Developing SMEs in Middle East Through Global Insights and Practices

Small and medium enterprises play a significant role in growing, diversifying and strengthening a country’s economic base. They create employment, enhance competitiveness, and contribute positively to socio-economic indicators such as GDP growth and the number of middle-income households in an economy.

The 5th Annual Middle East SME Forum will bring forth industry leaders to share their successful experience and address the audience with updated information, policies and SME supported ventures. Taking place on the 21 – 22 of October 2014, at Dusit Thani – Abu Dhabi, this conference will be looking into the future to help achieve strategic goals.

With H.E. Abdullah Saeed Al Darmaki, Chief Executive Officer - Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, as the guest of honour and the keynote speech delivered by H.E. Mohamed Felal Al Muhairi, Director General - Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, this edition of the SME forum will feature on learning from best practice and insights on SME development and financing in other parts of the World.

A dedicated Panel Discussion titled Strengthening the SME Ecosystem, will answer queries such as
* What does “customer centric banking” mean for SME’s?
* How much value can a bank add in helping an SME become more profitable?
* What are the key moments of truth for SMEs in dealing with their bank?
* How can SMEs best harness technology to run their business more effectively
* Helping SMEs grow internationally

This panel will be moderated by John Kirkbright, Director at Efma Business Banking Advisory Council & CEO at K-Strat International, and joined by Nilanjan Ray, Managing Director - Commercial Banking (Gulf) at National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD); Peter Linzenbold, Executive Director : Small Business Banking - Raiffeisen Bank International; Turgut Çatalkaya, Head: SME Marketing - Akbank and John Mark Williams, Head of the Breakthrough Programme (SME) - Santander Corporate Banking.

Bader AlJenaibi, Head of Foreign Trade and Export Support Section - Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) will elaborate how export can assist the growth of the SMEs, while the importance of improving SMEs’ access to finance, will be explained by Ahsan Ali, Director: Credit & Operations - Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development.

Essam Disi, Senior Manager (Strategy & Policy) - Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development, will focus on global practices and the opportunities/challenges in supporting high growth SMEs in the region with reference to a case study on the “Dubai SME100”.
National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) is the Lead Strategic Partner of this forum which is supported by Abu Dhabi Chambers. Supporting Associations for this forum include AllWorld Network, World Association for Small and Medium Enterprises, The British Business Group, CEO Clubs UAE, Egyptian Association for SMEs, Arab Business Club and many others.

Fleming Gulf is young, dynamic and has fast become one of the leading providers of business intelligence through industry specific conferences, webinars and skills enhancement training courses.

Mohor Mukherjee
T : +971 46091570 | E : mohor.mukherjee@fleminggulf.com
W : http://finance.fleminggulf.com/sme

Fleming Gulf
Dubai Airport Free Zone
P.O. Box 54772
Dubai, U.A.E.

This release was published on openPR.