Potential.com launches free SME online resources portal in alliance with leading global organisations in MEA
A new private sector initiative launched by social enterprise Potential.com in alliance with a number of global organisations including Aramex, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cisco, Schneider Electric and the World Free Zone Organization will offer SME business owners free resources, advice and services that’ll help them adapt to a post-pandemic economy. The initiative will provide help these organisations digitise their sales and operations throughout the Middle East and Africa.
SMEs account for over 90 percent of all businesses and providing a major source of new job creation according to the International Monetary Fund. SMEs constitute up to 99 percent of all businesses in Saudi Arabia and account for 64 percent of employment and contribute 20 percent of the Kingdom’s gross domestic product.
“SMEs are the lifeblood of economies, and we need to step up and support them,” said Shadi Banna, Founder and CEO, Potential.com. “Last year transformed economies, with every business prioritising digitisation effort. Through our collaboration with leading organisations, we’re here to support the SME do just that. Our goal is to empower over one million businesses in the first twelve months of this initiative, and I encourage more firms and governments to get involved. The more we do now, the stronger our economies will be and the greater the opportunity for job creation in the months and years ahead.”
SMEs can join the platform for free and use video-based courses to help them create their digitization action plans whilst collecting points. These points allow them to unlock special offers, including free expert sessions on topics that are relevant to them and their industries, as well as additional resources to help them reduce costs and improve their digital systems. The program will also help SMEs to network with their peers in a pan-regional online community, to support greater peer-to-peer collaboration and make the sharing of advice simpler.
To help in reaching out to the SMEs, the alliance will be partnering with governments, chambers and multilateral organizations such as World Free Zone Organization to bring the program to various communities across the world.
Over the coming months, as governments join this effort, the platform will be customised for individual countries and sectors to align with the priorities and support programs available in those countries.
