Inside SME Beyond Borders 2016
Building on the success of last years’s premier SME conference, SME Beyond Borders returned to the UAE for its finest gathering.
The interactive conference was held in Dubai on Thursday 27 October 2016 at Atlantis, The Palm hosted by CPI Business, presented by the National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) and co-curated by Etisalat. The landmark forum attracted over 1500 entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders from across the GCC and addressed a wide range of topics from SME funding, innovation, the role of social enterprises to gender equality in the workplace. It was also the first time ever that some of the most prominent VCs and PE firms came together under one roof to discuss SME funding. The likes of Gulf Capital, Middle East Venture Partners, Lumia Capital, The Abraaj Group, Abu Dhabi Financial Group, Impulse International, Wamda Capital and BECO Capital convened in one strategic platform to discuss funding opportunities and challenges. In the following section, we present all the major highlights
According to UAE Ministry of Economy, SMEs account for 86 per cent of the workforce in the private sector and for more than 60 per cent of the UAEs GDP. Research shows that they typically generate revenue six times faster than larger businesses. Supporting the growth of SMEs is therefore a top priority for NBAD (National Bank of Abu Dhabi) across the UAE and the wider region. NBAD believes that a thriving SME sector is essential to the nations prosperity and that smaller businesses have a critical role to play in the diversification of the UAE economy as well as in future job creation. Given this vision, presenting SME Beyond Borders one of the leading events in the region to highlight the challenges and opportunities for SMEs was a natural choice that underscored this commitment. Nilanjan Ray, Head of Commercial Banking at NBAD, remarked: We believe in SMEs, which is why we continue to invest in them. They account for more than 60 per cent of the UAE’s GDP and are key drivers behind job creation and economic growth in the region. We are proud to have supported thousands of SMEs over the years, be it through funding or through the NBAD SME Academy skills building workshops. The NBAD SME Academy, which was launched in partnership with CPI Business as a pilot programme in September 2015, provides a series of free Skills Based Workshops, focusing on helping SMEs develop fundamental skills to succeed. The Skills Building Workshops held so far have been delivered by experts including Moody’s Analytics, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Ron Kaufman, Nathan Gold, Dentons, Deloitte and Hawkamah – the Institute for Corporate Governance.
So, how does one stand out from all the noise?
It is imperative to facilitate a dialogue that truly creates impact and proves to be relevant to the audience. With this mission in mind, the team at CPI Business reached out to their Strategic SME Partner and one of the regions foremost authority on the sector Etisalat. As the regions leading telecoms provider and with a network of over 300,000 SMEs their capability is second to none. So, it was only natural that we partnered with one of the most influential entities in the space and combined forces to curate the regions most-awaited SME conference. But, that was just the beginning. What followed was months and months of research, surveys, data crunching, and well a few sleepless nights! The result? An agenda that addressed the three most critical aspects of the SME ecosystem Sustainability. Inclusiveness. Innovation. This partnership proved to be one of the most critical aspects in shaping the success of the conference. The combination of CPI Business event organising expertise and Etisalat’s extensive market intelligence created an unforgettable experience for the attendees.
Echoing a similar sentiment, John Lincoln, Senior Vice President- Small and Medium Businesses (SMB), Etisalat, said: SME Beyond Borders 2016 proved to be a unique platform that attracted a blend of local and international Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) innovators, who are disrupting traditional business models. As co-curator and SMB Strategic Partner for this event, we are extremely proud to have joined forces with our partners to support this sector by bringing beneficial content to drive incremental value for SMBs. Etisalat’s primary objective is to empower start-ups and SMBs with knowledge of global best practices that will help increase productivity and profitability, and this conference was definitely a step in the right direction.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLx8lZUEaKU4CWIDHDNohbJITcekTzbXGL
Stars of Business Awards 2016: Spotlight on success
October 27 marked a day of celebration in the calendar of several SMEs; it was the date when the UAE saw one of the most glamourous and prestigious occasions NBAD Stars of Business Awards 2016. Held in the stunning setting of Atlantis, The Palm, this years Awards hosted 500 high-profile attendees, including senior government officials, captains of industry and owners of the regions leading businesses. Stars of Business Awards 2016 was also one of the most selective in terms of the winners all the nominees had to go through a rigorous two-step nomination process set in place, working together with our Advisor and Validation Partner PwC. The highlight of the night was the Personality Awards segment, where four special awards were granted for notable contributions within the regional business landscape. These were:
- Emirati Business Leader of the year: Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Azad Moopen, Chairman & Managing Director, Aster DM Healthcare
- Captain of Industry: Male: Maaz Sheikh, Co-founder & CEO, STARZ Play
- Captain of Industry: Female: Renuka Jagtiani, Vice Chairperson, Landmark Group
Congratulations to all our winners!
