Small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) are critical to the vitality of a nation both in terms of their economic contribution and their social and ecological impact. Yet it is almost universally acknowledged that a finance gap exists whereby small businesses lack the capital they need to tap into new markets and scale up their operations.
In light of this issue, the New Ventures program of the World Resources Institute hosts annual Investor Forums in order to promote sustainable enterprises with high-growth prospects. These events present businesses to investors, policymakers, and other members of the development community that New Ventures has identified as key innovators in delivering social, environmental, and financial benefits.
Two such upcoming events will be hosted by New Ventures India and New Ventures Indonesia.
New Ventures India will hold its first annual Investor Forum on November 2-3 in Mumbai, where private-sector leaders will present on a variety of topics including sustainability, socially responsible investing, market trends in renewable energy and biodiversity, and entrepreneurship in India.
The first Indonesia forum will be held on November 6 in partnership with WRI, Yayasan Bina Usaha Lingkungan (YBUL), and IFC-PENSA, featuring panels on new market trends, barriers to entrepreneurial growth, and perspectives on foreign investment.
For additional information about the Indonesia Investor forum, contact Diyanto Imam (Indonesia) or Sara Standish (USA) at the New Ventures team. For inquiries regarding the India Investor Forum, contact Amy Sprague.
