As a group, OECD countries also show high proportions of Internet access by enterprises, although differences persist among them as well as between SMEs and large enterprises.

Important opportunities for innovation and for upgrading the technological capacity of enterprises can be seen in various emerging forms of cooperation among firms and between firms and R amp D institutions.

6. The possible conflicts of interest between large firms and SMEs and the tendency for government dialogue with the business sector to be dominated by the interests of large firms represent a common problem.

60. Support programmes should be designed to help promote inter firm linkages among SMEs and between them and larger firms so as to improve skills, business information and production, marketing and sales opportunities of SMEs through inter firm and market networks.

A Roster of Good Practices in the Promotion of Business Linkages was prepared, outlining practical steps on how to initiate and develop linkages between foreign and local firms.

Experience shows that the development of subcontracting arrangements between large firms and SMEs can give an incentive for large firms to provide financial, technical and other assistance to SMEs.

Acquiring technological capacities involves time, effort, cost and risk, as well as complex interactions among firms and between firms and institutions.

With respect to the types of enterprises, one may distinguish between informal sector enterprises, essentially microenterprises, and enterprises in the formal sector, which include some microenterprises, SMEs and large firms.

Rapid technological progress had revolutionized relations among firms and between them and other actors in the development process.

During the reporting period, the secretariat further advanced its work on linkages between foreign and local firms.

3. Enterprise issues relating to an enterprise development strategy.

(a) Training agencies, in agreement with a business or with business association

The resulting trend is towards oligopolistic competition and growing intra firm and inter firm competition.

UNCTAD's component included intensive training and business development services for more than 1,000 local companies, the establishment of TNC SME business linkages and the implementation of a business incubator.

Item 3 Enterprise issues relating to an enterprise development strategy

In comparison to large firms, SMEs are more likely to develop linkages with local enterprises and supply productive inputs locally.

Opening or maintaining a dialogue between the Government and enterprises was an important measure favouring the growth of enterprises.

This may require, among other things, establishing a subcontracting exchange or a network facilitator and having the SME development agency work closely with the investment promotion agency with regard to inter firm linkages with foreign firms.

The leave is calculated cumulatively and is given to the woman in its entirety, regardless of the number of days actually used before the birth, with payment of pregnancy and maternity benefits for those time periods at the employer's expense, regardless of how long the woman has worked in the organization.

The Business of Business is More Than Business

(a) Business and development

(a) Business and development

Promotion of inter firm cooperation

However, analytical and empirical evidence regarding the correlation between OFDI and enterprise competitiveness, especially SMEs, remains limited.

(b) Businesses or business associations working in partnership with an in house or external training agency

Distribution services encompass a number of different activities related to bringing together producers and consumers, dealing both with business to business transactions and transactions between business and the final consumer.

One or more enterprises which already control at least one enterprise directly or indirectly acquire total or partial control of one or more enterprises

56 185. Business and development

General Assembly resolutions

(b) BUSINESS AND DEVELOPMENT (continued)

52 209. Business and development

focus on the participation of SMEs

(1) Establishing new enterprises in cooperation with other people, increasing or decreasing investment in enterprises that have been set up

AGREED CONCLUSIONS ON ENTERPRISE ISSUES RELATING TO AN ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

International competitiveness among firms is in fact significantly influenced by the national environments in which firms operate.

I. Enterprise issues relating to an enterprise development strategy (agenda item 3) 8 47

I. Agreed conclusions on enterprise issues relating to an enterprise development strategy

Mr. Toru Ueno, Principal Administrator, OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs and Local Development (CFE), Small and Medium sized Enterprise (SME) and Entrepreneurship Division, OECD

Limit access to a market or free competition among enterprises

Investment and enterprise competitiveness

Between spouses in married couples of farmers, the person who is responsible for the administration of the agricultural enterprise is the beneficiary.

As part of this trend, new forms of partnership among firms and between firms and organizations in the R amp D sector have gradually begun to move into the developing countries.

Many such firms were family firms, which found it difficult to develop an entrepreneurial outlook.

Policies and programmes are needed to provide incentives for private enterprises to hire university graduates and to encourage industry and university collaboration.

The World Bank has several databases relevant to enterprise development and is also one of the sponsors of the Enterprise Development Website (ENTERWeb).