Unlocking the Potential of EMNEs for Attaining the SDGs in Developing Economies

Emerging market multinational enterprises (EMNEs) are vital in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in developing economies that often lack alternative investment avenues. By leveraging an abundant workforce that is largely unskilled and low-skilled, EMNEs not only provide substantial employment opportunities but also contribute to the eradication of poverty (SDG 1). EMNEs’ ambitions to expand into adjacent markets offer SMEs valuable opportunities to integrate into regional and global value chains. This in turn spurs economic growth (SDG 8) and reduces inequalities (SDG 10). The access of EMNEs to leapfrogging and relatable technologies mitigates infrastructural bottlenecks and cultivates innovation (SDG 9) in these economies. For EMNEs to successfully deliver on these goals, key stakeholders, especially NGOs and governments, must take an active role in persuading, enabling, and incentivizing these enterprises.