A Review Paper on Rural2Global: Digital Export Facilitation for Small Businesses

Small businesses in rural and semi-urban areas play a crucial role in economic development and international trade. Despite their contribution, these enterprises face persistent barriers such as limited digital infrastructure, complex compliance procedures, and reliance on costly intermediaries. Over the past decade, researchers and policymakers have explored digital tools, government initiatives, and platform-based trade models to help such businesses participate in cross-border commerce. This review consolidates existing studies on digital export facilitation, evaluates current frameworks, and identifies gaps that prevent rural and small enterprises from effectively entering global markets. The paper also discusses future directions for building inclusive, multilingual, and affordable platforms like Rural2Global to improve global integration of small producers and traders.