On July 8, the Permanent Missions of Armenia and the Netherlands to the United Nations held a side event titled “Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships beyond Remittances: Sustainable Entrepreneurship for Local Communities in the Post-2015”.

The event was organized in partnership with the UNDP on the margins of ECOSOC High-Level Political Forum with a focus on partnerships for entrepreneurship and sustainable development.

The welcoming remarks were delivered by the Permanent Representatives of Armenia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UN Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Karel von Oosterom. A large number of delegates representing member states, UN agencies, NGOs and civil society were attended in the discussions.

The list of panelists included the Director of Inclusive Finance Practice Area of the UN Capital Development Fund Mr. Henri Dommel, the Co-owner of Harvest Song Ventures Ms. Sylvia Tirakian, the Project Manager of Karas Wine Production Mr. Vahe Keushguerian, the Director of Courses and Projects at the Golda Meir Mount Carmel
International Training Center, MASHAV (Israel’s Agency for International
Development Cooperation) Ms. Shachar Re'em, and Innovations Laboratory Lead at the Kolba Lab, UNDP/Armenia Ms. Marina Mkhitaryan.

The participants discussed the emerging role of entrepreneurship and financial inclusion as a driving force for development as well as the related global policies, exchanging ideas and experience on capacity-building, training, innovation and other tools used to promote entrepreneurial advocacy, with a special focus on real-life examples of business initiatives aiming at rural sustainability and inclusive growth.