#MSMEs and the SDGs

[shreekant-patil]

Expert Startup & MSME Mentorship in Nashik: CE Shreekant Patil:

Leverage the expertise of CE Shreekant Patil, a highly experienced Chartered Engineer, Startup India Mentor, and MSME Consultant operating from Nashik, Maharashtra. Guiding Startups & MSMEs through Indian Government Schemes. Developing robust Export Strategies. Implementing LEAN, ZED Certification. Providing Startup Mentorship. Driving Digital Transformation for Businesses. Promoting Sustainability

[iconsofchange]

Icons of Change Awards PhilMarine 2025

Sustainable Development Goal: SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure Excellence in Ethical AI Empowerment and Digital Transformation

Jennifer Nuya

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Pioneering Ethical Innovation: Honoring Jennifer Nuya for Catalyzing a Future-Ready Philippines

In today’s era of exponential change, where disruption has become the new normal, Jennifer Nuya stands as an icon of transformative leadership—strategic, forward-thinking, and deeply rooted in purpose.

A celebrated trainer, international speaker, AI strategist, and consultant, Jennifer has spent over two decades designing and executing cutting-edge solutions that empower businesses and communities to adapt, evolve, and lead. Her track record spans multiple industries—including BPO, telecommunications, energy, and nonprofit development—bringing measurable impact to both Fortune 500 firms and grassroots enterprises.

But Jennifer’s work is defined not merely by digital proficiency—it is animated by a deeper mission. Her Massive Transformative Purpose is co-creating the human collective experience, where ethical innovation drives equitable progress. Through this lens, she envisions a First World Philippines where over 4 million MSMEs—often underfunded and underserved—are equipped with artificial intelligence, prompt engineering, and exponential technologies to not only survive but to thrive in an increasingly automated world.

This democratization of innovation underpins Jennifer’s lifelong commitment to #DigitalForGood—a movement she champions with conviction and compassion.

A Global Voice with Local Heart

Jennifer’s credibility as a thought leader is recognized globally. She has been a featured voice in high-level forums such as the GatherVerse SHE Summit 2025, OpenExO Live, the Monica Grant Show, and the Leadership During Crisis Summit Series, where she shares insights on AI ethics, digital transformation, and inclusive innovation.

In the media space, she serves as the Digital Content Producer and Host of The Disruptor’s Hour on The New Channel (TNC)—a powerful platform where she engages entrepreneurs, tech advocates, and changemakers in future-focused dialogues. Her previous hosting role in Stories From the Fringe highlighted stories on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB)—demonstrating her belief that innovation must never lose its humanity.

Through her vibrant on-air presence and accessible storytelling, Jennifer has cultivated a strong community of followers who look to her not just for digital insights but for moral clarity in an age of information overload.

Innovator. Strategist. Advocate.

Jennifer’s achievements go beyond the tech sector. She is a Certified Mental Health First Responder, passionately advocating for psychological safety in digital workplaces. Her holistic approach recognizes that transformation is not just technological—it is also cultural, emotional, and communal.

Behind the screen and the spotlight, Jennifer is also a systems thinker and bridge-builder. She has worked with experts in cognitive science, neuroscience, policymaking, urban planning, and ethics to shape the future of AI in a way that is safe, inclusive, and purpose-driven.

By helping MSMEs harness AI for productivity, personalization, and predictive insights, she contributes directly to SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure—enabling resilient systems and inclusive industrial growth. She empowers Filipino enterprises to participate meaningfully in the global innovation economy without losing their local soul.

Jennifer Nuya exemplifies a rare blend of technical expertise, visionary leadership, and moral compass—traits urgently needed in today’s fast-changing world. Her journey reminds us that digital transformation, when anchored in ethics and empathy, can build more than just smarter systems—it can build a better society.

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The Icons of Change Awards proudly honors Jennifer Nuya with the Excellence in Ethical AI Empowerment and Digital Transformation Award, in recognition of her steadfast commitment to inclusive innovation, ethical leadership, and nation-building through transformative technology.

