ICC-ITC-WTO MSME Group Small Business Champions

The Small Business Champions Competition was launched in 2021 by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the WTO Informal Working Group on Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (MSMEs). This annual competition provides an opportunity for businesses, industry associations, chambers of commerce and non-governmental organizations to propose innovative, practical ways of helping small businesses play a more active role in world trade.

Video recordings of the awards ceremonies:

Background

Although MSMEs account for the majority of global businesses, they make up a relatively small share of international trade. Lack of resources and access to relevant information are among the barriers that restrict MSME participation in world trade. Helping MSMEs to trade internationally can increase business productivity and competitiveness as well as support inclusivity.

2026: Supporting small businesses to use AI for international trade

Artificial intelligence (AI) is profoundly reshaping global trade, offering MSMEs powerful new ways to optimize supply chains, reduce costs and overcome longstanding trade barriers. AI-driven tools now provide real-time analytics, track shipments, anticipate disruptions and enhance compliance capabilities to meet international trade regulations. This transformation is especially important for smaller businesses, as it can help them to navigate complex and constantly changing market dynamics.

This year's Small Business Champions Competition is seeking projects that not only harness AI to streamline supply chains and reduce transaction costs, but also empower small businesses to compete more effectively on the global stage. Proposals should build upon proven models and emerging AI technologies to ensure that MSMEs worldwide can fully benefit from this digital revolution in trade.

The two winners, Rinato Space (Zambia) and Koaloo.FI (France), and the two runners-up, The Globby (Turkey) and CCIT (Colombia), were announced on 29 June 2026. Please see here for more information on the winning projects and a YouTube video of the ceremony. More information on the 2026 competition - Supporting small businesses to use AI for international trade - is available here.

Previous competitions

In 2025, the Small Business Champions Competition was titled "Completing the loop: Helping small businesses contribute to the circular economy". The two winners, NetZero Pallet (Viet Nam) and SilaiWali (India), and the two runners-up, Green Tech Africa (Congo) and Excuela (Peru), were announced on 27 June 2025. Learn more about the winning projects here and watch the YouTube video of the ceremony. More information on the 2025 competition is available here.

In 2024, the initiative focused on leveraging international trade to foster economic development and innovation for indigenous peoples worldwide. Two winners, CLAC (El Salvador) and O'KANATA (Canada), were announced on 27 June 2024. Learn more about the winning projects here and watch the YouTube video of the ceremony. More information on the 2024 Empowering Indigenous Peoples' Economic Development through International Trade initiative is available here.

In 2023, the Small Business Champion Competition focused on ways to support smallholder farmers to participate in international trade. Three winners, COPROGENY (Cameroon), HeySuccess Virtual Assistance Services (Philippines), and Divasity.com (Nigeria), were awarded on 27 June 2023 . Please see here for more information on the winning projects and a YouTube video of the ceremony.
More information on the 2023 Helping smallholder farmers go global initiative is available here.

In 2022, the aim of the competition was to find ways of helping small businesses reduce their carbon footprint and benefit from sustainability innovations. Two winners, A.V.E.C (Benin) and TCCIA (Tanzania) and two runners-up, Inclusive Trade Ltd (United Kingdom) and Sidley Austin Emerging Enterprises Pro Bono Program (Global), were awarded on 26 September 2022 . Please see here for more information on the winning projects and a YouTube video of the ceremony.
More information on the 2022 Helping small businesses transition to a sustainable economy initiative is available here.

The first Small Business Champions Competition took place in 2021. It focused on helping MSMEs go digital and increase their participation in international trade. Four winners were announced in December 2021: the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia, the Lima Chamber of Commerce (Peru), TAITRA (Chinese Taipei) and TofaraOnline (Zimbabwe). Videos of the four winners are available here.
More information on the 2021 Digital Champions for Small Business initiative is available here.

The Small Business Champions initiative was previously co-organized by the WTO and the International Chamber of Commerce. That initiative came to an end in 2018