Malaysia on 11 December 2017 joined 55 other WTO Members in calling for the establishment of a Work Programme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the WTO. 

The other countries who supported this initiative are: Afghanistan; Albania; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Australia; Bahrain; Belize; Brazil; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Costa Rica; Dominica; the Dominican Republic; Ecuador; El Salvador; the European Union; Grenada; Guatemala; Hong Kong, China; Honduras; Iceland; Israel; Japan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; the Republic of Korea; Kyrgyz Republic; Lao PDR; Liechtenstein; Mexico; the Republic of Moldova; Montenegro; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Norway; Pakistan; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; the Philippines; Qatar; the Russian Federation; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Singapore; Switzerland; Chinese Taipei; the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; Turkey; Uruguay and Viet Nam.

The like-minded group sought for a Ministerial Decision on a Work Programme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the WTO.  The objective of the formulation of the Work Programme is to enable MSMEs to be integrated into the global value chain and increase participation in international trade. In general, it is recognised that MSMEs are major contributors to economic growth and job creation in most WTO economies.

The Work Programme would enable the issue of MSMEs to be dealt comprehensively, and to identify horizontal and non-discriminatory measures that could benefit MSMEs in international trade, taking into account the special needs of developing countries and LDCs.  

MSMEs in Malaysia accounts for 98.5% of entrepreneurs, contributing to 36.6 percent to GDP and 18.6 percent of exports. In supporting the Work Programme in the WTO, Malaysia suggested that measures in the WTO should facilitate MSMEs to adopt technological changes and embrace industry 4.0, and the digital agenda. 

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