The UN’s story of home-grown business runs through digital marketplaces. So does its biggest risk.

What the UN session covered

Sixth World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum in Manama, Bahrain, organized by the UN Industrial Development Organization’s office in Bahrain, as reported by UN News on 15 February 2026.

• UN News reported that entrepreneurs are turning home-based work into livelihoods through “digital marketplaces reaching across borders.”
• In his message to the forum, the Secretary-General described the private sector as an engine of jobs, innovation and investment, particularly through micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, which UN News notes account for roughly two-thirds of global employment.

“I do not yet have a physical store, but I dream of having my own space to showcase and sell my work.”

Shaymaa Saeed, home-based designer, speaking to UN News. Source

What it means for small businesses

A business that sells only online has one storefront, and someone else owns it. A frozen payout or a suspended account is not an inconvenience. It closes the business.

Etsy reports that about half of its sellers sell only on Etsy. That is why the Platform Council asks for notice, a reason and review by a person before any hold, suspension or fee change.