VP attends SMEs award ceremony

Dubai, April 22nd, 2008 (WAM) - Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum attended this evening a ceremony to honour winners of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Awards for Young Business Leaders.

A total of 21 awards, including eight in special categories, were presented to the winners of the award.

A large number of dignitaries, top government officials and prominent businesspersons attended the ceremony.

In the special awards category, the awards of the Best Local Entity and Best Private Company in support of the Government Procurement Programme went to Emirates Group and the Global Village respectively.

Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation and Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI), were also honoured for their outstanding support to the small and medium enterprises sector in the UAE.

Nada Al Ali from Bahrain won the Best Arab Start-up Business-Female category for her ' National Occupational Safety Consultancy' while the award for the Best Arab Start-up Business-Male category was given to Zahran bin Salim Al Aufi & Partners from Oman for their project 'Falcon Oilfield Services'.

Ismail Al Abbasi, Chairman of Al Abbasi Group, received the Best Businessman supporting Entrepreneurship award for his dedicated support to young businessmen in the UAE.

The Best Businessman and Businesswoman winners for 2007 were chosen amongst the main categories. The 'Best Businessman of the Year' was won by Hamad Al Rohomi for launching the pioneering marine life preservation project "Atlantis" supported by Nakheel. Al Rohomi also received the Best Business in Service Sector award for his project "Emirates Aqua Live".

The 'Best Businesswoman of the Year' went to Reem Beljafla for her remarkable production and distribution of souvenirs reflecting the UAE's heritage in prominent locations including Dubai International Airport. Reem Beljafla's project 'Reem International' also shared the Best Business in Design award with Lina Al Aidroos's project "Decorati Interior Design".

The special 'Entrepreneur of the Year Award' was given to Emirati cartoonist Haidar Mohammed, creator of Emirati popular TV cartoon show "Shabiat Al Cartoon".

In his opening remarks at the awards ceremony, Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO of Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders, hailed the excellent support offered by Dubai government to the SME sector. He said the Dubai government has led by example in creating the right environment for small companies conducive to the growth of their businesses locally and expansion regionally.

Al Janahi said: "Today's winners in various categories stand testimony to their own creative entrepreneurial capabilities that were nurtured by unstinted support from the country's leadership. The growing awareness about the small and medium sector's role as a key driver of the local economy will encourage more youngsters to start their own business operations and become self-reliant."Al Janahi added that there was still room for enhancing the SMEs sector's opportunities through raising the extent of cooperation between government bodies and leading national organisations with the small and medium enterprises.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Awards for Young Business Leaders is an annual event aimed at celebrating excellence among local and Arab entrepreneurs.