SME World 2017 Dubai conference celebrates regions entrepreneurial quests

DUBAI, 22nd March, 2017 (WAM) -- After a successful run in the past three years, the SME World 2017, the fourth edition of the largest entrepreneurship conference in the Middle East & North Africa region, was held today in Dubai. The summit was aimed to celebrate the hopes and ambitions of the regions aspiring entrepreneurs and cherish every innovative mind that seeks to bring change, every leader who aims to rise, and every investor willing to take risks to create value.

Organised by SPI Group, UAEs formidable engagement and lead generation platform, in partnership with Dubai SME, the agency of Dubai Economy Government of Dubai mandated to develop the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, the conference attracted over 1,500 entrepreneurs, business magnates, investors, heads of government departments and C-Suite executives.

SME World 2017 also featured a powerful agenda consisting of keynotes from international speakers, engaging panel discussions, strategic workshops, an exhibition showcasing leading service providers, and an art expo. The summit, supported by Al Futtaim Toyota, DHL, Oracle and Ccerebrate Business Consulting, also provided a platform to leading designers of the region to showcase their corporate summer collection.

"The small and medium enterprise (SME) sector has been the backbone of our nations economy. It promotes employment opportunities, drives the economic growth of the nation, stimulates the latent entrepreneurial talent in the society and spawns a circle of innovation for a better and sustainable future. Dubai, and the UAE in general, have adopted exemplary policies and practices in empowering entrepreneurs and enabling SMEs to grow into global enterprises," said Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO of Dubai SME.

"The RATE programme launched recently by Dubai SME to evaluate SME performance in critical areas of growth and capabilities is a clear reflection of the growing confidence and competitiveness in the SME sphere. We see SME World 2017 as an appropriate forum to showcase our local SME potential before key industry players worldwide," added Al Janahi.