SEBRAE strongly believes that small business support institutions have an important agenda to set regarding sustainable development and could significantly enrich debates on this matter. For this reason, SEBRAE will be organizing, on June 21st, a workshop in Rio de Janeiro, called SEBRAE+20, as part of the official program of Rio+20, to discuss the role of such institutions and business support networks such as the TCI Network, on the sustainable small business development agenda. Those interested in attending this workshop might contact Mr. Eduardo Golin eduardo.golin@sebrae.com.br for more information.

Next June, from the 13th to the 22nd, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) - Rio+20 will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The UNCSD is the largest world conference on sustainable development and this concerns all business, not to mention small businesses. The Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service-SEBRAE is taking part in Rio+20 considering it a great opportunity to introduce the small business sector in the global agenda towards sustainable development.

SEBRAE is developing initiatives geared towards SMEs to promote the concept of green economy as a competitive, sustainable and profitable business model. One of its foremost achievements was the launching in 2011 of the SEBRAE Center for Sustainability, headquartered in the Midwestern city of Cuiabá, in the State of Mato Grosso, which functions as a hub for the development and exchange of best practices and ideas for green businesses.

In the Rio+20 Sebrae will set an interactive stand focusing on the sharing of best practices, as well as tested green technologies and management practices besides on sustainable approaches to doing business. As highlighted by Dr Carlos Alberto dos Santos, SEBRAE's Technical Director, small businesses must be considered as part of the solution to the challenges of sustainable development, both as individuals acting collectively or as part of global value chains as their suppliers. Buying goods and services locally has a tremendous impact on the logistics and energy costs while also having a positive impact on the local economies in terms of jobs and business creation.

For more information on the workshop, contact:
Eduardo Golin
eduardo.golin@sebrae.com.br

24 April 2012