Mid East businesses urged to nuture entrepreneurs from within corporate Arabia

"It's very important to support entrepreneurialism from a young age. Youthful entrepreneurs must be nurtured within the organisation, and encouraged. In a truly entrepreneurial company, everyone must be allowed to thrive. Entrepreneurs can be taught, but only if they have the spark in them to begin with. Then they can be encouraged, and taught the right way of doing things.

"Business is far more professional and organised than it was 30 years ago, when I was first here. Business culture has changed, with the new generation educated in the West and keen to succeed," he said.

Hassan, who was speaking ahead of his address to 'Entrepreneurs In Dubai' - the region's biggest gathering of would-be tycoons and business leaders - warned that corporations which do not encourage entrepreneurs end up with an organisation where everyone pulls against each other.

"An unselfish attitude towards the entrepreneurial skills of others is what helps people succeed," he said.

As a founding, charter member of USA's network of global entrepreneurs and professionals The Indus Entrepreneur (TIE) society, Hassan practices what he preaches, working tirelessly in the US and the UAE to encourage entrepreneurial spirit.

"Part of TIE's role is to hold regular 'angel' forums bringing together entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. They need to follow this model more here in the Gulf," he said.

"Entrepreneurs need to have vision, drive and fire in their bellies, but what's important is that we bring them together with investors."

In a corporate environment, entrepreneurs must be welcomed, says Hassan.

"Corporations will benefit from their talents, while they prove themselves worthy, so we must all understand the benefits of employing entrepreneurs. Businesses must have the vision to see that they will be useful later on, but should be prepared for them to move on and forge their own careers," he added.

"There is a saying in Houston that every travel agent now operating there once worked for me! I have been actively encouraging entrepreneurial employees for 20 years. Staff will always come and go, but your company will remain strong, so accept that fact but benefit from the fresh talent of young entrepreneurs. As an entrepreneur, you must always think positive."

An established civic leader, Hassan has served as an advisor on presidential, senatorial, congressional and judicial campaigns in the US for the past decade. He is a former chairman and president of the South Asian Chambers of Commerce.

Representing the South Asian community in main stream American politics, he has dealt with issues and concerns at the highest level with the US Government, and toured India with former President Bill Clinton during his White House tenure.

Hassan says his own most entrepreneurial act was moving from the Gulf to the US, where his uncle already lived and worked. He set up a company 25 years ago, which today offers investment services, energy industry maintenance and consulting, insurance, consultancy, IT solutions and a host of other services.

"I set the company up from nothing. It's all about having the vision, having faith, confidence and trust in yourself and a willingness to take many risks - sometimes calculated, sometimes true risks!"

Hassan was the first ever South Asian to serve on the prestigious board of the Urban League, America's oldest civil rights organisation, and was selected to join the state of Texas team to serve as a delegate for the Presidential Elections in year 2000.

It is this wealth of business and political experience that makes Hassan the ideal candidate to introduce former North Carolina Senator and Democratic Presidential Candidate John Edwards, when he presents a keynote speech at the forthcoming 'Entrepreneurs in Dubai' forum, entitled: 'Toward a Future of Hope and Opportunity in the Middle East: The power of Entrepreneurship.'

This year's most flamboyant and insightful gathering of top regional business professionals, the International Entrepreneurship Forum and Exhibition, (Entrepreneurs In Dubai), will be held at the Dubai International Convention Centre from May 23-25.

Both Hassan and Edwards exemplify entrepreneurialism, with Hassan suggesting politics and entrepreneurial spirit go hand in hand.

"Traditionally politicians and entrepreneurialism go together. Certainly in the US, you will not find any entrepreneur or big company not involved in politics; they support politics by making donations, and entrepreneurs must often move in political circles to help get things done," he said.

And while he feels that the region's more progressive governments are doing enough to encourage entrepreneurs, "every government has its own issues and problems. Those which want to be seen to be progressive are encouraging entrepreneurialism in the youth, and by doing so, are keeping ahead of the game."

According to Hassan, Arabs are by their very nature entrepreneurial. "A key part of our [Muslim] belief is migration [Hijrat], and migration, unless you have some entrepreneurial spirit, is very difficult," he said.

Hassan feels there are more entrepreneurs than ever in the Middle East, all of whom should welcome the chance to hear, at 'Entrepreneurs In Dubai,' the world's uppermost business people delivering tips on how to spearhead corporate growth, including billionaire property magnate Donald J. Trump, and self-made superstar business gurus such as the charismatic Dame Anita Roddick, who founded the Body Shop cosmetics chain on socially responsible foundations, and Stelios Haji-Ioannou, of the easyGroup, which changed the face of budget air travel in Europe.

Jessica Sutherland, general manager of IIR Middle East, which is organising 'Entrepreneurs In Dubai' in conjunction with the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment For Young Business Leaders, said: "Put simply, Entrepreneurs in Dubai will help corporate Arabia stay ahead of the game. As regional and global competition in every sphere of industry increases, it seems that survival revolves around a corporation's ability to remain entrepreneurial in the face of constant change.

"Many of our speakers have been through the boom and bust cycle - and aren't afraid to tell us how they went wrong and what they would do if they had their time again."

Hundreds of corporate delegates are set to witness three days of inspiring ideas, during the event and associated exhibition, which should inspire a new generation of business leaders.

"It's the right platform to share ideas and encourage regional entrepreneurialism," concluded Sutherland.

Aimed at promoting an entrepreneurial spirit among young GCC national business men and women, IEFE is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Board, Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders. It is endorsed by the United Nations Conference On Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and oil giant Shell Markets Middle East, management software experts Computer Associates and business solutions and services consultants Deloitte are headline sponsors.