UAE gives more boost to SMEs with new digital platform
abu dhabi — UAE Minister of Economy Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri has launched a new electronic platform to help serve the country’s National Programme for SMEs and projects, the executive arm of the SME Council.
The launch of the platform is one of the initiatives being launched by the ministry as part of their celebration of UAE Innovation Month 2018 and also falls in line with the efforts to support Emirati entrepreneurs. Al Mansouri said the platform will serve as a gateway for UAE pioneers and entrepreneurs in their journey. He stated that this platform will play a key role in the move to establish a comprehensive database of eligible national projects.
The UAE minister explained that being registered into the National Programme for SMEs and projects will allow members to tap new markets; reach out to potential partners from federal and local government institutes and the private sector and create marketing opportunities for their products.
The new platform is expected to enhance the UAE’s reputation as an investment destination and help encourage a culture of research, creativity and competitiveness.
In terms of local partners, the minister noted that the new platform will connect members of the programme across federal government institutions, where they will be given priority in obtaining government tenders and taught more about best practices in procurement systems.
Al Mansouri explained that the National Programme for SMEs and projects has organised several foreign participations for local entrepreneurs during the past and is working to hold awareness workshops and training courses designed to encourage the creation of these initiatives while also introducing available investment opportunities.
According to Al Mansouri, the platform will soon announce several new initiatives in cooperation with members of the SME Council. These new programmes have been developed with the aim to provide financial and non-financial services to members of the programme and will also focus on enabling them to provide all the essential information and services needed for their business development needs.
The launch of the new electronic platform was held in the presence of Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Al Shehhi, undersecretary of Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Economy; Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Saleh, the ministry’s undersecretary Foreign Trade Affairs; and Humaid Mohamed bin Salem, secretary-general of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry, along with a number of officials from the ministry, and federal and local authorities, as well as a group of local entrepreneurs and representatives from the private sector.