SMEs Take on New Strategies to Enhance Innovation

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In the American Express Global SME Pulse, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the U.S. and worldwide are optimistic about the economy and confident about their future business performance.

While SMEs are optimistic about the economy and their own business, they also recognize areas for concern. Nearly half (47%) rank economic uncertainty as the greatest external threat to their business. SMEs also identify political uncertainty (31%) and changes to domestic policies, laws or regulations as a key threat (24%).

What is the challenge SMEs will work hardest to address over the next three years?  Developing and implementing innovations.  A surprising fact that came out of the survey is this:  Fewer believe expanding into new international markets will be a contributor to financial performance (27%).  Amex is betting big on India because of its huge growth potential.

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