Strengthening National Capacities for Enhancing Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (MSME) Resilience and Building Back Better to Accelerate the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Cambodia

Background
Documentation

Background

Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) contribute significantly to progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Cambodia. MSMEs directly contribute to the eradication of poverty and hunger as well as reductions in inequalities, including gender inequality. More than half of MSMEs in Cambodia are owned by women entrepreneurs. Most Cambodian MSMEs concentrate in the service and manufacturing sectors that are vulnerable to the negative socioeconomic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Strengthening MSME resilience is urgent and crucial to protect jobs and livelihoods, especially for women, youth and groups in vulnerable situations in Cambodia. The workshop is jointly organized by the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI) and the Division for Sustainable Development Goals, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DSDG/DESA) in this backdrop. Bringing onboard senior policymakers, national and local government officials, MSME entrepreneurs and representatives from development partners, the workshop aims at identifying and facilitating the exchange of experiences and good practices on enhancing MSME resilience for building back better among key stakeholder groups in Cambodia. It will map good practices, gaps and opportunities to expand MSME contributions to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Cambodia. The workshop will also launch DESA’s MSME projects together with policymakers, MSME entrepreneurs and the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Cambodia. Key messages drawn from the workshop will inform the planning and implementation of DESA’s MSME projects in Cambodia. The workshop will take place in Phnom Penh from 15 to 16 November. It will be delivered in a hybrid approach. For more information of the workshop, please contact Ke Liu (ke.liu@un.org, extension: 73693)