The Governor of "Monshaat" meets with Asharqia Chamber officials and business leaders in the region
The Governor of the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises "Monshaat," Sami Al-Hussaini, met with a delegation from the Chamber of the Eastern Region, including the president and members of the board of directors, to discuss ways of cooperation and partnership to serve the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sector and entrepreneurship in the region, and to work on their development and expansion.
The meeting, held on Monday, February 26, 2024, addressed the joint efforts between the Eastern Chamber and Monshaat to support the entrepreneurship sector and startups, within the framework of enhancing the entrepreneurship ecosystem in the region, and supporting and empowering entrepreneurs and owners of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This is due to the importance of cooperation and partnership among all parties to increase the sector's contribution to the gross domestic product, achieving the targets of Saudi Vision 2030.
Additionally, the Governor of Monshaat and the delegation held a meeting with entrepreneurs and owners of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Eastern Region to identify the challenges they may face and facilitate the growth of their businesses. They also discussed promising opportunities in the region and initiatives supporting entrepreneurial projects.
"Monshaat" has provided numerous services and initiatives to entrepreneurs and owners of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Eastern Region through the Support Center for Enterprises, the Startups Complex, and the Innovation Center in Al Khobar. The Support Center offers a range of advisory, guidance, and training programs to support entrepreneurs in expanding and growing their projects. It also provides the opportunity to benefit from the Business Support Program to direct beneficiaries to suitable services and programs for their projects. The Startups Complex offers shared workspaces, offices, and logistical services for entrepreneurs and owners of SMEs. The Innovation Center aims to empower entrepreneurs and SME owners to adopt technology and innovation, contribute to the creation of advanced startups, and increase the efficiency of SMEs.
Recently, Monshaat organized an e-commerce trade tour in the Eastern Region, including a package of training programs and specialized workshops, as well as a training camp focused on e-commerce, benefiting more than 70 trainees from SME owners and entrepreneurs. The Eastern Region is the third-largest region in terms of the number of SMEs, with 141,000 establishments during the fourth quarter of 2023, employing over a million people.
The Chairman of the Asharqia Chamber's Board of Directors, Badr bin Sulaiman Al-Raziza, emphasized that SMEs represent the backbone of the private sector and are a fundamental pillar in driving the national economy and achieving Vision 2030. He stated that the state has taken pioneering steps to support SMEs, providing them with multiple growth factors, including procedural, regulatory, and financial support, and creating a suitable environment for their expansion and proliferation. The Chamber aims to make these SMEs one of the pillars of sustainable growth in the Kingdom.
He explained that the Chamber held this meeting to enhance entrepreneurs' knowledge of Monshaat's developments and future plans, realizing that enabling entrepreneurs to be effective and impactful in the national economy requires participation and dialogue, which play a significant role in overcoming challenges and providing unique and qualitative solutions. He highlighted the Chamber's keen interest in SMEs by launching a variety of programs, seminars, and workshops aimed at developing and enhancing their performance to attract more capital.
