WUSME is constantly engaged in the realization of special INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS with the objective of promoting small and medium-sized enterprises and crafts in the world and their cooperation as an engine for democratic and economic development.
The main objective of these initiatives is to intensify the relations of partnership with institutions, associations and academic reality in every country visited dealing in various capacities of small and medium-sized enterprises, crafts and culture of entrepreneurship, to assist in the implementation of projects, programs and activities that can meet the specific needs and release the potential present in each local situation.
WUSME COP25 SIDE EVENT: “Climate goals, the contribution of SMEs and Nature based solutions”
DECEMBER 2019
On Thursday, December 6th, 2019, under the COP25, the UN Conference on climate change, WUSME held a Side Event in Madrid, in cooperation with Griffith University-Australia, entitled “Climate Goals: the contribution of SMEs and Nature based solutions” and with the theme “Innovative approaches and paths that will enable SMEs to contribute to climate goals. If Nature Based action is to provide part of the climate solution, it must do it by reducing emission, integrating biodiversity, protecting the ecosystem and supporting the
livelihoods.” WUSME delegates to COP25 Secretary General Norbert W. Knoll, who acted as Moderator of the Side Event, and WUSME Ambassador Dogad Dogoui addressed the audience and interacted with Speakers from Griffith University Prof. William Moomaw, Emeritus Professor of International Environmental Policy, Center for International Environment and Resource Policy, Co-Director Global
Development and Environment Institute Tufts University; Ms. Virginia Young, National Liaison Officer and Director, International Forests and Climate Programme at the Australian Rainforest Conservation Society. Main issues covered by the speakers during the meeting and discussed with delegates attending the Side Event, in a lively debate, related to the close link between climate change, nature and economy, the recommendations of WUSME for actions promoting enterprises to operate in favor of climate mitigation; the role of academic research in providing a framework for business activities to benefit to nature and local communities; climate emergency as
business opportunity; the need for funds allowing SMEs to improve their technologies, adaptation and resilience to climate change; technology and innovation adopted by SMEs to be climate neutral.
WUSME consultations with UNIDO continued
AUGUST 2017
VIENNA – In his visit to UNIDO Headquarters at the United Nations Office in Vienna on 2nd and 3rd August 2017, WUSME General Secretary Norbert W. Knoll-Dornhoff discussed with leading UNIDO Officers possibilities of future cooperation, and conveyed to them the new WUSME MAGAZINE.
The UNIDO Officers sincerely appreciated that a report on the 2nd UNIDO FORUM has been published therein.
UNIDO aims to boost the development of a competitive private sector and contribute to poverty reduction by building sustainable linkages between small-size enterprises, their larger scale business partners and support institutions.
UNIDO expressed active interest in working with WUSME on the following issues:
– Promote business to business linkages as well as between firms and institutions;
– Foster the implementation of socially environmentally responsible business practices;
– Develop public private partnerships;
– Formulate and disseminate tools and methodologies to implement projects.
Mr. Mikhail Evstafyev (photo), Head of UNIDO’s Advocacy and Communications Unit recommended that WUSME President Dr. Gian Franco Terenzi shall meet the General Director of UNIDO, H.E. Dr. Li Yong to discuss with him possible Consultative status of WUSME at UNIDO.
WUSME President Gian Franco Terenzi participated in the “One Belt One Road Forum for International Cooperation”
MAY 2017
On invitation of the Government of the People’s Republic of China and thanks to the deep friendship relationships established over the years, WUSME President Gian Franco Terenzi participated in the “One Belt One Road Forum for International Cooperation”. An international event held in Beijing on May 14th and 15th, 2017 useful for China to officially present, to the international community, the extraordinary project “Belt & Road” launched for the modern reconstruction of the ancient land and sea routes of the Silk Road to improve connections and cooperation between the countries in Eurasia.
Starting from the development of transport and logistics infrastructures, the strategy aims to promote China role in global relations, favoring international investment flows and output markets for the Chinese products. The initiative relating to an organic landline plan (the belt) was announced publicly by Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 2013, and the maritime route in October of the same year, along with the proposal to set up the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
The boundaries of the “New Silk Road”, therefore, embrace the whole globe: the right context to explain how China today is ready to rethink and expand the lines of the past with the economic strength of the present. A major venture developing itself, in turn, in a changing context from a global point of view. The projects provide for a significant international investment over the next few years for the construction of ports, highways, high speed railways and electricity networks, especially in developing countries.
The initiative is also good opportunity for Small and Medium Enterprises to carry out their internationalization paths and promote their growth and competitiveness in global markets.
“This is a project with a great economic potential – WUSME President Gian Franco Terenzi stressed at the conclusion of the Forum. Each country, regardless of the size, will have a fundamental role in the overall context of the initiative”.