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#IconsOfChange2025 #JenniferNuya #SDG9 #AIForGood #DigitalForGood #ExponentialTech #WomenInTech #MSMEEmpowerment #EthicalAI #InnovationLeadership #FutureReadyPH #TNCNow #ChangemakerAward #InclusiveInnovation #FilipinoFuturist #TheDisruptorsHour #RecognizingVisionEmpoweringTransformation

[veeranrajanblog]

How Hackathons Like Hack4Purpose Drive Social Innovation in India

The rise of hackathons across India is more than just a tech trend—it's a signal of a deeper transformation in how young people are solving the country’s most urgent challenges. From agriculture to healthcare, climate change to education, students are no longer just studying solutions—they’re building them.

A leading force in this movement is Hack4Purpose, an initiative that goes beyond the typical hackathon format to prioritize social innovation and impact.

🔧 Building for Bharat, Not Just India

The unique aspect of Hack4Purpose is its focus on the needs of India's underserved sectors—particularly the MSMEs and rural communities. While many hackathons focus on startups or flashy tech, Hack4Purpose focuses on local problems submitted by real-world stakeholders. This approach ensures that participants aren't just solving hypothetical problems but are designing tools that could be used on the ground.

The event’s Hackathon Blog highlights multiple success stories where student teams created solutions for small-scale industries struggling with logistics, or local farmers lacking access to market data.

🌍 Sustainability as the Foundation

Hack4Purpose doesn’t just encourage creativity—it channels it toward the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Every problem statement is tied to a long-term societal goal: zero hunger, good health, clean water, and more.

This framework teaches students to think long-term:

Is the solution scalable?

Does it minimize resource use?

How inclusive is the tech?

In this way, students become innovators and responsible problem-solvers—two roles that the modern world desperately needs.

📊 Outcomes Beyond the Prize

While most hackathons end with a demo and a trophy, Hack4Purpose continues beyond that. Promising solutions are given post-event support such as:

Startup incubation

Mentorship with domain experts

Exposure to real-world pilot testing

This makes the hackathon feel more like a launchpad for real change rather than just a weekend challenge. And many participants have gone on to compete at the national level through SIH 2025, leveraging their Hack4Purpose experience to scale their solutions even further.

📌 Why This Matters for Students

The job market is changing. Recruiters, startups, and VCs now look for problem-solvers, not just degree-holders. Hackathons like Hack4Purpose help students stand out with:

Real project portfolios

Pitch experience

Collaborations across disciplines

Mentorship from social entrepreneurs

Most importantly, it gives students a sense of purpose—something that standard curricula rarely offer.

[hardynwa]

30 MSMEs, others benefit from Whitefield foundation 20th anniversary support grants

Whitefield Foundation had given booster grants to 30 MSMEs & Educational Support To 20 Undergrads her 20 -year anniversary marked recently in Lagos. The foundation defiled the crunching economy and high inflation to reach out to the beneficiaries help them sustain and grow their businesses. Other beneficiaries to enjoy the 20th anniversary celebration largesse were 20 brilliant undergraduates from various institutions of higher learning. The Foundation would not have been able to achieve the impact and success she recorded so far without the generous support of her partners and sponsors. In compliance to global SDG best practices, Whitefield Foundation has remained focused on access to quality education, promotion of decent work and economic growth, as well as poverty eradication and zero hunger. It has since implemented initiatives that have far-reached and empowered individuals from all the 36 States of Nigeria and the Federal Capital territory; with special attention on women; youths and everything else that enhances their well-being. Through a variety of programme, the foundation has directly impacted over 162,500 individuals and then through other ambassadorial systems indirectly empowered another 320,000 plus people. So many success stories abound as testimonials which includes that of Eunice.S, a 16 year old, out of school teenage pregnant girl-child who was rehabilitated, then sponsored through secondary and university education. She has now bagged a Second Class Upper Division in Education. In 2022, the foundation was able to empower 2,800 small holder farmers (80% women) and victims of flooding with high yielding, disease-resistant seedling to help them rebuild their means of livelihood. The relief intervention was made possible through the partnership of corporate sponsors. The vision of Whitefield Foundation remains to reach 1 million Nigerians with empowerment by the year 2025. They are positive that this is achievable. The foundation believes that Nigeria with a reported population average of 19 years is a country of vibrant youth that needs to be supported especially in education and vocational skills training for entrepreneurship. The Whitefield Foundation is open to partnership and support from well-meaning individuals and corporate organizations to work with her to bring education and empowerment to millions of distressed Nigerians. The narrative that Nigeria is one of the poorest nation on earth is one that should and must be changed and is only possible if we all work together and support organizations like the Whitefield Foundation to eradicate poverty through education and empowerment. This 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Foundation seek to chronicle among others, the impact of the education support initiatives, the flagship program of the Foundation which has so far benefitted over 5,700 students in public schools across Nigeria. Till date, the vocational skills training program of the foundation has directly empowered over 114,000 youth and women in Nigeria with grant awards to over 1,300 business owners. The program has beneficiaries from every state in Nigeria. In Kano State alone, over 2,000 women drawn from all the 44 local government areas in the state benefitted from the program between 2021 and 2022. On the occasion of this 20th anniversary the foundation expresses gratitude to all her donors, sponsors and partners that have contributed immensely to her programs and sustainability. Read the full article

