(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, December 1 . The
18th INSME (International Network for SMEs) Annual Meeting was held
in Baku on December 1, trend reports referring to Azerbaijan's Small and
Medium Business Development Agency (SMBD).
The event, which was organized jointly by INSME and
Azerbaijan's SMBD, which is part of this organization, was
dedicated to 'Empowering SMEs: Economic Diversification and Green
Growth'.
Entrepreneurs and businessmen from various countries,
as well as the representatives of international organizations and
establishments included in INSME took part in the event.
The main topics of the meeting within the framework of
this organization this year are promoting the role of innovation in
'green' development, unlocking the potential of entrepreneurship
during global crises, ways to solve the energy crisis, and other
issues.
Azerbaijan's Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov,
President of INSME Sergio Arzeni, Acting Head of the Export and
Investment Promotion Agency (AZPROMO), Yusif Abdullayev, President
of the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs' Organizations of
Azerbaijan (NCEOA), Mammad Musayev, President of 'ToJoy', former
Prime Minister of Belgium Yves Leterme, Executive Director of the
Bulgarian SME Promotion Agency, Boyko Takov, and Chairman of the
Board of Azerbaijan's SMBD, Orkhan Mammadov, also participated in
the meeting.
The International Network for SMEs (INSME) and World
Business Angel Investment Forum (WBAF) signed the Memorandum of
Understanding at the meeting.
The event continued with panel discussions on the
following topics: 'Problems of sustainability and energy in the
sphere of small and medium-sized businesses', 'Readiness of small
and medium-sized businesses to cope with crises', and 'Promotion of
innovations for 'green' development'.
The session of the General Assembly of the
Organization, with the participation of INSME members, will be held
on December 2.
The INSME, which unites about 70 participants from
around the world, promotes the expansion of the experience exchange
between institutions working in the field of SMEs, public-private
dialogue, and international partnerships. Azerbaijan's SMBD has
been a member of the INSME since 2020.