Methanex Egypt received the International Council for Small Business (ICSB) Humane Entrepreneurship Award for the company’s contributions to the enrichment of micro, small and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) culture in Damietta, where the company operates its methanol production plant. John Floren, Methanex Corporation Chief Executive Officer accepted the award on behalf of Methanex Egypt.

The award ceremony was part of the ICSB’s celebrations of MSMEs Day and took place at the UN pavilion in New York. In 2017, the UN adopted a resolution to declare June 27 the MSME Day recognizing the crucial role MSMEs play in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The award is given by the ICSB to organizations that successfully attain business excellence, while also making a positive impact on their communities. It also supports and promotes the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. Therefore, ICSB also offers the award to businesses that are able to harmonize economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection together and meet at least one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

“We are proud to receive the Humane Entrepreneurship Award and would like to thank the ICSB for this honor. The award recognizes Methanex’s commitment to making sustainable and meaningful contributions to the communities around our area of operations in Damietta. Our commitment to Social Responsibility reflects our core belief that Methanex’s business must have a positive impact on people’s lives,” said John Floren.

In February 2019, Methanex Egypt signed a two-year partnership agreement with the International Labor Organization extending the ILO’s flagship project ‘Decent Jobs for Egypt’s Young People’ (“DJEP”), funded by Canada, to Damietta. The project builds on the wealth of experience and success of the ILO Canadian-funded DJEP project to create decent employment opportunities for youth in the governorate of Damietta, focusing on employment creation through promoting entrepreneurship and facilitating job matching processes. The partnership between Methanex Egypt and the ILO is a unique example of Public Private Partnership and will enable the creation of over 500 jobs in Damietta over the duration of the project. The project enables Methanex Egypt to support Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 through addressing decent work (SDG #8).

The International Council for Small Business (ICSB) is the oldest and largest nonprofit organization devoted to the interests and advancement of small businesses globally since its foundation in 1955. ICSB is represented in over 85 countries and is the platform that distributes new knowledge and information on small business management and entrepreneurial development.