[sidnazpro2020]

Latest News Today - June 27 Is Micro, Small And Medium Enterprises Day. Read

Latest News Today – June 27 Is Micro, Small And Medium Enterprises Day. Read

June 27 every year is observed as Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Day The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) during its 74th Plenary session held on April 6, 2017 declared June 27 as Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises or MSME Day, underlining the significance of the sector, especially in achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs). What are Micro Small and Medium Enterprises? Any…

[mariacallous]

Micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) constitute the backbone of most countries’ economies, representing about 90 percent of businesses and more than 50 percent of employment worldwide. Formal MSMEs contribute up to 40 percent of GDP in emerging economies, making them key to accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), and SDG 10 (reduced inequalities). For this reason, the United Nations General Assembly has designated June 27 as MSMEs Day to highlight the contributions of these enterprises. 

Central to the development of a vibrant MSME sector is entrepreneurship because it creates new businesses, which in turn create jobs, enhance competition, introduce innovation, and increase productivity. In the face of the unprecedented global challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, investing in women and diverse entrepreneurs has become central to inclusive and sustainable recovery and development. As East and South Asia remain the most dynamic regions with growing influence on the world economy, a brief overview of female entrepreneurial activities in these regions, particularly in Bhutan and Vietnam, will help focus attention on promoting needed structural changes in the economy to become more gender friendly. 

[nehaalmayur]

Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day

June 27th

According to the data provided by the International Council for Small Business (ICSB), formal and informal Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) make up over 90% of all firms and account on average for 60-70% of total employment and 50% of GDP.

The General Assembly, recognizing the importance of these enterprises, decided to declare 27 June the Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day to raise public awareness of their contribution to sustainable development.

Micro-, small and medium enterprises, the first responders to societal needs.

These types of enterprises are responsible for significant employment and income generation opportunities across the world and have been identified as a major driver of poverty alleviation and development.

MSMEs tend to employ a larger share of the vulnerable sectors of the workforce, such as women, youth, and people from poorer households.

MSMEs can even sometimes be the only source of employment in rural areas.

As such, MSMEs as a group are the main income provider for the income distribution at the “base of the pyramid”.

MSMEs should be the first responders to societal needs and provide the safety net for inclusiveness.

#msme #MSMEDay #msmesector #MSMENEMYOFTHEPEOPLE #msmedevelopment #SDG2030 #SDGgoals #sdgs #SDGAction #UnitedNations #unitednationsorganization #SDG17 #Planet5050 #nehaalmayur

[biztellersng]

