Business Development Services (BDS) are a key facilitator of Private Sector Development in EU partner countries. BDS are important within a development context, because they can help micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in developing countries to run their business more profitably, allowing the private sector to become a more effective driver of socially-inclusive development.
BDS are provided by public and private suppliers to MSMEs who use them to increase their operating efficiency and grow their businesses. BDS cover a wide range of non-financial services such as:
- training and technical assistance
- advisory services
- policy and advocacy support
- marketing assistance
- market access services
- infrastructure services
- promoting business linkages and
- support for technology and product development.