The share of disaster areas was 6 percent in terms of GDP and 7 percent in terms of population. As I have said, however, the rate of decline in production was as high as 16 percent. The negative impact was amplified by the supply-chain disruptions.
SMMEs now account for between a quarter and two-fifths of the worldwide manufactured exports. In Korea, SMMEs account for roughly 40 per cent of manufacturing exports. In Europe, 20 per cent of SMMEs are engaged in exports. It is generally accepted that SMMEs even have a greater role to play in developing economies especially when it comes to employment generation and output growth.