By John Danjuma If elected in 2023, Labour Party would run a government where the rich and the poor would be equitably and fairly represented, the presidential candidate of the party, Mr Peter Obi, has disclosed. A statement from the Obi/Datti campaign office said Obi made the remarks at the weekend during the 95th anniversary celebration of Queen’s College organised by Lagos Old Girls Association. He explained further that his administration will ensure Citizens’ interests will take pre-eminence over political interests so that the existing trust gap between the government and the governed will be reduced to the barest minimum. Read also>>>Crude Oil Theft: Why Peter Obi’s Allegations Against Nigerian Govt May Be True On female representations in his government he said just like when he was governor of Anambra State, his administration achieved close to a 60-40 gender balance in appointive and elective positions his Presidency if elected “intend to progressively aim for between 35-40%, with aggressive gender mainstreaming action plan and rigid benchmarks” According to him, education is central to his government policy thrust saying he will pursue a Marshal plan-type programme on education that incorporates compulsory technical and vocational skills, sports, entrepreneurship, programming, and digital skills from primary to the secondary level. ‘Inevitably, we will improve access to finance, MSMEs, youths and women, to significantly reduce unemployment and insecurity. According to the former Anambra state Governor “We will introduce a mandatory “No Child left Behind” educational policy, mindful that Nigeria’s inadequate investment in the social sectors – health, education, and housing has resulted in the current dismal social and demographic trends reflected in low life expectancy, high maternal mortality rate, large number of out-of- school children, huge unmet housing needs as well high youth unemployment. “Our government shall prioritize education to serve the following functions: technical and industry relevance; alignment with local comparative advantages and factor endowments; modern skills proficiency, critical thinking, ethical citizenship values, global competitiveness, and talent export. His plans also he said will be to “prioritize a structured approach to developing the digital skills of our young population to give them the competitive advantage to receive offshore jobs in the new gig economy, while also improving the efficiency and productivity level of our economy” “The Obi-Datti administration, when elected President of Nigeria, will sustain national development. Our governance principles, priority projects and programmes shall be anchored on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Obi noted that Experience shows that inclusiveness is an essential element in effective public policy making pointing out that he intends to stop the under representation of critical components of the society in decision making such as women, youth, and the vulnerable in our midsts. According to the LP presidential candidate, if elected, “From its inception, encourage investment in infrastructure, energy, transport, irrigation, and telecoms and education with gender mainstreaming and social inclusion in education, enterprise and politics will always be a priority. Obi also expressed his Commitment to the well being of the Girl Child and Women pointing out that this will be fully reflected in his broad and gender-specific policies. He also plans to reset and reboot Nigeria in all ramifications –leadership and governance, security of life and properties, economic and political freedom and this according to the candidate “will entail the promotion of intangible assets that underpin democracy; namely, good governance, rule of law, security of lives and properties and robust institutions. There will be visible and measurable indices of governance the people can experience.

[iconsofchange]

Icons of Change Awards 2025

Sustainable Development Goal: SDG 4 – Quality Education

Trailblazer in Entrepreneurship & Media

Dr. Carl E. Balita

Dr. Carl E. Balita has shaped the landscape of education, media, and entrepreneurship in the Philippines. As the President and CEO of the Dr. Carl Balita Review Center (CBRC)—the first ISO 9001-2015 certified and most awarded review center in the country—he has helped over a million professionals achieve their dreams of passing licensure examinations. With more than 200 branches nationwide and a growing presence in the Middle East, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Canada, and the United States, CBRC continues to open doors for aspiring nurses, teachers, engineers, and law enforcement officers.

A champion of MSMEs, Dr. Balita dedicated two decades to hosting “Radyo Negosyo” on DZMM and Teleradyo, where he provided mentorship, financial literacy, and practical business advice to entrepreneurs. His expertise extends to television, film, publishing, and music production, with award-winning projects such as the films “Nars,” “Maestra,” and “Siglo ng Kalinga”, which highlight the struggles and triumphs of Filipino professionals. He has authored multiple best-selling books and published 53 reviewers, ensuring that education remains within reach for all.

As a respected business leader, he serves as the Chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Quezon City and National Chairman for Human Resource Development, advocating for sustainable economic growth through education and skills development. His impact has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Marketing Luminary Award at the 42nd Agora Awards (2024) and multiple distinctions from the Asia CEO Awards.

Through the Dr. Carl E. Balita Foundation, he continues his philanthropic mission of supporting education, healthcare, and disaster relief efforts, ensuring that the spirit of service reaches those who need it most. As a registered nurse and midwife, he remains committed to the welfare of health professionals, advocating for career advancement and better working conditions.

His latest initiative, the “EntrePinoy Revolution”, reinforces his dedication to empowering Filipino entrepreneurs by equipping them with knowledge, skills, and opportunities.

