The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation said it will organize the first Middle East Entrepreneurs’ Forum in Beirut in association with Berytech Technological Pole, one of Lebanon’s pioneering incubation and business development centres.

The forum, to be held from May 21 to 22 at the Pavilion Royal in Biel is the outcome of an MoU signed in July 2008 between the Foundation and Berytech.

As per the agreement the duo will co-operate in developing broader innovation capabilities throughout Lebanon and the region, contributing to the sustainable growth and creation of new employment opportunities.

The partnership also aims to drive regional entrepreneurship-related research and the establishment of centres of excellence.

Designed to assist entrepreneurs with their endeavours, the Entrepreneurs’ Forum in Beirut will offer start-ups and SMEs an array of business support services including marketing, human resources and finance.

It will also act as a networking platform where entrepreneurs will interact with exhibitors, peers and experts.

Additionally, the forum will offer participants an opportunity to attend a range of inspirational and informative seminars and activities on regional and international entrepreneurial best practices.

Concurrently, the Entrepreneurs’ Forum in Beirut will gather over 70 exhibitors from ICT services, finance and risk management, auditors, consultants, trainers, advertising, branding, multimedia, business development centres, associations and NGOs, chambers of commerce, and government support agencies.

These exhibitors will offer a spectrum of products and services in addition to necessary sources of information to start-ups and growing businesses.

Sultan Lootah, vice-president for Entrepreneurship and Employment at the Foundation, said: "The forum represents another milestone in our multi-pronged strategy to empower and shape a well-informed resource base of Arab entrepreneurs, eventually leading to a smoother process of job creation in the region."

"By leveraging knowledge as key platform, we are positive that the unemployment challenge facing the Arab world can be effectively addressed," he added.

"We are confident the first Middle East Entrepreneurs’ Forum organised in partnership with Berytech will assist entrepreneurs expand their resource base while meeting their requirements to become successful professional organisations."

The event will serve as a key tool for the creation of ‘change agents’ who will evolve entrepreneurship in the Arab world.”

Berytech has supported more than 70 start-ups and assisted in creating over 250 jobs. Since its inception in 2002, Berytech has actively promoted, created and developed value added start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through training, coaching, hosting and facilitating access to finance.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum seeks to develop the knowledge capabilities of the Arab world through a series of strategic programmes in the three main sectors of knowledge and education; culture; and entrepreneurship and employment.

The Foundation leverages knowledge as a vital platform for launching effective solutions to address key challenges facing the Arab world such as unemployment and brain drain.-TradeArabia News Service