GCC Small and Medium Business Conference set to bring together region's SMB enterprises

Organized by Datamatix Group, the conference will address the major challenges and issues faced by regional small and medium business (SMB) owners and entrepreneurs and discuss strategies to best position their SMB enterprises for growth in the regional and global market.

The two-day summit, which is to be held at Al Bustan Rotana hotel, is sponsored by Etisalat the UAE's premier telecommunications company and one of the region's best performing companies overall, which states as part of its vision "Businesses of all sizes, no longer limited by distance, will be able to reach new markets. Innovative technologies will open up fresh opportunities across the globe, allowing the supply of new goods and services to everyone who wants them".

Ali Al Kamali, Managing Director, Datamatix Group, spoke about the importance of small and medium business enterprises in regional economic growth and development.

"It is a known fact that Small and Medium Business Enterprises help economies maintain a vigorous growth rate by creating jobs and encouraging entrepreneurship and healthy competition in the local market. One of the focal points of discussion in this conference will be the role of small and medium businesses in the regional economy.'

He went on to say, "We are privileged and honored to have Etisalat join us as a sponsor for this event. Their support reconfirms the need for and the importance of initiatives such as this one, which are dedicated to helping the region's SMBs adapt, innovate and achieve success in a highly competitive, modern business environment".

The Conference will feature presentations from leading regional and international experts, including a keynote address by Mr. Rob van der Horst, President - International Council for Small Business (ICSB) on The Role of SMBs in the Rapidly Globalizing Economy.

The other noted speakers include: Dr. Hashim Hussein, Head - United Nations Industrial Development Organization - Investment & Technology Promotion Office (UNIDO-ITPO), Bahrain, Enterprise Development & Investment Promotion Program (EDIP); Dr. Bian Hani Harb, Chairman Advisor - The Khalifa Fund to Support and Develop Small & Medium Enterprises, Development of SMBs in the Direction of Sustainable Development; Ms. Simona Marzetti, Secretary General - International Network for SMEs (INSME), Italy, The Role of Intermediary Organisations and Networks in Supporting SME Competitiveness; Mr. Abdurrahman Bin Rashed Al- Rashed, Chairman - Council of Saudi Chambers, Initiatives and Efforts of Saudi Chambers in the Development of SMB Sector & Case study of Asharqia Chamber in Building Culture of Entrepreneurship; Mr. Massimiliano Granieri, Head, Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer - Fondazione Torino Wireless, Public-Private Partnership for the Growth in the ICT & How Hi-Tech Districts are Fostering Global Competitiveness of SMBs; Mr. Sandeep Bose Regional Head, SME Banking - Middle East & South Asia - Standard Chartered Bank, What Should the Financial Services Industry's Strategies Be for the Success of Small & Medium Business ; Dr. Abdelgadir Warsama Ghalib Senior Legal Counsel & Professor of Law American University - Bahrain, Legal Aspects of Small Business Industry in GCC - What is lacking & Where?; Mr. Khalifa Al Shamsi, Vice President for Marketing, Consumer & SMB - Etisalat, What Information Technology Solutions Are Recommended to Enhance Small and Medium Businesses Productivity?; and Mr. Ahmed Al Dayela, Director - Centre for SME Development, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Riyadh, K.S.A., Future Alliance Strategy and Vision for Integration of Small and Medium Businesses.