INSTITUTIONAL WUSME MEETING IN SHANGHAI
SEPTEMBER 2016
During a mission in China last September, Mr. Gianfranco Terenzi, WUSME’s President, met the Chinese Director of WUSME, Ms. Yang Rongyong, to discuss about the next development of the Association in the country, especially in light of the new organization planned by WUSME at the General Assembly in April 2016 and to ensure the essential conditions for the establishment of a representative office/ WUSME Sectorial Committee in Shanghai.
WUSME IN NEW YORK: SECRETARY GENERAL MEETS PRESIDENT OF THE UN-ECOSOC
JANUARY 2015
On occasion of an invitation of US Universities to a High Level Meeting of Economists on „The impact of FOREX(currency) volatility on International trading, production and employment” from 26-28. January 2015 in New York, WUSME SECY.-GENERAL NORBERT KNOLL-DORNHOFF MET H.E. AMBASSADOR DR. MARTIN SAJDIK (Photo), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL.
The Ambassador congratulated WUSME on having been granted Special Consulative Status 2013 and said: „I strongly recommend SMEs Supporting Organizations like WUSME to play an active role at the Conferences and Sessions of the ECOSOC Committees as most Member States of UN ECOSOC are adopting many proposals and recommendations made by the respective Committees. Moreover, the ECOSOC Programs on sustainable and inclusive development of Crafts, Trade and Industry word wide open many opportunities for SMEs to find new business partners and new markets for their products and services”.
WUSME IN CHINA: MEETING BETWEEN WUSME PRESIDENT TERENZI AND THE PRESIDENT OF CHINA XI JINPING
MAY 2014
On the occasion of a mission carried out in China in order to participate in the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Association for friendship with Foreign peoples (CPAFFC), at the great Hall of the people to Tian’an Men Square in Beijing, the WUSME President Gian Franco Terenzi met the Chinese President Xi Jinping, who attended the meeting for China’s International friendship. In his speech, Xi Jinping reiterated that the friendship among peoples is an important force for promoting peace and development in the world and that the Chinese people aspire to a peaceful life and to harmonious development together with the peoples of the rest of the world, so as to jointly promote the great cause of peace and development of mankind. According to the Chinese President, we must explore and innovate the popular diplomacy and conduct friendly contacts with foreign countries in various fields, through various channels and on several levels.
President Xi Jinping spoke to greet the President personally Terenzi, recalling the friendship between different countries but share important values like friendship and cooperation.
WUSME IN CHINA-JANUARY 2014
Mr Gian Franco Terenzi again in China for further strengthening relations with institutions, associations and academic reality dedicated to the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, crafts and culture of entrepreneurship.
The economic slowdown that China is experiencing is actually the beginning of a new path that will bring the country to a “new normal” in growth, as recently claimed Chinese President Xi Jinping, who spoke about the economic future of the Dragon, candidate to overcome in the course of this year the volumes of the u.s. economy.
The change of pace of the Chinese economy, which is still based on exports and investment and not just on domestic consumption, is also reflected on the reforms to be made in the next ten years who leave see more openings for cooperation between Chinese enterprises and foreign companies.
WUSME IN CHINA – JANUARY 2013
Thanks to Mrs. Yang Rongyong the Board of Directors and Standing Committee on financial matters of the Union WUSME SME World begins a period of official meetings with the Chinese authorities in order to reach agreements and alliances of mutual benefit for the benefit of SMEs of both countries. WUSME President Gian Franco Terenzi, during his last mission in China, met with Mrs. Yang Rongyong to talk about several issues concerning the development of the Association and cooperation opportunities in China to support SMEs. WUSME is proud to accept as a member of the Governing Council a leading figures in the Chinese and global economic reality. At the invitation of Ms. Yang Rongyong, WUSME President Dott. G.F. Terenzi has had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Wang Hi Xiong, President of the Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, Chairman of the Shanghai Federation of Industry Commerce & and Vice President of All China Federation of Industry Commerce &. During the meeting were discussed various topics of common interest, including existing development opportunities within the business and commercial relations and the possibility of some specific collaborations.
On the occasion of this visit to China, President WUSME Gian Franco Terenzi has also visited the city of XIAN to meet local authorities, on invitation and in collaboration with APSME, the Asia Pacific EMS Council. The meeting was an opportunity to delve into the characteristics of the entrepreneurial fabric of the city, which is the biggest industrial center of Northwest China, and existing opportunities for future cooperation, especially with regard to the possible co-organization of an international event on site in order to promote cooperation between SMEs.
WUSME IN UGANDA-MARCH AND SEPTEMBER 2012
Dual mission in Uganda in the course of 2012 to get to know the reality of Ugandan SMEs and initiate relationships with institutions and associations present in the country.
