Johannesburg, South Africa – The United Arab Emirates participated in the first Global Ministerial Meeting for Small and Medium Enterprises, hosted by Johannesburg, South Africa, jointly organized by the United Nations International Trade Centre (ITC) and the South African Ministry of Small Business Development. The UAE was represented at the meeting by His Excellency Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Tourism.
The participation aims to enhance cooperation and exchange experiences in the fields of entrepreneurship, small and medium enterprises, green economy, finance and digital transformation, and comes within the framework of the UAE’s vision aimed at strengthening international cooperation frameworks and working jointly with various regional and international partners to support the growth of the small and medium enterprises sector and enable it to face challenges and achieve sustainability.
His Excellency Abdullah Al Saleh said in his speech during the meeting: “Small and medium enterprises are today considered a pivotal pillar in driving economic growth globally, given that they represent more than 90% of the total companies operating in various countries. These projects play an effective role in providing job opportunities for various segments of society, enhancing economic diversity, and supporting the environment of innovation and creativity.”
His Excellency pointed out that the meeting represents a new stage for discussion and dialogue on developing economic initiatives and policies that support the growth and prosperity of small and medium enterprises and finding appropriate solutions to the challenges facing them, most notably the difficulty of obtaining the necessary financing to expand their activities and ensure the sustainability of their businesses, as this matter requires collective efforts to formulate practical and enabling solutions that allow them to grow and compete in local and global markets.
His Excellency added: “Thanks to the directives of its wise leadership, the UAE has paid great attention to developing a legislative and regulatory system for small and medium enterprises based on the best practices in this regard. Today, small and medium enterprises account for 95% of the total companies operating in the country, and approximately 86% of the volume of employment in the private sector. Today, the country is home to more than 50 government and private business incubators and accelerators.” The UAE also ranked first globally for the fourth year in a row in the Global Entrepreneurship Observatory’s 2024/2025 report, which ranked it as the best place for entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises, out of 56 economies included in the report this year.
His Excellency highlighted the financing capabilities and opportunities provided by entities and institutions from the public and private sectors in the country, which provide training and financing for small and medium enterprises throughout the Emirates.
His Excellency also reviewed the national initiatives and projects that the Ministry of Economy and Tourism has worked to develop to enhance the competitiveness of the entrepreneurship environment and consolidate the UAE’s position as a leading destination for small and medium enterprises, including the launch of the Entrepreneurship System, the Entrepreneurship Fund, and the digital platform of “Home of Entrepreneurship,” which contributed to enhancing the connection of entrepreneurs with training and financing opportunities, as well as raising the percentage of small and medium enterprises’ contribution to tenders and contracts for government procurement for federal entities to 10% Providing technical support and training to enhance its participation in these tenders.
It is noteworthy that the first global ministerial meeting for small and medium enterprises witnessed the participation of more than 700 people, including ministers, officials, leaders from the private sector, and entrepreneurs from more than 60 countries, to discuss ways to support and empower small and medium enterprises globally.
