Upcoming Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) Day celebration 2022 and ITU SME Awards 2021 winner spotlight


WTO/ITU Telecom SME Programme

Session 450

Monday, 30 May 2022 16:30–18:15 (UTC+02:00) Thematic Workshop

Conversations with tech SMEs and presentation of the Trade4MSMEs/GTH online resources

In celebration of the 6th edition of the UN's MSME Day to raise awareness of the contribution of micro-, small and medium enterprises to sustainable development and the global economy, this session brings together past winners of the ITU Telecom SME Awards to reflect on the importance of tech SMEs, key challenges they face and the support they need.  How can digital entrepreneurs, start-ups and SMEs find and build on resources and relationships to adapt and grow in the changing global environment? How important are international development partners? What resources are available for SMEs looking to internationalize? Hear more on the stories of these successful tech SMEs, their progress over the past six months, strategic priorities and long-term goals. Experts from the WTO Informal working group on MSMEs and the International Trade Centre's Global Trade Helpdesk (GTH) join the session to highlight the importance of trade for businesses of all sizes the advantages of online information platforms like the GTH and Trade4MSMEs. 


Soukeina Mamodhoussen
Soukeina Mamodhoussen Consultant Baobabooks

A passionate educator, Soukeina has worked in international schools around the world and has taught various subjects including French and English to children ranging from the ages of five to eighteen. She is currently an accreditation visiting team member and leader for the Council of International Schools and a workshop leader for the International Baccalaureate. Being a voracious reader, writer and a polyglot, Soukeina is enthusiastic about all things related to language and literacy, and was naturally attracted to the mission and vision of Baobabooks, where she works as a pedagogical consultant. 

 


Baobabooks prides itself on being teacher-led and technology-enabled to work across oceans, cultures and continents, aspiring to build understanding, exchange ideas and develop a vision for a better world. It is a fast-growing interactive website that allows young writers and illustrators to create and collaborate, overcoming obstacles of language and context to publish their writing. According to UNICEF, over 100 million children and teens fell below the minimal acceptable levels for writing and reading literacy in 2021. Baobabooks helps children improve their literacy skills while providing them with a meaningful outcome – their own tangible books. Children and teenagers from more than twenty countries now use this platform to write, illustrate and publish their own books while teachers use it to manage the administrative aspects of classwork and draw on their own creativity to better engage their students.


Ania Jankowska-Erickson Market Analyst International Trade Centre

Stefan Kostic
Stefan Kostic CEP IPification

Stefan has more than 12 years of experience in the fintech and telecom industries and has spearheaded business development across the Asia Pacific region for over 8 years before joining IPification. As the Chief Executive Officer of Benefit Vantage Limited & IPification, he is focused on growing the revolutionary mobile authentication technology globally to secure mobile/digital life. IPification has been already recognized and awarded by some of the leading global organizations and enterprises.


Rahul Jha
Rahul Jha SME Programme Manager ITU, Switzerland Moderator

ITU staff involved with the client relations/project management of ITU Digital World 2014-2021 and Digital Infrastructure Innovation in the Publications department. Telecommunication Engineer with an MBA in Marketing and pursuing a PhD in Management from the University of Geneva. Linkedin Profile


Dr. Mohammed Alhumali
Dr. Mohammed Alhumali CEO and Co-founder Mawidy

A multidisciplinary background concluded with strong knowledge of the complexity of the Healthcare System. Innovative & Highly talented in using the workspace to create solutions aligned with the Sustainability Development Goals.
 
Dr. Mohammed is currently the Innovation Hub Lead for the Center of Healthcare Excellence. Dr. Mohammed have founded Mawidy which is a platform where it leverage new cutting edge technologies and Ai to enhance the quality of care, reduce the cost of treatment & improve access of care. Dr. Mohammed have also founded multiple platforms in Advance mental health and Health education as well, to medical blogs backed by best practice & evidence base medicine.
 
Dr. Mohammed have launched a national initiative during the COVID19 where it serve over the 25 charity and their beneficiaries where this initiative provides free healthcare services from seeking consultation & treatment to leading campaigns and seminars to raise awareness and health literacy in the community.
 


Alicia Gujon Economic Advisor Permanent Mission of Mexico to the WTO

Daniel SOHN
Daniel SOHN CEO SCE Korea

Daniel Hark SOHN is a CEO of SCE Korea, Inc. that is consulting and IT company for Information and communication technology accessibility for persons with disabilities. 
SCE Korea, Inc. is also IT company to make a mobile accessibility test solution ,‘forApp’ that is the world’s first mobile accessibility inspection solution and the winner of ITU Digital World SME Awards 2021.
 
Daniel is also participating in developing ICT accessibility international and domestic standards through ITU-T, W3C, ASTAP(Asia-Pacific), and RRA(Korea). He played role as an editor in developing ITU-T Recommendations including Y.4204 Accessibility requirements for Internet of Things applications and services, and Y.4211 Accessibility requirements for smart public transport. He also participated in researching status of mobile accessibility in Asia-Pacific regions and now he is developing Mobile Accessibility Guideline for Asia Country through APT ASTAP.
 
He is the president of Rehabilitation Global, Seoul that is a region Association of Rehabilitation Global. He is a member of Accessibility advisory committee on National Human Rights Commission of Korea, Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of Public Administration and Security, and Ministry of Health and Welfare.


Kathryn Lundquist Economic Affairs Officer Switzerland

Armando Aguirre
Armando Aguirre Co-founder wiwi

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aguirrezquerro/


Topics
Digital Economy Digital Transformation
WSIS Action Lines
  • AL C3 logo C3. Access to information and knowledge
  • AL C4 logo C4. Capacity building
  • AL C11 logo C11. International and regional cooperation

C3 The session would touch upon the role of international organisations in access to information and knowledge. Bringing the policy and multilateral developments benefits directly to the affected SMEs through the knowledge sharing and network. 

C4: SME Programme Masterclass collaborating with various partners from International community

C11: Close cooperation with the ITU membership base to support SMEs 

Sustainable Development Goals
  • Goal 8 logo Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
  • Goal 9 logo Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
  • Goal 10 logo Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries
  • Goal 17 logo Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

Goals 8, 9,10 and 17 are all aligned with the session focus on ITU-WTO collaboration to support SME development by the spotlight on them through the observation of MSME day as well as a spotlight on past SME winners and WTO partners highlighting the importance of trade for businesses of all sizes the advantages of online information platforms like the GTH and Trade4MSMEs.  

Links

https://www.facebook.com/ITUDigitalWorld/

https://trade4msmes.org/

https://globaltradehelpdesk.org/en