The day we celebrate micro, small and medium-sized enterprises

27 June

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises – which account for more than 90% of all businesses and around 70% of jobs worldwide – play a pivotal role in stimulating economic growth and providing employment for vulnerable groups such as women, young entrepreneurs, and poor communities.

In 2017, to recognize the importance of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in promoting innovation, creativity and decent work for all – and achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – the United Nations General Assembly declared 27 June to be Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day by adopting resolution 71/279.

Smaller businesses can be agile in response to a changing world but their size also makes them vulnerable. Identifying international market opportunities and navigating trade-related procedures can be harder for small businesses than for their larger competitors. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda recognized the importance of MSMEs and call for action to improve their access to finance, value chains and markets.

Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day is dedicated to raising awareness of the importance to supporting the development of small and medium-sized businesses in developing countries but it is also a celebration of the gigantic contribution smaller companies make to the global economy, often away from the spotlight.

As the United Nations entity supporting the internationalization of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, the International Trade Centre works with partners on a series of events marking the Day across the world.

Events

MSME Day 2020: COVID-19: The Great Lockdown and its Impact on Small Business
MSME Day 2019: Big money for small business
MSME Day 2018: The Youth Dimension
MSME Day 2017: Small business, Big impact