Policy makers are increasingly interested in achieving a sustained economic growth and development without harming the environment. Reducing the environmental impact of SMEs presents one of the key factors in this regard, given that SMEs constitute a vast majority of business population. Decreasing environmental footprint can also be observed as an important business opportunity for SMEs; however they are often faced with a number of limitations in improving their environmental performance (size- related obstacles, financial limitations, skill deficit and knowledge constraints).

Against this background, the fourth regional policy dialogue meeting will serve as a platform to discuss SME greening policies and exchange country experiences and lessons learned. It will convene over 50 senior policy-makers, representing various ministries and SME agencies from the Western Balkans and Turkey as well as senior representatives from the private sector.

The primary objective of the regional policy dialogue is to discuss policies that would facilitate smooth and successful transition of SMEs towards greener economy. By presenting various good practices from OECD/EU countries and hearing private sector testimonials, the meeting will showcase the tangible benefits of implementing these policies for enhanced productivity, competitiveness, as well as creating new business opportunities.