MANAMA: Policy measures and capacity building efforts needed to build a more sustainable and resilient micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector will be the key focus of a summit to be hosted in Bahrain this month.
The 9th annual UN MSMEs Day Summit 2021 will kick-off on June 27, celebrated globally as MSME Day, as a joint project between the Bahrain SMEs Society and the United International SMEs Organisations (Unismo), which has its permanent headquarters in Bahrain.
The two-day virtual event is taking place under the theme ‘SMEs and Digital Transformation Post the Pandemic’ with Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed Alzayani, and Abdulnabi Al Shoala, a former Labour and Social Affairs Minister, as keynote speakers.
The summit is expected to bring together ministers, high level policy makers, leadership of major international organisations, business associations, academia, other key stakeholders in the private and public sector.
Mr Al Shoala, chairman of Unismo and the steering committee of the conference, said the event’s importance can be underlined by the fact that MSMEs represent more than 90pc of businesses operating in the economy.
Also commenting was Dr Abdulhasan Al Dairi, the president of the Bahrain SMEs Society and general co-ordinator of Unismo, who said Bahrain is steadily developing entrepreneurship and support for SMEs, in which the society plays a role role through various activities including organising the summit since 2010.
Action
Noting the success of MSMEs globally in increasing wealth, creating quality jobs, and advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Dr Al Dairi said rapid action is needed in facilitating economic and social recovery of MSMEs.
MSMEs are uniquely placed to participate and contribute to the rebound and vibrancy in areas such as economic diversification, improvement of health care, education, public transport, empowerment of all women and girls and the youth, and combating climate change and its impacts, he added.
The second day of the summit will feature participation from a number of technology-focussed international organisations and companies.
Also on the agenda are presentation of research papers on issues and challenges of MSMEs and business case studies from across the world.
The conference will include attendees from across the GCC as well as Australia, South Korea, the Philippines, India.
The event will be broadcast live through a number of digital platforms, and is expected to attract at least 50,000 participants.
avinash@gdn.com.bh
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