For his remarkable contributions to education, media, and entrepreneurship, Dr. Carl E. Balita is honored as a Trailblazer in Entrepreneurship & Media at the Icons of Change Awards 2025. His work continues to inspire professionals, educators, and entrepreneurs to push boundaries and create lasting impact.

#IconsOfChange2025#TrailblazerInEntrepreneurship#QualityEducation#MSMEChampion#CarlBalita#EntrepreneurshipForAll#InnovationInEducation#MakingAnImpact#EmpoweringFilipinos#EntrePinoy#LifelongLearning#RecognizingVisionEmpoweringTransformation

[veeranrajanblog]

Why Every Student Should Join Both Hack4Purpose and SIH 2025

If you're a college student passionate about innovation, chances are you've heard of SIH—Smart India Hackathon, one of the largest national platforms for student innovation. But what if you could go deeper, solve more localized problems, and work hands-on with community impact?

Enter Hack4Purpose 2025, a national hackathon designed to empower students to create purpose-driven tech solutions, especially for India’s vast MSME sector.

🎯 What’s the Difference?

SIH 2025 (learn more) is a broad, government-driven initiative with participation from hundreds of colleges.

Hack4Purpose is more focused and intentional, centering on solving real-world SDG-aligned issues in depth.

By doing both, you gain:

Exposure to large-scale problem solving (via SIH)

Hands-on mentorship and direct implementation opportunities (via Hack4Purpose)

🔍 The Dual Advantage

The Hack4Purpose Blog gives clear examples of student teams who started with Hack4Purpose, validated their solutions, and then scaled them with SIH funding or support. It’s a winning formula.

Imagine this pathway:

Prototype with purpose at Hack4Purpose

Validate and improve your model

Pitch and scale it via SIH

It’s the ideal blend of depth and reach.

🌐 Skills and Recognition

Hack4Purpose helps you develop soft skills like team collaboration, empathy-based design, and agile problem-solving.

SIH prepares you to pitch to national audiences and scale for government or enterprise adoption.

Together, they make your resume shine—and more importantly, give you the confidence to become a tech-driven leader.

[the254hub]

Banks are pivotal in the resilience and recovery of MSMEs from the pandemic, climate, and global conflict shocks

Banks are pivotal in the resilience and recovery of MSMEs from the pandemic, climate, and global conflict shocks

By Elizabeth Wasunna Last month, the world celebrated the 5th anniversary of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day – MSME Day – with a focus on the need to raise awareness of the tremendous contributions of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is particularly significant in light of global tectonic shifts such as…

[jlkrealtors]

Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Day is celebrated every year on June 27 to recognise the contribution of these industries in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

[loanonbankguarantee]

The Importance of Supporting MSMEs

The Importance of Supporting MSMEs MSMEs stand for micro, small, and medium enterprises, and because more than half the businesses in the world come under these micro, small and medium enterprises, they play a significant role in many economies. According to the World Bank, they account for 90% of businesses, therefore making them the sole job generators which covers 50% of the world’s employment. Amidst these obvious numbers, there are several other reasons that make it important to support MSMEs. Let’s have a look at some of them.

Job Creation

50% of employment is produced and given out thanks to the job supply created by SMEs majorly. Job creation is one of the most essential factors of new businesses because they produce newer talents, roles, and requirements across different industries. As industries change and grow, job creation finds newer trajectories. For example, the pandemic created more digitally adaptable roles in many organizations that didn’t focus on those roles before. Therefore, to foster more job growth, MSMEs need maximum support.

Economy Building

One of the results of massive job creation is the consequent development of the economy. When the pandemic hit, many sectors went under and many people lost their jobs too. But MSMEs found the agility required in these circumstances and adapted to the changing circumstances of remote working and work from home necessities. Therefore, they played a huge role in maintaining the economies of various countries that struggled during covid. MSMEs have always played an integral role in economic building. Since they comprise 90% of businesses in total, this reason is self-explanatory. It is important for any economy to support its MSMEs because they are one of the sole generators.

