International Event that connects young people in more than 88 countries world wide
The Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development hosted the Global Entrepreneurship Week at the Entrepreneur Business Village in Dubai. Students from schools and universities across the UAE participated at the event, which was held for the first time in the country.
Thousands of students contributed to the GEW event which was carried out in the different campuses across the country. The closing ceremony took place on the 22nd November 2009 and was held in EBV in presence of partners, heads of universities and groups of volunteering students who participated actively throughout the week.
The Global Entrepreneurship Week offered an important opportunity for students to discuss their creative ideas and given them the opportunity to get inspired through various demos, success stories, cutting-edge ideas, guest speakers and debates. The event was aimed at connecting with ‘future entrepreneurs’ and setting the broad basis for youth to establish successful startups in the future.
His Excellency Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development, said: “The Global Entrepreneurship Week highlights our commitment to incubating young talent and supporting their creative ideas, and thus help establish leading projects in the future. We are committed to building a strategic base for young investors to help them develop their ideas and enter the world of business at a steady pace. We believe in the importance of providing opportunities for students and help them to become part of global business and contribute to economic growth.â€
The main feature of this year’s event was the “Wallâ€, a board on which more than 500 students jotted down and posted their creative ideas, thoughts and impressions towards becoming entrepreneurs. MBRE will sort the ideas, asses them, select the most creative and outstanding ideas to be a starting point for leading investments. The Establishment will communicate with the students and help them to develop their ideas and launch projects that contribute to the economic growth of Dubai.
On the concluding day, GEW hosted Giorgio Ungania, International Speaker and the Organizer of TEDx Dubai, who delivered a keynote speech in which he urged students to follow their passion in whatever they do. Giorgio also focused on the importance of using social media such as “YouTube”, “Facebook” and “Twitter” for promote their projects.
GEW also hosted Rashid Al Maftoul, a UAE young National, who succeeded in marking a very special experience and represented the UAE at several international events.
During GEW, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development organised several events for its members. These activities include the opening of Wild Peeta, the joint venture fast food restaurant by Emarati brothers Mohamed and Peyman Parham Al Awadhi, and the launch of Ghenej jewelry collection, by Muna Al Haddad, at Harvey Nichols in the Mall of the Emirates.
MBRE also organised a networking session to discuss business opportunities for its members with Singapore SMEs. The session was hosted in collaboration with Mashreq Bank and the International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, a leading governmental agency in Singapore, to spearhead the development of Singapore’s external economic sector.
Participating at the session were SMEs specialized in the areas of fashion and apparel, office stationary, disposal products (hotel, dental and medical industries) and general electrical equipment. The activity comes in line with MBRE’s efforts to partner with leading international organizations to enhance the business opportunities for its members and provide them market access to SMEs.
Global Entrepreneurship Week connects young people in more than 88 countries world wide through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators. Students, educators, entrepreneurs, business leaders, employees, non-profit leaders, government officials and many others participate in a range of activities, from online to face-to-face, and from large-scale competitions and events to intimate networking gatherings.
About Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Size Enterprises:
In September 2009, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai issued Law No.23 of 2009 concerning the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Size Enterprises, recently renamed the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders.
The law defines the goals of the establishment for strengthening Dubai’s position as a centre for entrepreneurship and allows for the setting up of projects which encourage entrepreneurship and the innovative ideas of youth. This move seeks to motivate youth to work, as well as to pursue economic activity, such as the development and organisation of programmes and initiatives.
