How to Support MSMEs: Sharing of National, Regional and Multilateral Experiences

Geneva, WTO Headquarters

Workshop convened by the Friends of MSMEs*

Attendance

Anyone wishing to attend the workshop who does not hold a WTO badge should send their name and affiliation to [email protected] by noon (Geneva time) on Friday 27 October 2017. Those attending will need to present an official photo ID to access the WTO building.

Disclaimer:

Interpretation serves to facilitate communication and does not constitute an authentic record or translation of the proceedings. The floor (original) language is the only authentic version. No liability shall be incurred by the interpreters in the exercise of their function.

The purpose of the workshop is to share national, regional and multilateral experiences in supporting the integration of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) into international trade. Topics to be covered during the workshop include strategic approaches to support the development of MSMEs, how to develop an inclusive business ecosystem that supports MSMEs' growth, initiatives taken to improve MSMEs' access to information and access to finance, including trade finance, and how to strengthen MSMEs' export capabilities.

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Programme

31 October 2017 - Room W

10.00-10.15 - Introductory Remarks

  • H.E. Mr. Héctor Casanueva, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Chile to the WTO and Coordinator of Friends of MSMEs
  • Mr. Roberto Azevêdo, Director-General, WTO
    Speech

SESSION 1

Asian Experiences

10.15-11.10

Moderator: H.E. Mr. Xiangchen Zhan, Ambassador, China

  • Mr. Jerry Clavesillas, Director, Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprises Development (BSMED), the Philippines.
    To present how the Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprises Development supports MSMEs.
    Presentation
  • Mr. Chia-Hsien Yang, Senior Executive Officer, MOEA, Chinese Taipei.
    To present how to Enhance SME Digital Competitiveness & Resilience: Experience from the APEC O2O Initiative
    Presentation
  • Dr. Datuk Hafsah Hashim, Chief Executive Officer, SME Corp, Malaysia. 
    To present Malaysia's initiatives to support MSMEs.
    Presentation
  • Ms. Eunice Huang, Deputy Permanent Representative, Mission of Singapore to the WTO.
    To present Singapore’s National Trade Platform (NTP) and how it helps MSMEs in the area of trade facilitation/customs procedures.

 

SESSION 2

African/Middle-Eastern  Experiences

11.10-12.05

Moderator: H.E. Mrs. Yvette Elizabeth Stevens, Ambassador, Sierra Leone

  • Ms. Gwen Mwaba, Director, Trade Finance, African Export Import Bank.
    To present how the African Export Import Bank supports MSMEs.
    Presentation
  • Mr. Ahmed Moor, Co-founder, Liwwa, Jordan. (by video)
    To present the work of Liwwa which is a Jordanian fintech start-up that provides finance to SMEs.
    Presentation
  • Mrs. Noroseheno Raharinjatovo, Directeur de l'Appui aux Entreprises, Ministère de l'Industrie et du Développement du Secteur Privé (MIDSP), Madagascar.
    To present Madagascar's experience in supporting MSMEs.
    Presentation
  • Dr. Dikko Radda, Director General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Nigeria.
    To present the work of SMEDAN.
    Presentation

 

SESSION 3

Latin American Experiences

12.05-13.00

Moderator: H.E. Mr. José Luís Cancela Gómez, Ambassador, Uruguay

  • Ms. Celeste Ingaramo, Coordinator of International Relations, Secretariat of Entrepreneurs and SMEs, Ministry of Production, Argentina.
    To present recent initiatives taken to improve the legal environment for MSMEs.
    Presentation
  • Mr. Francisco Estrázulas, Business Development Manager at ConnectAmericas, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
    To present the Connect Americas platform, a social network to connect SMEs.
  • Mr. Alejandro Buvinic, Executive Director Pro Chile, Chile.
    To present how Pro Chile supports the participation of SMEs in international trade.
    Presentation
  • Ms. Renata Malheiros Henriques, Manager for Market Access of Sebrae (Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service), Brazil.
    To present Brazil's programmes to support MSMEs.
    Presentation

 

13.00-15.00: Lunch reception hosted by the Swiss delegation (Gallery, WTO new building, first floor)

SESSION 4

EU/North American Experiences

15.00-16.00

Moderator: H.E. Mr. Didier Chambovey, Ambassador, Switzerland

  • Mr. Paolo Garzotti, Deputy Permanent Representative, EU Commission.
    To present the EU Trade helpdesk and the European cluster collaboration platform.
    Presentation
  • Dr. Maria Mogilnaya, Associate Banker, Trade Facilitation Programme, EBRD.
    To present Trade Ready, EBRD's trade finance and advisory initiative for SMEs.
    Presentation
  • Mr. Stéphane Lambert, Counsellor, Mission of Canada to the European Union.
    To present Canada’s recent tools to support MSMEs
    Presentation
  • Mr. Alberto Silini, Head of Consultancy at S-GE, Switzerland.
    To present Switzerland's experience with MSMEs.
    Presentation

 

SESSION 5

Multilateral Experiences and Global Platforms

16.00-17.00

Moderator: H.E. Mr. Hector Marcelo Cima, Ambassador, Argentina

  • Ms. Berna Ozsar Kumcu, Secretary General, World SME Forum.
    To present how the World SME Forum supports SME development worldwide.
    Presentation
  • Ms. Annette Ssemuwemba, Deputy Executive Director, Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF).
    To present initiatives taken by EIF countries to support MSMEs and lessons learnt.
    Presentation
  • Mr. Mondher Mimouni, Chief, Trade and Market Intelligence Division of Market Development, ITC.
    To present the MSME Trade Helpdesk.
    Presentation
  • Mr. Cheng Ouyang, Executive Senior Advisor, Alibaba.
    To present the Electronic World Trade Platform (EWTP).
    Presentation
  • Ms. Kati Suominen, Founder, TradeUp Capital Fund. (by video)
    To present the work of TradeUp Capital Fund, an online growth capital platform for export-driven SMEs.

SESSION 5

Closing session: How the WTO Could Contribute

17.00-18.00

Roundtable with the moderators who will report back on the sessions and will discuss the role of the WTO in supporting MSMEs.

Moderator: H.E. Mr. Héctor Casanueva, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Chile to the WTO and Coordinator of Friends of MSMEs

  • Mr. Syed Shakeel Shah, Joint Secretary in charge of MSMEs, Prime Minister's Office, Pakistan
  • H.E. Mrs. Yvette Elizabeth Stevens, Ambassador, Sierra Leone
  • H.E. Mr. José Luís Cancela Gómez, Ambassador, Uruguay
  • H.E. Mr. Didier Chambovey, Ambassador, Switzerland
  • H.E. Mr. Hector Marcelo Cima, Ambassador, Argentina

 

1 November 2017 - Room S1

Open-ended session for capital-based officials — high-level exchange of ideas on the role of the WTO for MSMEs

10.00-13.00

* Friends of MSMEs

Argentina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Chile (coordinator), Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, the European Union, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Switzerland, Chinese Taipei, Uruguay, Viet Nam.

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