WUSME at the UNITED NATIONS in NEW YORK

NEW YORK, Settember 23th 2016

On invitation of UN ECOSOC, WUSME attended the UN Development Group UNDG Side Event during the UN General Assembly on 23 September 2016.

WUSME Representative Alan Lund (photo) conveyed the verbal intervention of our Union.

Contents of WUSME’s statement among others:

“We are aware that approximately 250 million SMEs, that are 50% of all micro-, small-, and medium sized companies, lack access to finance, which hinders their growth. Countries with advanced economies are able to cooperate with less privileged economies to find solutions for common economic growth results.

Our Representatives worldwide already started discussions on National level, aiming at the implementation of an innovative approach to raise funds for SMEs and Crafts. National SME Foundations for Crises Prevention and Development shall among other services assist entrepreneurs to work out acceptable business plans for their projects and offer them to private investors for financing. Enabling access to micro-financing for the smallest enterprises shall be one of the most important tasks of these autonomous Foundations.

As a concrete action, WUSME has launched a National Repatriation of Refugees Program for the DRC: at the heart of this initiative is the establishment of a Centre for Vocational Education and Training of Returnees to the DRC, enabling citizens to start small businesses with special reference to the craft sector and agriculture. This first stage shall help thousands of people struggling hitherto to start a better life on a sustainable basis.”