Abu Dhabi: There are plans underway to expand the current allocation of 10 per cent of all annual purchases of federal departments and local bodies to small and medium enterprises in order to support young Emirati entrepreneurs, according to Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, UAE Minister of Economy.
The UAE minister made these remarks during a meeting held at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s headquarters with the representatives of the Tejar Dubai Youth Council that operates under the umbrella of the Chamber.
He urged the Council members to join hands with national initiatives such as the National Programme for Small and Medium Enterprises, the Mohammad Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development and the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development and other similar organisations to encourage entrepreneurship among Emiratis.
Active role
Highlighting the role of budding Emirati female entrepreneurs, Al Mansouri said in a statement that they contribute a lot and play an active role in the country’s economy as well as in the Cabinet along with men.
Hisham Al Shirawi, second Vice-Chairman of Dubai Chamber, and Head of Tejar Dubai Selection Committee Panel, stressed on the creation of a unified list of local suppliers for the use of government entities to have a ready reference of Emirati entrepreneurs who are qualified to provide services and products to these government bodies.
