Test

With the Participation of a Japanese Delegation and in Cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Asharqia Chamber will hold a workshop at 10:00 a.m. next Saturday, January 10, 2009, entitled “Towards Developing Effective Policies for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the Kingdom,” with the participation of a Japanese delegation specializing in the development of small and medium-sized enterprises.
The workshop is being held in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to benefit from Japan’s experience in this field and as part of Asharqia Chamber’s support for small and medium-sized enterprises. It also coincides with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s current efforts to develop effective mechanisms for the growth of such enterprises in the Kingdom, in line with the National Industrial Strategy, for whose main pillars the Ministry is currently preparing implementation plans. Asharqia Chamber Secretary-General Adnan bin Abdullah Al-Nuaim affirmed that the Chamber attaches great importance to the youth business and small and medium-sized enterprise sector, which accounts for the majority of its members. In 2008, the sector saw numerous initiatives and programs, most notably the launch of the Asharqia Young Businessmen Council, which will host businessman Abdulaziz Al-Turki next Sunday evening, January 11, 2009, as part of its “My Experience” program. Last year also saw the presentation by His Highness the Governor of the Eastern Province of the Asharqia Chamber Award for Best Promising Enterprise to 15 winning small and medium-sized enterprises in the award’s second cycle—the only award of its kind in the Kingdom. Other initiatives included holding the Kingdom’s first course to train young people from all regions of the Kingdom to launch small tourism projects; similar programs to train small investors in cooperation with the National Commercial Bank’s Community Service Unit in Jubail and Hafr Al-Batin, with a program soon to be held in Khafji; helping more than 150 young men and women obtain loans from the Abdul Latif Jameel Fund, with total financing exceeding SAR 14 million; and providing more than 500 free consultations to small enterprises and young entrepreneurs, in addition to organizing numerous lectures and seminars across the Eastern Province’s governorates.