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Dubai SME Conference and Exhibition
‘Countries in the Middle East region
can effectively create new employment opportunities for their youth by
promoting and developing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through a
series of targeted support programmes, like learning how to use UNIDO
software for effective business performance management. It helps
entrepreneurs to monitor key performance indicators, productivity,
quality and competitiveness of their enterprises, develop new business
culture and knowledge gain. All these provide necessary managerial
capacity for much better sustainability and profitability of businesses
under the pressure of globalization and need for innovation and
continuous change. Much need to be done to achieve these objectives as
nowadays most of the entrepreneurs runs still their businesses without
planning the budget for the next year, quantitative monitoring of costs
and results, making the important “mission critical” decisions without
in-depth analysis of options and its consequences’, according to Dr.
Serge Golovanov, President of GOLEM IMS GmbH, Vienna, Austria and United
Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) International
Consultant.
Dr. Golovanov was one of the growing
pool of reputed speakers addressed the International Conference and
Exhibition for Small and Medium Enterprises (ISMEDubai) hold in Dubai
from January 31 to February 2, 2005. He spoke about facilitating
innovation and economic growth in Arab countries with special reference
to the UNIDO methodology and information tools for business performance
management and benchmarking to improve business efficiency.
The conference, which was supported by
the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) was being organised
by Seagull Exhibitions and Conferences Organising. Al Tomooh programme
of Emirates Bank and Pepsi Cola were two of the main sponsors of the
event.
"In the globalization era it is
crucial for SMEs to be integrated in the international market and to be
competitive and it is generally recognized that regardless of size,
companies need to become innovative in order to stay competitive,' said
Mrs. Simona Marzetti, Secretary General INSME, Italy. 'INSME aims to
contribute to the promotion of innovation processes in SMEs by
increasing transnational cooperation and public-private partnership for
technology transfer with a view to matching the demand for and the offer
of knowledge. I would like to felicitate the local authorities in Dubai
for the organization of a special international event dedicated to small
and medium sized enterprises in the Middle East region as is important
to increase awareness about the key role that micro, small and medium
firms play in our society,' she added.
'We have been overwhelmed at the
interest that this conference has generated among participants and
speakers worldwide,' said Khalid Al Kassim, Deputy Director General,
DED. 'Currently, most countries are extending support to SMEs to help
build their competencies to operate in the new competitive environment.
Such initiatives are becoming increasingly important for creating new
jobs in view of shrinking job opportunities in large enterprises and
MNCs. We hope this conference will go a long way towards building an
enabling environment for SME development thereby generating greater
scope for employment,' he added.
'A strong entrepreneurial culture is
essential for the future competitiveness of the economy and for
generating economic growth,' said Dr. Syd Gilani, Associate Professor of
Business Administration, American University in Dubai and another
speaker at the conference. 'SMEs can create many jobs within a short
period of time by increasing the revenue base and adding to the growth
of national income, and may provide substitutes for imported goods. As
such, this conference is not only timely but is highly strategic in
nature,' he added.
With just days left to go for the
event, ISMEDubai conference has attracted several international speakers
including Dr. Hashim S. Hussein, Head of United Nations Industrial
Development Organization - Investment and Technology Promotion Office
(UNIDO-ITPO), the Arab Regional Centre for Entrepreneurship and
Investment Training (ARCEIT) - Kingdom of Bahrain, Dr. Guriqbal Singh
Jaiya, Director of the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)
Division, WIPO Switzerland and Hany Seif Al Nasr, Managing Director,
Social Fund for Development. (SFD) Egypt.
Dr. Hashim Suleiman Hussein Head of
(UNIDO-ITPO), Bahrain and a speaker at the conference said: 'The SME
International exhibition and conference will provide a platform for
entrepreneurs from the region to widen their vision and scope of
intra-business relations as well as with the rest of the world. This
event will be an excellent opportunity to highlight the importance of
developing domestic Investment to access and promote Foreign Direct
Investment by linking entrepreneurs from the region with the global
network.'
According to Dr. Arun Agrawal,
Secretary General of the World Association for Small and Medium
Enterprises (WASME), 'The SME International Conference and Exhibition in
Dubai is very opportune and would provide new directions in the
establishment of a growth-enabling environment for SMEs in UAE. Besides,
it would help nurture the entrepreneurial spirit in Dubai, catalyse the
growth of SMEs and create new job opportunities for young graduates.
WASME is pleased to join hands with its member company in Dubai, Seagull
Group, in a maiden attempt to bring its rich and varied experience in
developing and supporting SMEs to UAE
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
occupy a dominant position in almost all economies of the world. More
than 99 per cent of enterprises in European countries, USA and Japan are
SMEs, contributing to more than 50 per cent of employment. Innovations,
new technologies, highest possible performance and efficiency are among
the main issues challenging SMEs in Arab countries. The conference
provided participants with an overview of current initiatives, advanced
solutions and international experiences and achievements.
Addtional links and sources:
AME Info:
Middle East business resource
International Network for SME
CONFERENCE
AGENDA_ENGLISH (.DOC)
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