Multi-year Expert Meeting on Investment, Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Productive Capacity-building and Sustainable Development, eleventh session

Business development services for conducive business ecosystems in support of sustainable development

Microenterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises are the backbone of economies, accounting for approximately 90 per cent of all businesses worldwide and providing over two thirds of employment. However, their failure rate is high, and their productivity tends to be low. In order for them to reach their full potential and optimize their contribution to economic competitiveness and sustainable, inclusive development, effective business development services are crucial components of the business ecosystem.

Responding to the renewed call made by member States at the fifteenth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (TD/541/Add.2, paragraph 127 (r)) and in General Assembly resolution 77/160 on entrepreneurship for sustainable development, experts will take stock of emerging trends in the provision of business development services and identify policies enabling their effective development. They will discuss the need for adaptation of business development services to novel entrepreneurial challenges in view of the dual transitions - the acceleration of digitalization and new technologies on the one hand and the greening of businesses on the other - and the emergence of new critical skills.

Participation

Member States are requested to nominate experts in the relevant fields by 6 September 2024.

Experts, who will participate in the meeting in their personal capacities, are expected to have proven expertise in the subject areas and may be selected from governmental and non-governmental organizations, the private sector and academia.

Specialized agencies and intergovernmental bodies that wish to participate in the meeting, as well as non- governmental organizations in the general category and those in the special category that wish to participate as observers, are requested to register by the same date.

Registration

Online registration is mandatory.

Contributed papers

Experts are encouraged to prepare and submit brief papers (maximum 10 pages) related to their studies, findings and/or national experiences. 

These papers will be made available at the meeting in the form and language in which they are received.

Logistics

The session will be held with physical participation in room XXVI of the Palais des Nations. Those who cannot attend the meeting in person will be able to listen to the live audio stream in the six official languages of the United Nations.

The link to listen live will be sent to registered participants, at the email address used for registration, one day in advance of the start of the session.