Dr. Kim Kichan, President of the International Council for Small Business,Dr. Ayman Tarabishy, Executive Director of the ICSB, Members of the ICSB Board, Co-chairs of the Ministerial Roundtable: Mr. Joo Young-Sup, Small and Medium Business Administration Minister of the Republic of Korea and Ms. Maria Contreras-Sweet, United States Small Business Administrator, Ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to greet all participants at this Conference of the International Council for Small Business.

We are now well into the first year of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – our transformative plan to ensure a life of dignity for all.

The ambitious Sustainable Development Goals specifically call for policies that encourage the growth of small- and medium-sized enterprises.

That is because these businesses can create a more sustainable world – with better jobs, greater respect for the environment and more inclusive societies.

I hope you find creative ways for small businesses to help reach the SDGs. And I encourage you to join the valuable United Nations Global Compact initiative.

The United Nations fully supports your efforts to be responsible toward the societies where you operate – and to help create a better future for all.

In this spirit, I wish you great success.

Thank you.