LocationsOpening Remarks by Mr James George at the UN MSME Day 2025: Harnessing Green Innovation for MSME Resilience, Advancing the SDGs
June 26, 2025
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in China, James George, delivered opening remarks at the UN MSME Day 2025: Harnessing Green Innovation for MSME Resilience Advancing the SDGs event in Beijing, China.
Distinguished guests, partners, colleagues, and friends,
On behalf of the United Nations Development Programme, welcome to the 2025 Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day (MSME Day).
This year’s MSME’s Day’s theme is Enhancing the role of MSMEs as drivers of Sustainable Growth and Innovation.
The 2025 MSME Day comes at a pivotal global moment—just ahead of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla, Spain and the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar. [1]
Globally, MSMEs represent over 90% of all businesses and contribute up up to 50% of global GDP.
Without a doubt, they make the backbone and the heart of our global and local economies.
We celebrate the MSME Day each year as it offers us a timely opportunity to reflect on their vital role in driving inclusive, resilient and sustainable development.
It is also an opportunity to share, assess and identify new ways and approaches to co-create pathways to catalyze the finance, policy support, and enabling environments they need to thrive.
MSMEs are vital engine-rooms of employment and innovation that shapes the contours and most importantly – the future of local development and communities.
MSMEs are providing essential income and jobs for women, youth, and vulnerable communities around the world.
It has the ability to empower and inspire.
To create new pathways of economic independence from poverty and inequalities.
While MSMEs are always the first to feel the challenges, they MSMEs have consistently shown us repeatedly that despite their scale – agility, innovation and adaptability make them indispensable in building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable economies.
That’s why we must recognize the immense challenges MSMEs continue to face—from limited access to financing and policy support, and inadequate infrastructure as well as climate challenges and high vulnerability to external shocks.
As we are have seen - global developments sets into motion a series of impacts and ripples – right down to local enterprises.
Digital marketplaces and transformations are bypassing the capabilities of MSMEs to compete.
Coupled with reconfigured global supply chains and market uncertainties - many are struggling to grow or thrive.
These challenges are also interlinked and complex and it is increasingly urgent that we address them holistically.
"MSMEs are vital engine-rooms of employment and innovation that shapes the contours and most importantly – the future of local development and communities."
Ladies and gentlemen,
Here in China, MSMEs account for over 90% of all enterprises, 80% of urban employment, and over 70% of innovation. [2]
Against this backdrop, today's forum has a dedicated focus on green innovation.
What are the new processes, technologies, and business models required to significantly reduce environmental impact and resource use?
How do we strengthen MSMEs’ resilience while accelerating progress towards achieving the national dual-carbon goals 2030/2060 and combating the broader threat of climate change?
Globally and across the region, we have seen how green innovation can open up opportunities for MSMEs to engage in new markets, reduce long-term costs, enhance competitiveness, and create quality jobs.
But it requires the right ecosystem: forward-looking policies, inclusive financing mechanisms, digital tools, skills development, and partnerships that work at scale and speed.
At UNDP China, we are committed to unlocking an enabling ecosystem for MSMEs together with all stakeholders.
Since being established in China in 1979, UNDP has been committed in supporting local communities and since 1983, we have been working closely with CICETE on projects across China in creating an inclusive future with MSMEs.
Through diverse flagship initiatives focusing on leveraging sustainable finance, accelerating rural revitalization, promoting sustainable procurement and production, and capacity building across sectors to support entrepreneurship and innovation, we have jointly partnered with MSMEs and local governments and stakeholders to pioneer inclusive, green solutions that are grounded in local realities and aligned with global sustainable development agendas.
A key principle for our discussions on MSME engagement in China -is to listen to various perspectives – challenges, aspirations and also recommendations on pathways and potential way forward to address the realities on the ground.
Today, we are delighted to bring together voices from different sectors to share experiences and co-create pathways for measurable and powerful action. Our roundtable on policy and financial enablers, and the afternoon showcase of resilient MSMEs will underscore that that solutions exist—but they must be scaled, sustained, and made accessible to the people and businesses who need them most.
Let us work together to empower MSMEs and ensure that they not only survive the challenges of our time—but thrive to lead the transition to a more inclusive and greener future.
I look forward to the discussions ahead on how we can unlock the full potential of MSMEs and new innovative approaches in increasing availability of affordable financing, eliminating barriers faced by MSMEs, improving the business environment, opening new market opportunities, and strengthening digital infrastructure and skills.
On this MSME Day, let us commit ourselves to unleashing the transformative promise of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises as drivers for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and creating an inclusive and resilient future – and leaving no one behind.
Happy MSME Day and Xie Xie!
[1] Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day
[2] SMEs to drive continual economic growth
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