Poverty Reduction

Many financial institutions, national governments, and development banks are increasingly giving their support out to MSMEs because they are achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Since MSMEs play such an important role in economic growth, they directly benefit the poor and vulnerable, especially women and youth. They reduce poverty by regularly generating income and have a huge positive impact on financially backward families. MSMEs, therefore lead to these households investing in education and health, everything fulfilling many SDGs. It’s becoming more important to support MSMEs everyday!

Innovation and Development

MSMEs often are the first ones to propel the transformation of technical innovations into demand-driven development solutions in most demographics. There is a strong equation between MSMEs and the generation of science, technology and innovations. Many scientific and technical innovations come from MSME entrepreneurs in most developing countries. MSME entrepreneurs have a lot of in-depth knowledge of the demands of local communities. Therefore, they have the ability to transform scientific and technical innovations into development solutions that can be replicated and increased. MSMEs are not only beacons of innovation, they also facilitate its expansion.

Therefore, supporting MSMEs is only in the best interest of all sections of society. They propel development, innovation, sustainable goals, income generation, and various other capitalization factors. That’s why most governments, institutions and banks are investing in the betterment of MSMEs, because they have a beacon of potential. Support MSMEs in your own ways, starting today!

[newscheckz]

Three Entrepreneurs in Botswana, Zambia, and Malawi Win Prestigious SEED Award

New Post has been published on https://newscheckz.com/three-entrepreneurs-in-botswana-zambia-and-malawi-win-prestigious-seed-award/

Three Entrepreneurs in Botswana, Zambia, and Malawi Win Prestigious SEED Award

Winners of the SEED Awards will be awarded matching grants of between EUR 10,000 – 15,000.

A Botswanan company which trains farmers to use bees to stop elephants destroying their farms, a Zambian business which promotes sustainable bee-farming, and a Malawian start-up which turns leftovers into cooking gas have won the SEED Awards for Climate Adaptation (SEED Awards) (www.SEED.uno).

SEED was founded as part of a global partnership between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

In Botswana, local entrepreneur Mavis Nduchwa founded Kalahari Honey to restore the balance between humans, wildlife, and the environment.

The company gives farmers beehives and trains them to create a live fence of bees around their farms to deter local elephant populations.

Not only does this reduce conflict between humans and wildlife, it gives farmers an added income as they can sell their bee products back to Kalahari Honey, which markets to customers globally.

It also increases pollination through the propagation of bee colonies and the introduction of more indigenous, drought-resistant plant species reverses the ongoing desertification.

The company currently works with 500 rural farmers, but under SEED’s expert provision it aims to work with an additional 1,500 farmers over the next year and expand the capacity of its processing factory.

In Zambia, entrepreneur Harry Malichi set up Wuchi Wami to train farmers in sustainable beekeeping.

The company packages, brands, markets and distributes local raw and organic honey from its registered cooperative made up of 2,500 farmers.

It uses modern beehives made from easy-to-plant pine, rather than the local miombo trees, which are destroyed in traditional beehive production.

This type of beekeeping is less labour-intensive, enabling women, youths and orphans to farm honey.

Deforestation is further reduced by providing an alternative income source for women and men engaged in charcoal burning.

Under SEED’s guidance, the enterprise plans to increase the number of smallholder farmers in its cooperative to 10,000 in the coming year.

EcoGen, founded by Clement Kandodo in Malawi in 2019, provides advanced bio-waste bins and biodigesters for households to recycle their leftover food and agricultural waste, turning it into biogas for cooking and organic fertilizer.

The provision of renewable cooking gas, especially to rural customers relying on wood fuel, takes the pressure off local forest resources. Organic fertilizer increases yields and incomes of smallholder farmers, enhancing their climate resilience.

SEED will help EcoGen scale its services to provide 4,000 households and institutions with access to renewable biogas energy by 2023.

Yves Wantens, General Representative of the Government of Flanders in the United States commented: “When it comes to the impacts of climate change, countries like Malawi, Zambia and Botswana are on the front line.

They are the ones who will feel the effects of a rise in global temperature most acutely.

That is why we are so proud to support the SEED Awards, which recognize and scale the impact of eco-inclusive enterprises across these local communities.

As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, MSMEs are at the forefront of enabling green recovery and delivering on SDGs, for the good of the wider community and the planet.” The Government of Flanders is the primary sponsor of the SEED Climate Adaptation Awards.

