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Small Business Champions

The winners of the sixth edition of the Small Business Champions Competition are Rinato Space (Zambia), and Koaloo.FI (France). Rinato Space uses satellite technology and AI to provide land-, climate- and environment-related early warning systems and capacity-building services for smallholder farmers and agri-businesses, helping them to reduce losses and improve trade outcomes. Koaloo.FI is a fintech company that uses generative AI to automate environmental, social and governance (ESG) compliance, coach MSMEs and map supply chain risks, as well as transforming verified business performance data into a financing mechanism for small suppliers. 

The two runners-up of the 2026 Small Business Champions Competition are the Cámara Colombiana de Informática y Telecomunicaciones (CCIT) そして Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) from Colombia, and Globby from Türkiye. CCIT and CIPE developed a roadmap for AI governance in Latin America, including AI tools and other affordable access solutions for MSMEs. Globby provides an AI-powered platform that helps MSMEs to access trade intelligence and participate more effectively in international trade. 

The theme of the 2026 competition was “Supporting small businesses in using AI for international trade”. It was organized jointly by the Informal Working Group on MSMEs, the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). This year the competition also partnered with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for the first time. 

At the award ceremony, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala congratulated the winners on their achievements. She highlighted the transformative impact of AI and the new opportunities it creates, stressing the need to leverage AI tools to help small businesses optimize supply chains, reduce costs and overcome longstanding trade barriers. She said, “All the applicants this year – your creativity, innovation and commitment are inspiring. You are demonstrating how businesses can harness new technologies to compete, grow and succeed in the global economy.” 

ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton and ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin also delivered opening remarks, and an ICC representative spoke on behalf of ICC Secretary General John Denton. All three speakers reaffirmed their organizations’ commitment to strengthening cooperation and supporting MSMEs in adapting to and seizing the opportunities presented by AI, enabling them to thrive in international trade.

The award ceremony can be watched これ.

Thematic session on AI, other matters

Members and stakeholders engaged in a discussion of how AI tools can support MSMEs in trade, facilitated by the MSME Group Coordinator, Ambassador Matthew Wilson of Barbados.

Emmanuelle Ganne, Chief of the WTO Digital Trade and Frontier Technologies Unit, presented the WTO Secretariat’s work on AI, including plans for the upcoming “World Trade and Tech Day“, due to take place on 14 September, and the ongoing development of online tools and courses in the Secretariat. Charlyne Restivo, Programme Coordinator of the ITU’s Network of Women in Standards, outlined the ITU’s various AI initiatives, in particular the annual “AI for Good” event, to be held in the first week of July, and AI skills and capacity-building initiatives. Klaudia Holewiak, Founder and Personal Styling Coach, and Hiral Hirani, Head of Client Relations and Business Development at style coaching service “Sense of Elegance“, shared their practical experience using AI tools and digital platforms to reach global clients. 

Participants thanked speakers for sharing such rich information, and discussed various factors impacting small businesses’ ability to utilize AI for development, such as a lack of digital infrastructure or technical know-how, fragmented standards, and the need for a supportive legal environment, technical assistance and access to finance. Participants expressed interest in continuing the discussion and further strengthening cooperation between the WTO and other international organizations.

Marc Auboin, Chief of the WTO Trade and Macrofinance Section, presented the key findings from three regional trade finance reports co-authored by the WTO and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and highlighted the constraints faced by MSMEs when accessing trade finance, particularly in developing economies. The reports draw on studies conducted in West Africa、 Mekong Region そして Central America and Mexico.   

Spotlight on small businesses

The meeting also featured a “MSME Spotlight” – regular experience-sharing by exemplary businesses to highlight their successes and challenges. Mallika Mathur Lheritier, Co-founder and CEO of Koaloo.FI – one of the 2026 Small Business Champions – outlined how the company uses AI tools to identify and address risks embedded in supply chains and to develop win-win-win solutions for companies, MSMEs and banks, supporting the inclusion of MSMEs in international trade by helping them to overcome information asymmetries and trade finance-related challenges. 

Focus on trade uncertainty with the private sector 

The MSME Group and the private sector held their annual meeting, under the theme “Trade Uncertainty”, on 30 June. Representatives from the Trade4MSMEs network of partners and industries shared their experiences in navigating an increasingly complex and unpredictable global trading environment. They discussed how uncertainty is affecting business decisions, investment and market access, and highlighted practical tools and initiatives that can support MSMEs in trade. 

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) provided an overview of its tools and services designed to help MSMEs leverage intellectual property for growth and competitiveness. The transport and logistics company DHL presented updates on its GoTrade Portal, which offers market intelligence and practical guidance for MSMEs engaged in international trade. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) presented the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) electronic phytosanitary certificate (ePhyto) Solution, a digital system that streamlines sanitary and phytosanitary certification with the aim of easing trade processes for MSMEs. The Pan African Alliance of Small and Medium Industries (PAOSMI) outlined its work to improve trade accessibility for MSMEs in Africa. The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) shared two reports on patents for businesses and shared tools and resources available to small businesses.

Members welcomed the experiences shared and proposed further discussions to incorporate these insights into the MSME Group’s agenda for future meetings. 

Implementation of the 2020 MSME Package 

The MSME Group also reviewed progress in implementing its December 2020 MSME Package, a set of six policy recommendations and declarations aimed at addressing challenges smaller businesses face when they trade internationally. Several members, including Belize, Japan, and the Philippines, highlighted their recent trade policy reviews at the WTO, focusing on efforts to foster AI adoption and enhance access for MSMEs to both domestic and international markets. 

El Salvador presented its Compendium on Access to Finance for Women-led MSMEs to the WTO Committee on Trade in Financial Services (CTFS). Canada shared updates from a high-level event organized for Global Menstrual Health Day on 27 May celebrating achievements to modify the Harmonized System (HS) code for menstrual hygiene products, which took inspiration from a previous MSME Group Spotlight. 

Next

The next meeting of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs is scheduled for 1 October 2026.