To address this challenge, the Government of Indonesia, with support from the Government of Suriname, hosted a capacity–building programme entitled ‘International Workshop on Small and Medium–Sized Enterprises Empowerment: Working Together to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals’. This programme was convened in Paramaribo, Suriname from 16 to 18?September?2019, and was attended by 35?participants, including government officials from relevant ministries and owners of SMEs. The resource persons for the programme were assigned from an external firm, a partner of the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs of Indonesia. The programme was undertaken to fulfil a commitment made by Indonesia in its role as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council from 2019 to 2020. It was also a means of strengthening the country’s South-South cooperation framework. 

Owners of SMEs are at the core of economic activity in Suriname and play an important role in economic growth and development in terms of production, employment opportunities, export contributions and equitable distribution of income in society. 

The training focused on three main themes: developing the skills necessary to improve capacity and knowledge to upscale businesses, implementing more structured and comprehensive business planning with the business model canvas method, and fostering product development skills. 

The first theme focused on teaching participants how to analyse their own business. This included formulating a proper business model, determining their bargaining value and developing a strategy to put their businesses forward. The second theme focused on familiarizing participants with the business model concept, which included training on using the business model canvas to analyse risks and potential, understanding its components and improving existing business models. 

To provide participants with all the skills required, the training also included materials on product development, such as marketing, packaging and branding. Participants were encouraged to use mind-mapping techniques during brainstorming sessions to organize or simplify ideas and thought processes. They were introduced to customer journey maps to analyse business processes, and they participated in a practical workshop to make or improve product branding and packaging. 

Based on the responses to the questionnaire returned at the end of the programme, the training received mostly positive feedback. Participants were satisfied with the interactive training methods and the concrete ideas delivered by each facilitator. Moreover, participants requested that similar capacity–building programmes be conducted in the future. 

In addition to the capacity–building programme, the training also served to strengthen the network between SMEs in Suriname and Indonesia. The exchange of knowledge between the two countries is important to build trust and it paved the way for potential future collaborations in various sectors, given the similar economic challenges they face as developing countries. 

As a result of the capacity–building and training programme, participants increased their knowledge and skills to empower owners of SMEs and integrate local businesses and SMEs into long-term economic development plans. This ensures more prosperous and sustainable economic growth, in line with SDG 8, “Decent Work and Economic Growth”, SDG 5 “Gender Equality” as well as SDG 10, “Reducing Inequalities”.