A range of new policy initiatives have been implemented in recent years to enhance SME dynamism and competitiveness. Prominent among these were measures to ease product market regulations and administrative barriers to entrepreneurship. ICTs, Web portals and online one-stop-shops are facilitating administrative simplification. Increasing attention is given to education and training for entrepreneurship, and a number of major initiatives in favour of women’s entrepreneurship have been taken. High priority is attached to easing SME access to financing, and to strengthening the knowledge and innovation base of SMEs. SMEs are increasingly encouraged to internationalise their operations. The importance of entrepreneurship and innovation for SMEs for fostering growth in a globalised, knowledge-based economy was highlighted by the 2nd OECD Ministerial Conference on SMEs in Istanbul in June 2004 and in its outcome the Istanbul Ministerial Declaration on Fostering the Growth of Innovative and Internationally Competitive SMEs.