The SEED Awards ceremony, taking place today at the UN’s High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), will also see SEED present its ‘Green Recovery Snapshot’ (https://bit.ly/3hCJSDP) findings, which calls on governments, donors, and financial providers to increase targeted support for MSMEs as they stimulate economic growth in a post-COVID world.

MSMEs are responsible for creating seven out of ten jobs across emerging markets, and green and social MSMEs deliver environmental and social impact through their activities, products, and services, making them essential actors in achieving a green recovery.

Winners of the SEED Awards will be awarded matching grants of between EUR 10,000 – 15,000 and will receive tailored one-to-one advisory services for up to a year to scale their operations, as part of the renowned SEED Accelerator (https://bit.ly/3AVM4xM) programme.

In line with the principle of ‘awarding the best and moving the rest’, 39 runners-up will also be supported through the SEED Catalyzer (https://bit.ly/3hABXXt) programme, to refine their business models and optimize their impacts while advancing their investment readiness.

SEED’s Director of Operations, Rainer Agster, added: “The calibre of SEED Award entries this year was outstanding, and we extend our congratulations to all nine winners and 39 runners-up.

We hope the enterprises identified and promoted by the SEED Awards will be a source of inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs across emerging economies. Through the SEED Awards, we will support 48 enterprises in 2021, and through our other programmes, several hundreds more.

For each of those, however, there are thousands more eco-inclusive enterprises furthering SDGs which can be amplified with the right support.

Therefore, we strongly encourage policy makers and financial actors to take a closer look at these eco-inclusive businesses and start or scale support programmes for them.”

Of the 2021 SEED Awards cohort, 69 per cent of enterprise leaders are 18-35 years-old and 52 per cent are female-led enterprises.

Since their inception in 2005, the SEED Awards have awarded 311 enterprises in 40 countries and have facilitated the disbursement of over EUR 1 million in grants.

Each individual SEED enterprise has saved an average of 7,300 tonnes of CO2, generated more than 9,399 kWh of renewable energy, and created 28.4 jobs, out of which 32 per cent are offered to people at the Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP).

For more information on the winners and runners-up, please visit the SEED website (https://bit.ly/3xBgrY8).

[marwahstudios]

Sandeep Marwah Motivated Members of WASME on International MSME Day

New Delhi: “We are happy that our honourable Prime Minister has given a very strong and powerful word to all of us- ATMANIRBHAR- on the face of it means self-reliant and self-sufficient but the real meaning is hidden between the letters-Ambitious for new business, Tough to face all unforeseen circumstances, now you need to be Techno- Savvy too, develop self-Motivation , change your Attitude, be Nationalist, gather Information related to your business, Research before you jump for investment, Believe in yourself and be confident, be Human , polite and compassionate, be Aggressive and do not leave any opportunity and be Result oriented,” explained Dr. Sandeep Marwah President of Marwah Studios while talking on MSME in India on International MSME Day in a program organised by WASME online.

Dr. Sanjeev Layek of World Association of Small Medium Enterprises invited large number of experts to speak on the current situation of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises in different parts of the World.

“Large part of Indian Economy and 30 percent of total overall employment comes from MSME. India is home to 63 million MSME contributing to great part of GDP. Pandemic has disturbed badly the current position of these entrepreneurs and very slowly the situation is coming back to normal. There are ample road locks and challenges when it comes to credit accessibility of these business houses,” added Dr. Marwah recently nominated Global Ambassador of NITI Aayog SDG Choupal while talking to the large international audience.

H.E. Dr. Kheswar Jankee Ambassador Mauritius to Russia, S.M. Zillur Rahman President WASME Bangladesh Chairman & CEO Rahman Group, Sampa Banerjee Executive Director Saadia Lakehal PDG & Fondatrice Emporia Industries Connect Canada also spoke on the day.

Sushil Agarwal Chairman AVON India Limited, Chandrima Chaterjee Policy Practitioner and Advocacy Expert on Trade and Competitiveness, Probir Roy Serial Entrepreneur, Arundhati Mukerjee CMO on Demand, Sarita Chauhan Director Farsghter Network and Anshu Anand expressed their views.