9th WCC focuses on creating greater SME strategy for inclusive, sustainable businesses
The ninth World Chambers Congress (WCC) was held in Turin, Italy recently, attended by over 1000 delegates representing a large number of leaders of business chambers and trade and industry associations of the world. Among the attendees for Turino 2015 World Chambers Congress were multinational and industrial business leaders renown for success of their business ventures.
The key focus areas covered at the Turin congress, which created significant value and interest to all the delegates, are sessions on global trade in the 21st century, access to finance for SMEs, institutional dispute resolution, trust in government, principles that power exceptional governance, setting G20 business priorities, global mobility, youth entrepreneurship training, business leadership on climate change adaptation and innovations and best practices and insights.
The central focus during all the sessions of the three days was identifying the needs of SMEs and the skills and know-how needed to support their businesses to foster sustainable economic development and trade. Key sessions on finance for SMEs were spearheaded by Sri Lankan lead expert on financial inclusion, Banking With The Poor Network Chairman Chandula Abeywickrema.
Chandula’s articulations were supported by other speakers - Director European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Charlotte Ruhe, Vice President European Business Angel Network Baybars Altuntas,, Deputy Chief Executive, German Chambers of Commerce and Industry ( DIHK) Volker Treier. The session was moderated by Andrea Tormat, the President of International Chamber of Commerce Italy.
Chandula’s keynote points gained the attention of the moderator Adrea Tormat, President of ICC, and appreciation of the other speakers as well as the endorsement of a wider number of delegates who participated in the session. The key points articulated in the speech are 1) Capacity building for sustainable enterprise creation through an inclusive SME strategy, 2) Redefining the micro, small and medium enterprises models for business sustainability, 3) Role of the business chambers and industry associations making SME banks and finance ready, 4) Partnership between SMEs and SMPs for business empowerment, 5) Linkage to supply and value chains for business sustainability, 6) Making financial services available, accessible and affordable to SMEs, 7) Commercialization of and graduation of SMEs.