Ian SAYERS
Founder & Senior Adviser, SME Planet
Ian SAYERS is a specialist in enabling financing, investment, market and value chain development for SMEs in low and middle-income countries leading to sustainable growth, climate action and social inclusion. A pioneer in enterprise-based, sectoral value chain development, business strategy and policy formulation, he has built global collaborative networks and led major multi-national development programmes that have assisted thousands of SMEs in more than 120 countries worldwide for more than 30 years.
He retired from the United Nations International Trade Centre (ITC) in 2023 and founded the non-profit SME Planet to formalise and continue an affiliation of more than 120 development partners created during his time at ITC. He is currently supported by the Dutch Government for women's economic empowerment in East Africa.