Conference Overview

On Wednesday, 26 August 2026, the World Association for Small and Medium Enterprises (WASME) will convene the Global Conference on Sustainable Development & Business Excellence (GCSDBE 2026) at the UNESCO Auditorium, UNESCO House, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. The event is organised under the theme “Advancing the SDGs through Innovation, Inclusion and Enterprise Excellence.”

Key Participants and Opening

The conference will open with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, followed by welcome remarks from Dr. Sanjiv Layek, Executive Secretary of WASME. The formal opening address will be delivered by Ambassador Prof. (Dr.) Kheswar Chandan Jankee, GOSK, President of WASME. A keynote address will be presented by Mr. Benno Boer of UNESCO.

Signature Launch

A central highlight will be the launch of “Pockets of Hope,” a special publication jointly prepared by WASME and the World Development Corporation (WDC). Senior dignitaries from UNESCO and WASME will unveil the publication, after which a panel discussion will explore the ideas, people and possibilities behind the concept.

Programme Themes

Throughout the day, the conference will address critical issues shaping the future of enterprise, including:

  • Financing and market access for MSMEs.
  • Quality and innovation in products and services.
  • ESG and sustainability reporting standards.
  • The growing need to build businesses that are both competitive and conscious.
  • A fireside chat on heritage and entrepreneurship, examining how preserving traditional knowledge can coexist with building new ventures.

Awards and Cultural Segment

The agenda also features corporate and speaker presentations, the WASME Excellence Awards 2026, musical performances, and a felicitation ceremony recognising distinguished dignitaries and contributors.

Strategic Message

The conference underscores that sustainable development must be people‑centred: growth should create jobs, opportunity, dignity, access, innovation and hope, while preserving ecosystems and cultural heritage. WASME emphasizes that MSMEs are not peripheral but are among the most powerful engines of the SDG journey, and that partnership among governments, institutions, businesses, financial entities and communities is essential for translating intent into measurable action.

Closing Note

While the event is a one‑day gathering, the organizers aim for the dialogue to continue beyond the conference, encouraging thousands of incremental choices in business, policy, finance and daily life that transform “pockets of hope” into a shared, sustainable future.