A comparative assessment of large enterprises and SME competitiveness in global trade networksTABLE 5 Area of advantage Large businesses SMEs Why this places SMEs at a disadvantage Capital and financingAccess to substantial capital reserves, global investors and favourable lending termsLimited access to affordable credit, higher risk perception by lendersConstrains ability to scale operations, invest in infrastructure or absorb trade shocks Economies of scaleAchieve lower per-unit costs through bulk production and logistics efficienciesSmaller volumes lead to higher per-unit costs and weaker supplier leverageResults in uncompetitive pricing and lower profit margins in global markets Technology and infrastructureInvest in automation, AI analytics, blockchain tracking and advanced logistics systemsLack resources for digitalization and advanced supply chain toolsLeads to inefficiencies, slower delivery and limited visibility in cross-border trade Global networksEstablished partnerships, subsidiaries and long-term supplier relationshipsOften rely on local or regional markets with limited export networksRestricts market access and diversification opportunities, increasing vulnerability Regulatory complianceDedicated legal teams manage customs, tariffs and international standardsFewer resources for compliance and certificationNon-compliance risks exclude SMEs from high-value or regulated markets Over the past few years, competition among major AI developers has narrowed performance differences between large language models (LLMs), making powerful AI tools more widely accessible. However, general-purpose or “horizontal” AI often lacks the specialized analysis and contextual understanding required for complex business operations. Thus, for SMEs, the challenge is not just accessing information; it is also having the capacity to transform it into actionable decisions that enhance their ability to compete against larger companies in the global market. This is where agentic AI comes in. Unlike specialized AI, agentic AI is designed to complete specific tasks with precision and accuracy, allowing SMEs to access high-quality, technical skills rather than simply information. Bridging the gap for SMEs through technology FIGURE 2 International markets SMEsAI, blockchain, IoT… The TradeTech Paradox: Connectivity Amid Fragmentation 12

The TradeTech Paradox Connectivity Amid Fragmentation 2026