoemaking Industry in Brazil's Sinos Valley 4.2 The Machining Industry in Tokyo's Ota Ward 4.3 The Woodworking Industry in Brazil's Ceara State 4.4 The Computer Industry in Taiwan 4.5 What Can We Learn From Empirical Studies of Clusters? Chapter 5: Best Practice Programmes for SME Development 5.1 Developing Firm Level Capabilities 5.1.1 Training Programmes 5.1.2 The Training Voucher Scheme in Paraguay 5.1.3 Subcontracting and Partnership Exchange 5.2 Developing Cluster Level Capabilities 5.2.1 Developing BDS Centres 5.2.2 Network Development Chapter 6: Delivering Business Development Services to SMEs 6.1 Principles of Effective Business Development Services Design and Delivery 6.2 Factors Limiting the Effective Use of Business Development 6.3 Measuring the Outcomes of Business Development Services Chapter 7: Summary and Conclusions: Maintaining a Balance 7.1 Balancing General Needs and Cluster-Specific Needs 7.2 Balancing Traditional and Market-Based Approaches to Services 7.3 Balancing Short-Term and Long-Term Cluster Dynamics Bibliography Tables