On 19 and 20 November, Arab entrepreneurs at the Fourth Arab SMEs Summit had the opportunity to discover programmes, partnerships and practical support for growing their businesses during two “Opportunities Spotlight” sessions.
As the regional entrepreneurship ecosystem expands, support for SMEs is increasingly moving beyond traditional training to include coaching and mentorship, incubation and acceleration, financing, investment readiness, market access, networking and internationalization.
New opportunities and capacity-building programmes in specific sectors
On 19 November, the first session, “New opportunities and capacity-building programmes in specific sectors”, introduced selected programmes offering concrete opportunities to SMEs and startups. Representatives explained what their programmes offered, who could benefit and how entrepreneurs could participate. The discussion highlighted ways to build skills and networks, access finance and markets, develop partnerships and support longer-term business growth.
The session featured Sandra Amalang of UNDRR, Hammam Juraeid of AGFUND, Catarina Bjorlin Hansen of EBRD, Michael Lilier of GIZ Iraq, and Wafa Makhlouf of the Centre for Entrepreneurship & Executive Development in Tunisia.
Cross-border collaboration and market expansion
On 20 November, the second session, “Cross-border collaboration and market expansion”, turned the spotlight to SMEs and startups that have expanded beyond their home markets. Speakers shared experiences of entering regional and international markets through exports, e-commerce, partnerships, networks and value chains, including how businesses adapted their products and services and navigated regulatory, financial and logistical challenges.
Regional connections offer considerable potential for expansion. In 2023, exports from the Mediterranean region to Gulf Cooperation Council countries reached $116 billion, while imports stood at $121 billion. The sessions sought to bring such opportunities closer to entrepreneurs, helping them move from asking “What is available?” to “What can I access, and how?”
