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International trade

Small Business Champions Recognized for Contributions to Circular Economy

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Small businesses from India and Vietnam have been recognized for their efforts in promoting the circular economy. Silaiwali and NetZero Pallets won the 2025 Small Business Champions Competition, which was held under the theme "Completing the Loop: Helping Small Businesses Contribute to the Circular Economy." The competition was jointly organized by the Informal Working Group on MSMEs, the International Trade Centre (ITC), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Silaiwali, an Indian company, empowers women artisans by upcycling waste fabric from garment factories into handcrafted products. NetZero Pallets, from Vietnam, specializes in converting biomass into carbon-neutral shipping pallet materials. Their innovations showcase the potential of small businesses in promoting sustainable development.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala congratulated the winners and emphasized the importance of MSMEs in global value chains and supply chains. She highlighted the need for stability and predictability in the world trading system, especially for small businesses that often face significant trade barriers.

Key Takeaways:

  • Silaiwali, an Indian company, won the 2025 Small Business Champions Competition, promoting circular economy through upcycling waste fabric into handcrafted products.
  • NetZero Pallets, from Vietnam, was recognized for its innovation in converting biomass into carbon-neutral shipping pallet materials.
  • The competition was jointly organized by the Informal Working Group on MSMEs, the International Trade Centre (ITC), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
  • WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala congratulated the winners and emphasized the importance of MSMEs in global value chains and supply chains.
  • The Informal Working Group on MSMEs aims to foster trade facilitation, customs, and standards for MSMEs, focusing on good regulatory practices and digital solutions.
  • The MSME Group Coordinator, Ambassador Matthew Wilson, proposed outcomes and issues to be developed in the lead-up to MC14, with a primary deliverable on a joint study report by the World Customs Organization (WCO), ICC, and WTO.
  • Members agreed to continue deliberating on a policy guidance document (compendium) for good regulatory practices (GRPs) and advance joint work with the Trade and Gender Initiative.

Statistics:

  • The 2025 Small Business Champions Competition was the fifth edition, held under the theme "Completing the Loop: Helping Small Businesses Contribute to the Circular Economy."
  • The competition had two winners: Silaiwali (India) and NetZero Pallets (Vietnam).
  • The Informal Working Group on MSMEs has a Coordinator, Ambassador Matthew Wilson, who proposed outcomes and issues to be developed in the lead-up to MC14.
  • The MSME Group received new funding from the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the Organization for Trade Development and Standards Cooperation (ODCCN) for the Trade4MSMEs website.
  • The Trade4MSMEs website will be translated into Mandarin, enhancing its accessibility to a broader international audience.

Sources:

  • [Informal Working Group on MSMEs](https://www.wto.org/meetings_and_events/ministerial_meetings/msme_group.htm)
  • [International Trade Centre (ITC)](https://www.intracen.org/)
  • [International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)](https://www.iccwbo.org/)
  • [World Trade Organization (WTO)](https://www.wto.org/)
  • [China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT)](https://www.ccpit.org.cn/)
  • [Organization for Trade Development and Standards Cooperation (ODCCN)](https://www.odccn.org.cn/)

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