LocationsStrengthening Resilience of MSMEs to Accelerate the Implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Ms. Beate Trankmann, Resident Representative of UNDP China delivers opening remarks at UN MSME Day 2023
UNDP
尊敬的 张翼主任，
张伟会长，
梁嵩总经理，欢迎你们来到联合国开发计划署；
也欢迎在北京和广州会场、和在线上的同事们、朋友们 参加今天联合国 中小微 企业日活动。
Distinguished Guests, colleagues and friends in Beijing and Guangzhou, on-site and online: Welcome!
Today’s thematic event on UN MSME day aims to strengthen the resilience of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, or MSMEs – the engines of every economy.
The wellbeing of small businesses affects the wellbeing of us all.
Globally, MSMEs comprise most firms and employ most people. Particularly: the working poor, women, youth and vulnerable groups.
In China, MSMEs create 60 percent of growth; 70 percent of innovation; 80 percent of urban employment; and 90 percent of new jobs.
As such, small businesses are vital to realising the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals to end poverty and safeguard our planet for future generations to come.
It is for this invaluable contribution that the UN designated 27th June each year as International MSME Day.
This day also intends to highlight the many challenges MSMEs now face and discuss solutions. Major disruptions – like COVID-19, the global supply chain crisis, extreme weather and global conflicts – are hitting MSMEs hardest, disrupting operations, supply chains and customer relations, causing too many to close down.
UNDP’s COVID-19 impact assessment report on Chinese enterprises of April 2020 highlighted the vulnerability of MSMEs.
One third could only sustain cash flow for a month when the pandemic hit, compared to two thirds of large and medium enterprises, which could last at least five months.
Resilience is crucial for MSMEs to be able to not just survive, but also thrive in the face of external shocks and turbulent environments. This requires, in particular, being adaptable and innovation-driven, to respond to challenges as they arise.
Across the globe, UNDP is strengthening resilience by supporting governments in managing risks – by preventing against and responding and recovering more effectively from crises, with a focus on those most affected.
Resilience is crucial for MSMEs to be able to not just survive, but also thrive in the face of external shocks and turbulent environments. This requires, in particular, being adaptable and innovation-driven, to respond to challenges as they arise.Beate Trankmann, Resident Representative, UNDP China
In China, we are focusing on strengthening MSMEs’ resilience, in particular by using digital solutions and new technologies, so they can better compete in an increasingly online post-COVID market. This includes facilitating their digital transformation.
We also aim to support policymakers in developing an enabling environment for MSMEs, including enhancing access to markets and finance – where they have faced barriers traditionally due to a shortage of collateral, as well as barriers to digital finance, due to a lack of digital credit records.
In 2022, UNDP, CICETE and DuXiaoman launched a joint initiative that works with financial institutions and local governments to develop a digital service platform linking rural MSMEs with financial services. We advise financial institutions on how to make their services more MSME-friendly. We’re also sharing technical support, financial resources and digital tools with MSME owners – especially small holder farmers, women and young people – boosting their financial and digital literacy, and in turn resilience.
Today’s forum is an opportunity to deepen collaboration further, by hearing from policymakers on their experience of supporting MSMEs, as well as from UN agencies and development organizations on best practices to strengthen MSMEs and accelerate the SDGs.
This year, we’re also holding a parallel event in Guangzhou, where China’s MSMEs are clustered. We look forward to hearing from the local government and entrepreneurs there, on their experience of integrating the SDGs in their policymaking and businesses.
Thank you all for joining, particularly our partners, CICETE and CATIS for co-organizing this event.
Together, we can ensure that MSMEs are as strong as they are significant, by enabling their green and digital future so they can continue to support livelihoods for the millions of people they employ.