UAE-based Etisalat, a leading telecom group, has launched a new initiative to aid small and medium businesses (SMBs) to set up in the UAE.

The Hello Business programme, a regional first, features value-for-money offerings for mobile and office products and services for new businesses in the UAE, a personalised visit by a trained and authorized Etisalat representative to the customer premise within 24 hours, upon request, an information kit to enable the businesses to set up their operations faster, more efficiently and 24x7x365 access to Etisalat’s state-of-the-art SMB dedicated call centre, among other benefits.

Salvador Anglada, chief business officer, Etisalat, said: “Any new business undergoes major challenges and issues related to financing, resource hiring, location selection and so on. Our new programme is one way of helping businesses focus on their core competencies, not having to worry about their telecommunications or business solution needs.”

“Not only do our propositions offer great value for money in the market, but are also designed to meet the unique needs of the SMBs and start-ups. We believe that the combination of convenience, removing complexities and providing the high-in-value offerings is another way that we help businesses grow in the UAE.

“We are upbeat about welcoming new businesses to the UAE and would like to say ‘Hello’ to anyone seeking an IT and telecoms partner-of-choice for meeting their business needs,” he added.

SMBs are critical to delivering growth, driving innovation and creating employment. In the UAE, SMBs account for 92 per cent of all firms. UAE small and medium firms account for 86 per cent of the workforce and contribute around 60 per cent to the GDP generated in the UAE economy, according to the UAE Ministry of Finance.

Industry reports estimate more than 100,000 new businesses to set up shop in the UAE over the next three years. Initiatives such as the World Expo 2020 in Dubai will further drive substantial development of the country’s SME segment. – TradeArabia News Service