GLOBAL, 28 June 2021: As micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has joined government leaders, business support organizations and the private sector to celebrate the pivotal role that resilient entrepreneurs play in strengthening the global economy.
The online event was hosted by the International Trade Centre, together with the Permanent Mission of Argentina to the United Nations in New York, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), the International Council for Small Business (ISCB), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and UNIDO.
As part of the discussion, Bernardo Calzadilla-Sarmiento, UNIDO’s Managing Director, Directorate of Digitalization, Technology and Agri-Business, and Virpi Stucki, UNIDO's Chief, Division of Rural Entrepreneurship, Job Creation and Human Security, shared some guidance from UNIDO’s Strategy for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, and referred to the Organization’s Global Call for “Innovative ideas and technologies vs COVID-19 and beyond”, as well as highlighting UNIDO’s Guidance for MSMEs business recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a live panel discussion, entrepreneurs from Argentina, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya and Senegal shared insights into how they contribute to an inclusive and sustainable recovery. One them was Moulaye Biaye, CEO of T&M AgriProcess, whose business receives support from a UNIDO project, who talked about the production and distribution of natural juices from cashew, apple and mango.
Participants concluded that MSMEs are fundamental agents of change, and that their recovery is essential for sustaining livelihoods.