On the occasion of the first visit of March WUSME President Gian Franco Terenzi took part in the work of the “world day of SMEs” held in Kampala and on this occasion met the Vice President of UGANDA Edward Ssekandi Kiwanuka as the Minister for Foreign Affairs Henry Oryem Okello and the Minister for industry, trade and SMEs Pujitha Anne Kyambadde.
It is not failure then the occasion to meet some of the most authoritative representatives of major trade associations in the country, the President of the National Chamber of Commerce and industry of Uganda Olive Kigongo z. and President of USSIA, the National Association of small scale industry Sssubi Daniel Musiitwa, with which the President Terenzi agreed to sign a cooperation agreement in the near future.
September’s mission, however, saw the WUSME delegation engaged in a dense programme of engagements and meetings that have allowed the Association to strengthen and further consolidate its relations with UGANDA and its presence and action in the African country, especially following the appointment of Daniel Musiitwa Ssubi, USSIA President, as member of the Board of Directors of the Association by the General Assembly of members, held in July 2012 in San Marino.
The WUSME delegation visiting Kampala could meet again some of the most important esponendi of the Ugandan Government whose Vice President Edward k. Sekandi, the Minister of State for industry and technology Shinyabulo-James Mutende, Marojejy Minister Sam Engola, Minister for Foreign Affairs Asuman Kiyingi, Minister for agriculture Sam Engola Marojejy, Minister for Foreign Affairs Asuman Kiyingithe Minister for agriculture Zerubabel m. Nyiira, the UGANDA INVESTMENT AUTHORITY, the President of the National Chamber of Commerce and industry of Uganda Olive Kigongo z., representatives of the Federation of Ugandan exporters Associations and other business owners interested in learning about the Association.
WUSME IN CROATIA – OCTOBER 2011
With the presence of a qualified international WUSME delegation participated, as the main Partner of the event, the 8th Edition of the EDE European day of the entrepreneur “, an initiative promoted every year by the European Union to sensitize the community to the themes of entrepreneurship and organized on this occasion with the high patronage of the President of the Republic of Croatia. In his speech, the WUSME Delegation urged the Governments of all Nations to adopt effective measures to protect the micro, small and medium-sized businesses from the effects of the crisis. WUSME President, Gian Franco Terenzi, stressed the importance of micro-financing for small businesses, the crafts and the agri-food sector in less developed economies.
On the sidelines of activities envisaged for the EDE WUSME 2011, held a round table entitled “a new financial architecture for the prevention of crises and for a better quality of life: the role of SMEs and the craft sector and good practices from Africa” in which they were identified and consolidate areas where African countries and other less privileged economies have most need help and that the Association has to offer its supportas the technology transfer by member countries and organizations WUSME businesses in Africa, cooperation between enterprises, training in the creation and management of small and artifgianato, the adoption of policies and institutional reforms in support of SMEs. WUSME’s role is also to assist the Government agencies for development and SMEs support institutions to achieve the Millennium development goals and to facilitate doing business less privileged economies.
WUSME into GABON- JANUARY/ FEBRUARY 2011
From January 31 to February 4, 2011 WUSME played his first mission in Africa, in the Republic of Gabon, where his delegation came to participate in the States-general of SMEs, direct invitation Gabonese of the Presidency and for Primo_ministro_Gabon-Terenziapprofondire the reality of the African country and confront the highest institutional charges. The authorities encountered, by Prime Minister Paul Biyoghe MBA, the Minister of small and medium-sized enterprises Jean Felix Moulongui at the Agriculture Ministers IMG_0051-1Raymond Sima Ndong and Blaise Habitat Ndong, until National Assembly Vice President Daniel Ona Ondo, have greatly appreciated the competence of WUSME and have explicitly asked to start a collaboration in terms of projects, and training recommendations.
IMG_0051-1Intervenendo General States of SMEs, the President Gian Franco Terenzi had the opportunity to present a project conceived by WUSME for Gabon to be extended to the whole area of Central Africa, taking into account the specific needs and problems of these countries with regard to small businessesPrimo_ministro_Gabon-Terenzi and to the fields of interest to the national economy.
Great attention has been also the intervention of the Secretary-General, Norbert w. Knoll-Dornhoff, centered on “the Millennium WUSME Regions in Gabon – WMR”, a proposal which aims to create, in the Millennium Villages, a favourable environment for the development of specific micro-small and medium-sized enterprises and handicrafts.
Following the Mission in Gabon, the Secretary-General has prepared a final report containing the recommendations of WUSME which use instruments and actions to be undertaken by public and private institutions, to support the growth of small businesses and the craft sector, especially in new strategic areas for the diversification of the domestic economy, such as e