UNIDO Convenes Global Experts to Chart the Future of MSME Development
Vienna, Austria, 25-26 June 2026 — Through two days of Technical Consultations on MSME Development, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) brought together policymakers, development finance institutions, technical experts and private sector leaders from around the world to build a shared agenda for the future of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Discussions highlighted that MSMEs, which account for approximately 90 per cent of businesses worldwide and more than 70 per cent of global employment, remain among the most underserved by the systems designed to support their growth.
The consultations, held at UNIDO Headquarters, will directly inform UNIDO’s forthcoming Position Paper on MSME Development, a strategic framework addressing the megatrends reshaping the competitiveness, resilience and inclusive growth of MSMEs worldwide. The event opened with remarks from Mr. Alejandro Rivera Rojas, Chief of UNIDO’s Division of MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation, and continued over two days through eight expert panels covering the future of industries, access to finance, formalization, local capacity development, entrepreneurship and skills, quality infrastructure, and green innovation.
Panelists underscored that closing the multi-trillion-dollar MSME finance gap requires far more than capital alone – it demands investment readiness, de-risking instruments and robust digital infrastructure. Saudi Arabia’s commitment to MSME development featured prominently throughout the programme.
“Under Saudi Vision 2030, building a thriving and diversified SME ecosystem is a national priority. Our work with UNIDO’s TCS/SME Division reflects this commitment – sharing experience, strengthening access to finance, and empowering MSMEs and expanding trade as part of our ongoing collaboration,” said Mr. Saud Al Talib, Acting General Manager, Entrepreneurship Department, Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“Access to finance for MSMEs is no longer just about capital – it is about data. Digital infrastructure and robust data ecosystems are what enable financial institutions to assess risk, extend credit, and reach underserved enterprises at scale,” said Ms. Liliana Pozzo, Advisory Services Manager Europe, Financial Institutions Group, IFC/World Bank Group.
The first day closed with the UNIDO MSME Day Celebration and Reception, spotlighting flagship initiatives including the ONE World Sustainability Awards, the Africa Trade, Competitiveness and Market Access (ATCMA) Programme, and the Poverty Alleviation and Inclusive Development Across Rural Sindh (PAIDAR) initiative, alongside the Accelerate-to-Demonstrate (A2D) Facility. The celebration featured testimonials from entrepreneurs in Liberia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Paraguay and Madagascar.
“The Caribbean Development Bank is committed to ensuring that women entrepreneurs are not left behind in the financing ecosystem. Through initiatives like the SheTrades Hub, we connect women-led MSMEs to markets, capital, and networks that enable them to grow and thrive across the Caribbean,” said Mr. German Deffit, Chief Financial Officer, Caribbean Development Bank.
The consultations resumed on the second day with a welcome from Mr. Raymond Tavares, Chief of UNIDO’s MSME Development and Job Creation Unit, turning from strategy to practice with sessions on local capacity constraints and territorial approaches, entrepreneurship and skills development, quality infrastructure for trade, and green innovation and technology adoption, drawing on country examples from Pakistan, Albania and Ukraine.
“Vulnerable groups should not be viewed merely as beneficiaries, but as economic actors who can contribute to recovery and further growth. Technical skills and entrepreneurial mindsets are complementary rather than separate areas of intervention,” said Mr. Eduardo Moreira, UNIDO Technical Advisor, Ukraine.
“Investors are attracted to locations that offer a supportive business environment, access to skilled workers, trusted ecosystems, strong education and training programmes, and a high quality of life that attracts and retains talent,” said Mr. Jürgen Raizner, Steinbeis-Transferzentrum Ost-West-Kooperationen.
The consultations concluded with a summary of discussions and a proposed way forward, followed by closing remarks from Mr. Alejandro Rivera Rojas. “MSMEs are not merely beneficiaries of development – they are its engine,” organizers noted in closing. UNIDO’s Position Paper on MSME Development will be finalized in the coming months, drawing on the insights, evidence and recommendations gathered during the consultations, as UNIDO continues to support the ecosystems, partnerships and financing needed to drive an inclusive and sustainable industrial transformation.
Alejandro Rivera Rojas
Chief of the MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job creation Division
Email: A.RIVERA-ROJAS [at] unido.org
