Lamia Kamal-Chaoui

Lamia Kamal-Chaoui is Director of the OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities and a member of the OECD Executive Leadership team. Under her leadership, the Centre’s 230+ economists and analysts support governments to unleash the potential of entrepreneurs and small businesses, promote inclusive and sustainable regions and cities, and boost local job creation. To elevate international dialogue on the vital role of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in economic growth and development, Ms Kamal-Chaoui spearheaded the establishment of the OECD Committee on SMEs and Entrepreneurship, supported by the Informal Steering Group on SME and Entrepreneurship Financing, an international network of SME financing experts representing government ministries and central banks from 50 countries. The Steering Group produces the OECD Financing SMEs and Entrepreneurs Scoreboard and developed the first OECD Recommendation on SME Financing. Ms Kamal-Chaoui now oversees a number of programmes to address the key priorities of OECD Members, including: expanding access to finance for SMEs and entrepreneurs, helping firms to start up and scale up; strengthening links between foreign investment and SMEs; and promoting inclusive entrepreneurship. Ms Kamal-Chaoui has also launched ground-breaking programmes to prepare small business for the green and digital transitions, including partnering with global financial institutions to create the Platform on Financing SMEs for Sustainability and bringing together the public and private sectors for the Digital for SMEs (D4SME) Global Initiative. The Centre also provides policy advice and capacity building for regional, urban and local development and leads the OECD’s engagement with subnational governments through numerous global platforms, including the World Observatory on Subnational Government Finance and Investment, the OECD Local Development Forum and the OECD Champion Mayors for Inclusive Growth Initiative. Ms Kamal-Chaoui holds degrees in Macroeconomics and Foreign Languages and received the “Women of the Decade in Enterprise and Leadership” award of the Women's Economic Forum.