The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN) alongside eight partner countries has launched the D-8 Small and Medium Enterprises (SME Centre) targeted at boosting growth of MSMEs and international trade.
The D-8 SME Centre is an initiative of the D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation comprising Nigeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Malaysia, Iran Malaysia, Turkiye and Pakistan.
Speaking at the launch of the event, the Director General of SMEDAN, Charles Odii, said the decision to site the D-8 SME Centre in Nigeria goes beyond the symbolic.
He said the centre “is a clear recognition of the energy, innovation and resilience that define the Nigerian entrepreneurial spirit and endorsement of Nigeria’s growing leadership in championing the cause of small and medium enterprises across the Global South.”
He added that, “The D-8 SME Centre becomes strategic as it serves as a platform to share solutions, harmonise standards, open up markets and leverage collective strength.
“With a combined population of over 1 billion people and significant trade potential, the D-8 grouping has the power to unlock a new era of South-South cooperation built on enterprise, knowledge and shared prosperity.”
