From Borneo to Honiara – MSMEs Everywhere and Present
From the tropical shores of Borneo to the community halls of Honiara, the global recognition of Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) reached new heights this year. On June 27, 2025, the world came together once again to celebrate UN MSMEs Day, an observance that, although officially established only in 2017, now feels as essential as the enterprises it honors.
This year’s theme, “Celebration and Resilience of MSMEs,” was more than timely—it was transformative. As the world navigates what ICSB defines as Permanent White Water—a state of constant turbulence marked by climate volatility, political instability, and rapid technological disruption—MSMEs have emerged not just as survivors, but as navigators of this uncharted territory.
At the heart of this resilience is the entrepreneur, the visionary who dares to create in the face of uncertainty. Entrepreneurs don’t just build businesses; they chart paths forward when maps don’t exist. They are the steady hands steering communities through stormy waters, turning challenges into opportunities and ideas into impact.
Lighting Up the Globe
In Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, the spirit of MSME Day came alive for the first time. Community leaders, government officials, financial institutions, and entrepreneurs gathered at the Youth Hub Center to celebrate a new economic dawn. The Minister of Commerce, Hon. Jamie Vokia, captured the moment:
“We cannot talk about a sustainable future without local enterprise at the center. When we empower our local MSMEs, we empower our rural communities.”
Meanwhile, in Borneo, the celebration was just as profound. The local theme, “People, Purpose, Possibility: Powering Progress,” echoed the values at the heart of humane entrepreneurship. MSMEs in this region are not just building livelihoods—they’re shaping futures rooted in dignity, equity, and innovation.
The Global Context
The significance of this year’s MSME Day was elevated by its proximity to the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) and the upcoming Second World Summit for Social Development. MSMEs are not peripheral to these global dialogues, they are central. They represent 90% of all businesses, 60–70% of employment, and over 50% of global GDP. Yet, they continue to face towering challenges: financial exclusion, regulatory inefficiencies, and fragile supply chains.
This year, ICSB’s trend report spotlighted key forces shaping MSMEs in 2025:
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Human-Centered Entrepreneurship: Enterprises that invest in people—through mentorship, flexibility, and well-being—are reaping innovation and loyalty.
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The AI Revolution: With Gen AI coming of age, MSMEs are quickly adapting tools that were once exclusive to tech giants.
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Womenpreneurs Rising: Though barriers remain, global attention is fueling momentum for gender-inclusive entrepreneurship.
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Circular Economy Adoption: Sustainability is no longer a luxury—it’s a mandate.
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ESG Fatigue: MSMEs are calling for simplified, impactful frameworks over bureaucracy-heavy ESG checklists.
A Movement Rooted in Action
UN Secretary-General António Guterres captured the urgency of the moment:
“To unlock their full potential, we must invest in their success by increasing affordable financing, opening market opportunities, and strengthening digital infrastructure and skills.”
But words alone aren’t enough.
At ICSB, we view MSME Day not just as a celebration, but as a rallying cry. Across continents, we’ve seen governments digitize bureaucracy rather than remove it. We’ve seen entrepreneurs labeled as “informal” instead of “underserved.” It’s time we changed that narrative.
MSMEs are not small players. They are the foundation of inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable economies.
From Vision to Village
Whether in Borneo’s bustling creative markets or Honiara’s community-led development hubs, MSMEs are writing a shared story—one of resilience, adaptation, and hope. These businesses aren’t waiting for change—they are leading it.
As Dr. ElTarabishy often say:
“Entrepreneurs don’t just build businesses, they build communities.”
When we support MSMEs, especially in fragile and underserved regions, we are investing not only in economic development, but in dignity, peace, and long-term prosperity. Supporting them is not charity. It is strategy.
Let MSME Day 2025 be remembered not just for the banners and speeches, but for the global momentum it unleashed—from Borneo to Honiara, and everywhere MSMEs call home.
