Speeches

Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Day: statement by ITC Executive Director Arancha González

27 June 2017
ITC News

(Geneva) – ‘Today is an occasion to recognize the impact of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises across the world – and to celebrate the men and women behind these businesses.

There is a good reason why the United Nations decided to designate 27 June as world MSME Day: nine out of every ten businesses are MSMEs.

From the coffee you drink in the morning, to the bed you lie down in at night, a micro, small or medium-sized enterprise was almost certainly involved in its production. Even your phone likely contains technology or components delivered by an MSME. And let’s not forget: some of the biggest companies – like Alibaba, eBay and Facebook – started small.

Every day, hard-working entrepreneurs from Manila to Abidjan to Medellin are working hard to turn their ideas into viable businesses.

MSMEs, whether registered or informal, are central to our livelihoods. They are responsible for more than 70% of all jobs. They help families put food on the table and send their kids to school. They develop innovative solutions to address global challenges such as health and climate change.

MSMEs will be crucial to end extreme poverty by 2030 as agreed to by Members of the United Nations family under the Sustainable Development Goals.

For that we must all – in the public and private sectors – support MSMEs to generate decent jobs, innovate, and promote growth by making it easier to do business, at home and across borders.

ITC is pleased to lead the UN family as we celebrate MSMEs. To all MSMEs around the world and the people behind you: congratulations and thank you!

You may be small, but you have a big impact. Count on the United Nations to help make that impact even bigger.’

About the International Trade Centre

ITC is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations’ Global Goals for Sustainable Development. For more information, visit www.intracen.org. Follow ITC on Twitter: @ITCnews