Empowering SMEs as essential contributors to the creation of sustainable, inclusive, and resilient cities

Summary: Organised by the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (KOBİA), this session aims to highlight the critical role of SMEs in advancing sustainable urbanization, with a focus on sectors such as renewable energy, the circular economy, and green logistics.

Building on the momentum of the COP29 Joint Declaration on the Baku Climate Coalition for SMEs’ Green Transition, the session will strengthen multi stakeholder dialogue and address existing policy gaps. It also seeks to raise the visibility of SMEs within the WUF process while fostering practical collaboration.

Ultimately, the session underscores the need to align SME driven urban development with SDGs 8, 9, 11, and 13, and calls for collective action to place SMEs at the center of the global sustainability agenda."