Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make a significant contribution to global trade flows and economic value within countries. SMEs account for over 90 per cent of all business worldwide and are responsible for more than two-thirds of jobs created, including for vulnerable groups such as women and youth. They are the SDG drivers on the ground as they deal with local and regional challenges and are key in promoting innovation and contributing to the greening of industries and the energy transition. Yet access to affordable and timely financing and participation in value chains at global, regional, and domestic level remain a key challenge, hampering their economic and social contribution.

Under this session, two panels will be convened to discuss how to increase SMEs’ access to finance in order to unlock their full potential. Panellists include regulators, industry associations, financiers, multinationals, SMEs and technology platform representatives.

Fireside Chat 1: Bridging the gap - unlocking finance for women and youth-led SMEs;
Fireside Chat 2: Fostering an enabling environment for Inclusive and Sustainable Supply Chain Finance

The objective of the session is to highlight proposed actions that can be taken to unlock the potential of SMEs and strengthen their ability to contribute to the implementation of the SDGs.

The outcome of the discussions will be fed into major international events and the Report of the UN Secretary-General on Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development.

You can access the live recording of this event on UN Web TV here.

For additional information, please contact: clemence.lize@un.org.

For further information on the SDG Action Weekend, please visit our website: https://www.un.org/en/conferences/SDGSummit2023/SDG-Action-Weekend .