Intervention by the Permanent Representative of the Argentine Republic, Amb. Martín García Moritán
April 6
Introduction of the draft resolution
Mr. President,
It is an honour for me to be here introducing the draft resolution A/71/L.60, entitled “Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day”.
I would like to begin by thanking all the countries that are cosponsoring this draft resolution and the delegations that actively and constructively participated in the negotiations.
I would like also to thank the International Council for Small Business (ICSB), especially its Executive Director, Dr. Ayman El Tarabishy, for all the support and information they provided since the beginning of this process. ICSB held its 61st Annual World Conference here at United Nations last year, in which authorities from over 55 countries participated. In that occasion, ICSB made a Declaration about the urgent need to have a day to recognize the important role of micro, small, and medium enterprises in the development of economies as a whole. That is when the authorities from Argentina decided to step forward and promote this important initiative in the General Assembly.
Mr. President,
Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development all the countries have been working in its implementation and in finding ways to ensure that every actor could contribute in the best possible way. Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises are one of these actors.
They have the potential to make a long-lasting positive impact on the world’s development needs, since, by number, they dominate the world business stage. Estimates suggest that more than 95% of enterprises across the world are Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, accounting for approximately 60% of private sector employment.
These enterprises can in fact become the engines that sustain growth for long-term development in developing countries. When growth becomes stronger, Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises gradually assume a key role in industrial development. They can satisfy the increasing local demand for services, which allows increasing specialisation, and furthermore support larger enterprises with services and inputs.
We hope that the establishment of June 27 as the Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day will help to raise public awareness of the important role they have in many areas of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the many challenges these enterprises face.
Thank you.
