World
Association for Small and Medium Enterprises (WASME) –
a global non-governmental organization headquartered at
Noida, India – has been spearheading the cause and
development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) world
over since its inception in 1980. It has emerged, over the
years, as one of the most representative, effective and
leading international organisations, working towards the
promotion of SMEs. The vision behind establishment of WASME
was to build a world private community of small business,
their supporting and financial institutions as a non-governmental
organization, not influenced by any government(s).
WASME has members, associates and network partners in different
countries across the world. It enjoys consultative/ observer
status with concerned agencies in UN system such as ECOSOC,
UNCTAD, WIPO, UNIDO, UNICITRAL, UNESCAP, ITC and ILO. It
also cooperates actively with several intergovernmental
and international organizations such as WCO, OECD, ICSB,
APCTT, etc.
WASME
has Permanent Representatives at important stations. WASME
works closely with SME Experts located in different parts
of the world designated as Senior Advisors in specific disciplines.
WASME is managed by a competent staff supplemented by pool
of experts specialized in Information services, Human Resources
Development , Economic Research, Marketing, Finance, Technology
Transfer, Rural Development and related subjects. It functions
from its own premises in a green belt in Noida – a
cluster of SMEs – on the outskirts of New Delhi.
The
Mission Statement calls for WASME to be a strategic resource
centre for SMEs, to foster international co-operation, to
encourage linkages among SMEs and governments and to provide
leadership and also be a catalyst for building a supporting
and synergetic network of civil society institutions so
as to make SMEs competitive.
Since
its establishment WASME has been vigorously striving to
stimulate, foster, promote and coordinate international
cooperation and movement for the growth and development
of SMEs. WASME is well recognized and highly acclaimed for
its pivotal role in promoting sustainable development of
SME sector worldwide.
WASME’s
focus is on ensuring business cooperation amongst enterprises
of developed, developing and least developed countries by
facilitating technology transfer and trade promotion. It
organises international/ regional conferences/ workshops/
seminars on topical issues confronting SMEs (so far organised
17 international conferences on SMEs) and tailor-made training
programmes for building capacities of SMEs and their support
institutions.
It
disseminates information on policies, strategies and support
systems for promotion of SMEs in member countries; provides
opportunities for marketing of products by facilitating
participation in trade fairs and exhibitions; builds contacts
with sources offering latest technologies, equipment and
services for SMEs; and identifies facilities for training
of entrepreneurs, managers, production and technical personnel.
Besides, WASME promotes rural micro-enterprises by organizing
rural entrepreneurship development programmes.
WASME
brings out “World SME News” (a WASME Magazine)
featuring developments in SME sector around the world. This
publication has been widely circulated around the globe
and much-admired by its readers for its rich contents and
useful information that have a critical bearing on SMEs
and their support institutions. It also brings out fortnightly
“SME e-Bulletin”, incorporating latest happenings
in the SME sector around the world and disseminates information
& organizes sensitization programmes on IPRs, ISO management
System Standards, WTO and related issues and global supply
chain security and facilitation. Apart from this, it undertakes
research, studies and consultancy assignments.
