• Over 50 of Zanzibar based entrepreneurs received enterprise development training
  • The workshop comes as the first of many future international outreach efforts by Khalifa Fund

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development officially held their inaugural international capacity building services with a 3-day training program in Zanzibar. The international training program was attended by Dr. Islam Seif Salim, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Industrial Development, and commenced with a welcoming speech by HE Khalifa Marzouqi, UAE Ambassador in Dar Al Salam, before the Khalifa Fund’s Capacity Building Department began the workshops, which consisted of expertise training in business planning, entrepreneurship development, financial modelling, idea sourcing, soft skills and business model canvas. This marked Khalifa Fund’s first-ever international outreach workshop, which came as a leadership directive from HE Alia Al Mazrouei, the CEO of the Enablement Sector & Non-Financial Services of Khalifa Fund.

HE Khalifa Al Marzouqi stated in his inaugural speech: "This occasion reflects the strong, strategic and historical partnership between the 2 countries”, and he highlighted the MOU between Khalifa Fund and the Ministry of Finance and Planning in Zanzibar, which was signed in 2019 under the directives of HH Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi

His Excellency added: "Launching this program for the first time outside the UAE is a reflection of the tight bond we share with Zanzibar’s esteemed government and its ambitious people".

HE Alia Al Mazrouei stated: “As the newly appointed CEO of the Enablement Sector & Non-Financial Services of Khalifa Fund, it is a great honour to deliver the first international capacity building program in Khalifa Fund’s history. This marks a remarkable milestone for both the organisation and for entrepreneurs across the world. We strive to make this the first in a series of worldwide enterprise development efforts, through Khalifa Fund’s esteemed International Affairs department.

Her Excellency added: “The UAE’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is currently recognised as the best in the world by the Global Monitoring Index and thus we aim to transfer our knowledge and share our successful entrepreneurism model with the wider world. We look forward to producing more workshops to the enterprise talents in Zanzibar, as well as across the 23 countries that Khalifa Fund currently operates in.”

Khalifa Fund’s international outreach efforts commenced in 2015, and have been brought about by strategic partnerships that support the transfer of knowledge and economic growth both in the UAE and globally, through international outreach in 23 countries. This expansion of Khalifa Fund’s global efforts came through the implementation of government directives and in partnership with official agencies in countries which thereby aided in knowledge-based, economic growth for SMEs.

For more information on Khalifa Fund’s international projects, please contact International.Affairs@khalifafund.ae.

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About Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development

Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development was established in 2007, by the virtue of the Law 14 of 2005 and its amendments, in the implementation of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi. The Khalifa Fund works as an independent, not-for-profit economic development agency of the Government of Abu Dhabi for the development and support of small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs).

The Fund helps to develop local enterprises in Abu Dhabi through instilling and enriching an investment culture amongst UAE nationals. The Fund also seeks to support and develop SMEs in the Emirate.

Khalifa Fund was founded in 2007 with a total capital of AED 300 million, which gradually increased in 2008 to AED 1 billion, in order to meet the growing demand for the Fund’s services. In 2011, the Fund’s total capital was increase to AED 2 billion, and the Fund covered all of the UAE through a network of branches.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Cameron Hurrion
KBS Strategies
cameron@kbsstrategies.com