Alia Al Mazrouei reviews developments in the entrepreneurship environment in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Fujairah
Abu Dhabi, 1st August, 2019 (WAM) — Alia bint Abdullah Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, was briefed on the latest developments in the entrepreneurship environment in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Fujairah, as well as future plans to support the growth of small and medium enterprises, and the programmes and facilities provided by each emirate to encourage entrepreneurs and start-ups to expand in various economic sectors and activities.
This came during a series of bilateral meetings held by Her Excellency Alia Al Mazrouei with His Excellency Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General of the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai, His Excellency Hamad Ali Abdullah Al Mahmoud, Chairman of the Sharjah Economic Development Department, Her Excellency Najla Al Midfa, Vice President of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), His Excellency Saif Ahmed Al Suwaidi, Acting Director General of the Department of Economic Development in Ajman, and His Excellency Sultan Jamea Al Hindasi, Director General of the Fujairah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
During the meetings, ways to enhance cooperation with local authorities and the private sector were discussed to advance the entrepreneurship system in the country and push it towards more advanced and prosperous levels during the next phase, and to provide more incentives and facilities for entrepreneurs and emerging companies, in a way that enhances the UAE’s position as a leading global destination for entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises.
Her Excellency Alia Al Mazrouei stressed that the UAE, thanks to the directives of the wise leadership, has been keen to develop an integrated and advanced system for entrepreneurship and the small and medium enterprises sector, based on the best practices followed in this regard, in light of the country’s possession of a world-class environment for entrepreneurship, characterised by the momentum of start-up activities and pioneering projects.
She pointed out that national efforts are continuing to provide a competitive environment for entrepreneurs, enable them to attract investments, promote their products and services, help them obtain the necessary funding, and enhance the culture of entrepreneurship among segments of society, thus consolidating the UAE’s position as a leading global destination for entrepreneurship and emerging projects, in light of the objectives of “We the Emirates Vision 2031.”
She added that cooperation with government agencies and bodies at the local and federal levels is an important opportunity to enhance the development of national entrepreneurship and encourage innovation and increase productivity as one of the engines of the future knowledge economy and the locomotive of the national economy towards diversity, competitiveness and sustainable growth.
The meeting between HE Alia Al Mazrouei and HE Hilal Al Marri witnessed a discussion of mechanisms to expand cooperation opportunities in entrepreneurship activities between the Ministry of Economy and the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai during the next phase, and launching initiatives aimed at expanding the work of small and medium-sized companies in new economic sectors, especially technology, artificial intelligence, manufacturing and sustainable transportation, in addition to discussing ways to remove all challenges facing owners of small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurs, especially with regard to licensing technology companies, fees and research and development.
Her Excellency Alia Al Mazrouei met with His Excellency Hamad Ali Abdullah Al Mahmoud, Chairman of the Sharjah Economic Development Department, and was briefed on the most prominent initiatives launched by the Sharjah Foundation for Supporting Entrepreneurial Projects (Ruwad), affiliated with the department, most notably the “Stars” initiative and the “Mileas Ruwad” initiative.
The meeting discussed the challenges facing entrepreneurship in Sharjah, such as the small number of companies in some important sectors and attracting highly skilled cadres. In this regard, the Foundation presented proposals to address these challenges, such as expanding the scope of meetings and forums at the national level and benefiting from agreements with other countries to enhance business opportunities for entrepreneurs.
Her Excellency also met with Her Excellency Najla Al Midfa, Vice President of the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), and was briefed on the center’s efforts to support entrepreneurs in the emirate, and the importance of the partnerships it has established with universities and government agencies to support entrepreneurs, with a focus on sectors of strategic importance.
The center’s officials reviewed the most important projects and initiatives that it implements and supports entrepreneurs in all stages of the project, from the conceptualization stage to establishment and promotion, developing start-up companies and providing solutions to the challenges facing institutions.
During her tour of the centre, Her Excellency Alia Al Mazrouei met with a group of entrepreneurs who benefit from the services it provides and stressed the importance of continuing to support and develop an integrated system of policies and initiatives that support the growth and sustainability of the sector in the UAE.
During her meeting with His Excellency Saif Ahmed Al Suwaidi, Her Excellency discussed enhancing joint work to provide competitive policies for the entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises sector, and providing new programs that contribute to providing support to entrepreneurs, adopting their pioneering ideas, working to develop them, and benefiting from them in creating development projects in various economic sectors. They agreed on the need for joint coordination between the Ministry and the Economic Department in Ajman, to provide training and qualification programs for entrepreneurs in the emirate.
The meeting discussed facilitating the participation of entrepreneurs in tenders offered by government agencies, working to provide tax incentives that help them grow and flourish their businesses in the country’s markets and abroad, enhancing the participation of national small and medium enterprises in international entrepreneurship forums and events, and the importance of the government procurement system as a basic tributary to support the growth of small and medium enterprises, expanding their implementation, and following up on their results on an ongoing basis.
During his meeting with HE Alia Al Mazrouei, HE Sultan Jamea Al Hindasi reviewed the efforts of the Fujairah Chamber in supporting entrepreneurs through training programs that focus on building the capabilities of entrepreneurs in the fields of marketing, accounting, project management and promotion.
His Excellency stressed the importance of holding forums at the local, regional and global levels through chambers’ federations, in order to enhance the culture of entrepreneurship among start-up companies, and to enhance entrepreneurs’ opportunities to obtain the necessary funding for the success of their projects.
Her Excellency Alia Al Mazrouei was briefed on the facilities and incentives provided by the Fujairah Centre to support small and medium enterprises, and to open communication channels with entrepreneurs to help them face the challenges of starting and establishing businesses.
- For more: Elrisala website and for social follow us on Facebook
- Source of information and images “wam“
