BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a58bf0e073ed DTSTART:20251022T080000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20251022T093000Z LOCATION:Geneva\, Switzerland SUMMARY:UNCTAD16 parallel event: Igniting entrepreneurial potential – UNC TAD Empretec in the age of transformation CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:Entrepreneurship is a powerful driver of innovation\, inclusive economic growth and sustainable development. The UNCTAD Empretec programm e has trained over 550\,000 entrepreneurs across over 40 countries in the global South\, fostering a vibrant and resilient community of leaders of s tartups\, microenterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises.By equip ping entrepreneurs with behavioural tools\, business skills and access to funding and networks\, Empretec has helped transform ideas into viable ent erprises\, many of which have become key contributors to job creation and innovation in their communities.Shifts in the global economy demand new ap proaches to entrepreneurship support\; approaches that are agile\, inclusi ve and future-oriented. In response\, the Empretec programme has undergone a comprehensive transformation under the new Empretec 2.0 plan\, prioriti zing innovation\, digital readiness\, data- driven impact measurement and tailored support for high-potential startups in key development sectors.Di scussions at this event will reflect on the achievements of the Empretec p rogramme\, share best practices and explore the future orientation of the programme\, with participants engaging in a forward-looking dialogue on ho w entrepreneurship can shape equitable\, inclusive and sustainable develop ment.ProgrammePanel 1. Entrepreneurship and evolving digital and green eco nomiesQuestionsHow can policymakers and decision-makers ensure that entrep reneurship education remains inclusive and aligned with the evolving deman ds of digital and green economies?Which indicators can best capture the br oader impact of entrepreneurship support programmes\, beyond basic measure s?Panel 2. Scaling impact: Smarter support for entrepreneurs in a changing worldQuestionsHow can business development and Empretec centres be levera ged to improve the delivery and accessibility of business development serv ices for small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups in developing co untries?What role should peer-to-peer mentoring play in entrepreneurial ec osystems\, and how can its quality and sustainability be ensured?Speakers: Evelyn Anite\, Minister of State\, Ministry of Finance in charge of Invest ments\, UgandaAna Isabel Xavier\, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs a nd Cooperation\, PortugalNan Li Collins\, Director\, Division on Investmen t and Enterprise\, UN Trade and DevelopmentAshutosh Chadha\, Senior Direct or\, United Nations Affairs and International Organizations\, MicrosoftJes sica Anuna\, Founder and Chief Executive Officer\, KlashaHeba Kurdi\, Foun der and CEO\, Mata LogisticClosing remarks:Pedro Manuel Moreno\, Deputy Se cretary-General of UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)<\;p>\;Entrepreneu rship is a powerful driver of innovation\, inclusive economic growth and s ustainable development. The UNCTAD Empretec programme has trained over 550 \,000 entrepreneurs across over 40 countries in the global South\, fosteri ng a vibrant and resilient community of leaders of startups\, microenterpr ises and small and medium-sized enterprises.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;By equi pping entrepreneurs with behavioural tools\, business skills and access to funding and networks\, Empretec has helped transform ideas into viable en terprises\, many of which have become key contributors to job creation and innovation in their communities.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Shifts in the glob al economy demand new approaches to entrepreneurship support\; approaches that are agile\, inclusive and future-oriented. In response\, the Empretec programme has undergone a comprehensive transformation under the new Empr etec 2.0 plan\, prioritizing innovation\, digital readiness\, data- driven impact measurement and tailored support for high-potential startups in ke y development sectors.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Discussions at this event wil l reflect on the achievements of the Empretec programme\, share best pract ices and explore the future orientation of the programme\, with participan ts engaging in a forward-looking dialogue on how entrepreneurship can shap e equitable\, inclusive and sustainable development.<\;/p>\;<\;h3> \;Programme<\;/h3>\;<\;h4>\;Panel 1. Entrepreneurship and evolving digital and green economies<\;/h4>\;<\;p>\;Questions<\;/p>\;& lt\;ul>\;<\;li>\;How can policymakers and decision-makers ensure tha t entrepreneurship education remains inclusive and aligned with the evolvi ng demands of digital and green economies?<\;/li>\;<\;li>\;Which i ndicators can best capture the broader impact of entrepreneurship support programmes\, beyond basic measures?<\;/li>\;<\;/ul>\;<\;h4>\;P anel 2. Scaling impact: Smarter support for entrepreneurs in a changing wo rld<\;/h4>\;<\;p>\;Questions<\;/p>\;<\;ul>\;<\;li>\;Ho w can business development and Empretec centres be leveraged to improve th e delivery and accessibility of business development services for small an d medium-sized enterprises and start-ups in developing countries?<\;/li& gt\;<\;li>\;What role should peer-to-peer mentoring play in entreprene urial ecosystems\, and how can its quality and sustainability be ensured?& lt\;/li>\;<\;/ul>\;<\;p>\;Speakers:<\;/p>\;<\;ul>\;<\; li>\;<\;strong>\;Evelyn Anite<\;/strong>\;\, Minister of State\, Ministry of Finance in charge of Investments\, Uganda<\;/li>\;<\;li >\;<\;strong>\;Ana Isabel Xavier<\;/strong>\;\, Secretary of Sta te for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation\, Portugal<\;/li>\;<\;li>\; <\;strong>\;Nan Li Collins<\;/strong>\;\, Director\, Division on I nvestment and Enterprise\, UN Trade and Development<\;/li>\;<\;li> \;<\;strong>\;Ashutosh Chadha<\;/strong>\;\, Senior Director\, Uni ted Nations Affairs and International Organizations\, Microsoft<\;/li> \;<\;li>\;<\;strong>\;Jessica Anuna<\;/strong>\;\, Founder and Chief Executive Officer\, Klasha<\;/li>\;<\;li>\;<\;strong>\; Heba Kurdi<\;/strong>\;\, Founder and CEO\, Mata Logistic<\;/li>\; <\;/ul>\;<\;p>\;Closing remarks:<\;/p>\;<\;ul>\;<\;li> \;<\;strong>\;Pedro Manuel Moreno<\;/strong>\;\, Deputy Secretary- General of UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)<\;/li>\;<\;/ul>\;\n\n View meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/unctad16/empretec-igniting- entrepreneurial-potential DTSTAMP:20260716T112254Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR