The Prince of the Eastern Region, His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, inaugurates today, Monday, the "Riyadh 2023" Entrepreneurship Forum and Exhibition, organized by the Asharqia Chamber's Youth Business Council in its seventh edition. The event will run until November 15, 2023, at the Dhahran Expo grounds, Dammam Highway, Al Khobar. It features the participation of more than 300 establishments managed by young entrepreneurs.
The opening ceremony will be attended by the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Mr. Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, and Her Excellency Dr. Iman bint Habas Al-Mutairi, the Deputy Minister of Commerce, along with several dignitaries, specialists, and those interested in entrepreneurship within and outside the Kingdom. The Arab Republic of Egypt is a guest of honor, with around 40 Egyptian entrepreneurial establishments participating, spanning various sectors such as education, culture, technology, and more.
Badr bin Suleiman Al-Rajhi, the Chairman of the Asharqia Chamber's Board of Directors, emphasized that "Riyadh 2023" has been promoting a message since 2009 to support the economic role of youth by showcasing opportunities for empowerment and incentives for them to engage in freelancing. He pointed out their capabilities to bring about change in the local economic environment, especially in the current significant transformations under Vision 2030.
The exhibition has a unique nature, coinciding with significant progress and expansion in entrepreneurship, as indicated by various global entrepreneurship indicators. Saudi Arabia ranks first globally in four sub-indicators according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, along with advancements in other indicators such as individuals' skills and knowledge, infrastructure, ease of obtaining company financing, market entry facilitation, and more.
Saad bin Khalid Al-Mujil, the Chairman of the Youth Business Council at the Chamber, stated that "Riyadh 2023" has attracted 29 officials and leaders to highlight the developments in entrepreneurship in the Kingdom. It serves as an opportunity to increase youth interactions in economic fields, allowing them to learn from successful experiences and initiatives. The forum covers seven main axes, focusing on the roles of the state in empowering entrepreneurs, supportive programs from government and non-government entities, the impact of entrepreneurship on technology under Vision 2030, and support for entrepreneurial projects in the Kingdom.
The forum also includes eight workshops presented by institutions related to entrepreneurship, covering topics such as incentive programs, consulting services, the use of artificial intelligence in entrepreneurial projects, mining incubators, and growth accelerators, as well as support and financing programs for small and medium enterprises.
