Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) 2016 to showcase innovative solutions for SMEs in emerging markets.
HE Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori: “We target to increase the contribution of SMEs to UAE’s GDP to 70%”
Dawood Al Shezawi: “AIM is an ideal platform for young entrepreneurs to share their investment ideas”
The Higher Organising Committee of the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) 2016, to be held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, will feature intensive discussions on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets. The committee said that the discussions will focus on challenges, relationship to financial markets and financing options among other relevant topics.
The new focus comes against the backdrop of the Ministry of Economy in the UAE finalizing a law on SMEs. From 11 to 13 April at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, AIM 2016 will showcase promising investment opportunities for SMEs, in addition to other investment opportunities.
His Excellency Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy said that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) was directly related to the SME sector. “The UAE recognises the role of youth in promoting SMEs, and that is why the government has issued several laws to facilitate issuance of trade licenses, established many funds to support them, and launched several initiatives to promote SMEs. We have decided to provide an overview of SME sector in AIM for the benefit of international delegations. In addition, we will present successful case studies and few innovative ideas on SMEs from around the world.”
AIM 2016 will organise a series of investment activities to allow companies to showcase their collaboration ideas, either publicly through Panel Discussions and Country Presentations, or privately through B2B Meetings, all organised by the Higher Organising Committee.
Experts say that the major challenge facing SMEs is financing. “We want to increase SME contribution from the current 60% – 70% of the UAE’s GDP. We understand that it would take lots of efforts to attain this goal, and so we are facilitating financing, mainly to support innovative projects and ideas,” said HE Al Mansoori.
“SMEs accounts for the lion’s share of the total registered companies in the UAE. This should serve as a catalyst for youth to start their own projects and carve a niche for themselves in the highly competitive market that is filled with local and international companies. AIM 2016 will highlight the investment potential of this sector, providing deep insights into setting up SMEs in the UAE,” said Dawood Al Shezawi, CEO, AIM’s Organizing Committee.
“AIM will serve as a strategic platform to bring together young entrepreneurs and exchange insights with them, as well as take a look at the bankability of their ideas, not to mention the opportunity to understand the risks of malpractices in newly established projects, which will be highlighted by experts,” added Al Shezawi.
“AIM will be addressed by renowned expert speakers, and we are still adding new names to the distinguished list. We expect to see unprecedented presence of financiers, investors, decision-makers and entrepreneurs under one roof, due to the wide number of discussion topics, and more diverse investment activities to be organised onsite,” concluded Al Shezawi.
Themed ‘The New World of FDI, Key Features and Best Practices’, AIM 2016 will mainly cover FDI, one of the most successful investment practices in the region and the world.
