ISTANBUL
\nThe Secretary-General of the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8) issued a powerful call to action today on Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Day, recognizing the sector as the \u201cbackbone of sustainable growth\u201d and unveiling a new Secretariat initiative to pivot the bloc toward high-value, sustainable services.
\nIn a statement commemorating #MSMEDay, the Secretary-General highlighted the staggering global footprint of MSMEs, which account for nearly 90% of businesses and 70% of global employment. Within the D-8\u2019s vast demographic landscape\u2014home to 1.28 billion people\u2014these enterprises are positioned as critical drivers of regional value chains and inclusive development.
\n\u201cEntrepreneurs are the true architects of our economies,\u201d the Secretary-General stated. \u201cAcross the D-8 geography, from Nigeria to Indonesia, MSMEs are not just surviving; they are transforming local communities. They are the conduits through which we will achieve inclusive, resilient, and sustainable economic integration.\u201d
\nThe Secretariat reiterated its commitment to the 2015 D-8 SME cooperation framework, emphasizing the operational role of the D-8 SME Centre located in Abuja, Nigeria. The Centre remains a focal point for facilitating South-South partnerships and enhancing technical collaboration with relevant United Nations bodies to provide entrepreneurs with the tools needed to scale and compete globally.
\nIn a significant move to modernize the bloc\u2019s economic agenda, the D-8 Secretariat is marking this year\u2019s observance by convening a special dual-themed webinar. The virtual event features senior experts from Malaysia and is split into two critical tracks:
\nGreen MSMEs: Focused on sustainability, exploring how small enterprises can adopt circular economy principles, access green financing, and reduce their carbon footprint while maintaining profitability.
\nMedical Tourism: A new frontier for the bloc, aiming to unlock the potential of high-value health services. The session will explore how MSMEs can integrate into the global healthcare value chain, positioning D-8 nations as competitive destinations for medical travel.
\nThe Secretary-General urged member states and private sector stakeholders to leverage these initiatives to build MSMEs that are \u201cgreener, smarter, more resilient, and globally competitive.\u201d The webinar aims to produce actionable insights that will feed into the D-8\u2019s broader strategic roadmap, ensuring that the sector remains at the forefront of economic recovery and long-term development.
\nThe event is expected to draw participants from across the D-8 membership, which includes Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISTANBUL The Secretary-General of the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8) issued a powerful call to action today on Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Day, recognizing the sector as the \u201cbackbone of sustainable growth\u201d and unveiling a new Secretariat initiative to pivot the bloc toward high-value, sustainable services. In a statement commemorating #MSMEDay, the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":553301,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-553287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world"],"yoast_head":"\n