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Opportunities Beyond Borders is the theme of the first edition of the Arab SMEs Summit, which aims to enhance partnerships and expand the opportunities of small and medium enterprises regionally and internationally. Policymakers, business influencers, investors, entrepreneurs and interested individuals from the Arab region are meeting at the Kempinski Convention Centre in Amman to discuss regional and international business.
The Summit aims to help Arab SMEs access regional and international markets, mobilize diverse financial resources, benefit from regional and international networks, and increase their ability to scale up. This regional platform for national and international leaders from the public and private sectors advocates inclusive policies and strategies required to support Arab SMEs.
Over three days, participants will discuss 3 sub-themes as follows:
Sunday, 30 October 2022
9:30 - 10:00 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Grand Ballroom (Ground Floor)
H.E. Yousef Alshamali, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, Jordan
Dr. Rola Dashti, Under-Secretary General and the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
H.E. Bisher Al-Khasawneh, Prime Minister of Jordan
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
Sunday, 30 October 2022
9:30 - 10:30 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Grand Ballroom (Ground Floor)
H.E. Yousef Alshamali, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, Jordan
Dr. Rola Dashti, Under-Secretary General and the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)
Sunday, 30 October, 2022
10:00 - 11:00 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
Format: ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Grand Ballroom (Ground Floor)
This session will showcase inspirational businesses from the Arab region that crossed the borders and scaled up regionally and internationally.
Mona Ataya, Founder and CEO of Mumzworld.com, and eTrade for Women Advocate
Abdulaziz B. Al Loughani, Founder and CEO of Flowerd
Fabio Russo, Chief SME Development and Job Creation Unit, UNIDO
H.E. Dana Al-Zoubi, Secrtary General Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply, Jordan
Nicole Tannouri, Journalist at MBC.
Sunday, 30 October 2022
11:30 - 12:30 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
Format: ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Grand Ballroom (Ground Floor)
This session will steer a discussion on ways to enhance Arab SMEs participation in global value chains and access to international opportunities.
Amer Bukvic, Director-General Global Practice and Partnership at the Islamic Development Bank
Nadia Al Saeed, CEO, of Bank al Etihad, and Chair of Endeavor Jordan
Abdulla Al-Awadi, Head of Change Management at Kuwait International Bank
Ali Badarneh, Chief of the Food Security and Food Systems Unit, UNIDO
Nisreen Barakat, Executive Director of JSF, and Former Minister of Social Development (2012), and Public Sector Development (2011), Jordan
Sunday, 30 October 2022
14:00 - 15:00 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Grand Ballroom (Ground Floor)
Rana Nawas, Founder of When Women Win, Palestine.
Karim Shaaban, Program Director, Levant Region, CIPE.
Zahraa Taher, Board member, Bahrain International Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW)
Rafik Feki, Industrial Development Officer, Division of Digital Transformation and AI Strategies, UNIDO
Lara AL Arab, Entrepreneurship Consultant
Sunday, 30 October 2022
14:00 - 15:00 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Orchid Room (Ground Floor)
Datuk Hafsah HashimDatuk Hafsah Hashim, former CEO of SME Corporation Malaysia
Ambassador José Luis Cancela, Coordinator of the WTO Informal Working Group on MSMES
Farhan Kalaldeh, ESCWA Technology Centre
Sunday, 30 October 2022
15:00 - 16:30 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Lotus Room
This 90-minute session provides an overview of the impact of the current geopolitical and economic context on trade in Arab states, as well as providing practical solutions to help firms make better informed trade decisions, manage geopolitical and market risks, and adapt their business plans in response to shifting market opportunities notably through the Global Trade Helpdesk. It also showcases SME focused programs in the region to help them make the most of global opportunities for stronger resilience and growth.
Osama Makki , Director of International Cooperation, JEDCO
Anna Jankowska-Ericksson , Programme Officer, Trade & Market Intelligence, ITC
Mohammed Khair Obaidat , Executive Director, Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship
Emmanuelle Ganne, Senior Analyst, Economic Research & Statistics Division, WTO
Sunday, 30 October 2022
15:00 - 16:30 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Jasmine Room
Diana Khripko, Cambridge University
Sunday, 30 October 2022
15:00 - 16:30 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Orchid Room (Ground Floor)
Algeria
Jordan
Mauritania
Morocco
Sudan
Syria
United Arab Emirates
Qatar
Yousef Al Abdallat, Vice Chairman, JEDCO
Monday, 30 October, 2022
09:30 - 10:30 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
Format: ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Grand Ballroom (Ground Floor)
This session will showcase inspirational international green businesses and the way in which to mainstream green investments.
Johannes Heeb, Founder of Seecon International GmbH, Switzerland
Ramy Boujawdeh,Deputy General Manager at Berytech, Lebanon
Lieve Fransen, Co-founder of Platform for Transformative Technologies, Belgium
Mohamed Wageih, PRIMA Secretariat Project Office, Spain
Aline Bussmann, Green Businesses Consultant, Germany
Monday, 31 October 2022
11:00 - 12:30 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
Format: ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Grand Ballroom (Ground Floor)
Discussion on various options for supporting SMEs in accessing financial resources, investments, fintech solutions, and funding opportunities
Fares Akkad, Regional Director for META in MENA
Ramez El Serafy, CEO at Flat6Labs, Egypt
Katja Muelheim, CEO of Prestel & Partner, Germany
Mirna Sleiman, Chief Executive Officer of Fintech Galaxy, Lebanon
Adi Ghuneim, Director of Governate Development Fund, Jordan
Valentina Qussisiya, CEO of Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation
Monday, 31 October 2022
14:00 - 15:00 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Grand Ballroom (Ground Floor)
Viridiana Garcia-Quiles, Programme Management Officer, eTrade for Women, UNCTAD
Emad Al Khaja, CEO of Injaz, Qatar
Laila AL Hadhrami, Smart Cities Development Manager in NEC, Oman
Ali Haddad, Director of the Jordan Youth Innovation Forum
Gabriel Petrus, International Chamber of Commerce
Monday, 31 October 2022
14:00 - 15:00 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Orchid Room (Ground Floor)
National Funding programs for local and international SMEs.
David Prais, Chairman of Greater London Investment Fund
David Madié, CEO of GrowthWheel International Inc., Denmark
Farhan Kalaldeh, ESCWA Technology Centre
Monday, 31 October 2022
15:00 - 16:30 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Lotus Room
Joelle Yazbeck, Executive Coordinator of the ICC-ESCWA CoE
Abdelbasset Boulelouah, International Trade Centre
Monday, 31 October 2022
15:00 - 16:30 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Jasmine Room
Maisam Otoum, Project Manager at Cewas
Monday, 31 October 2022
15:00 - 16:30 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Orchid Room (Ground Floor)
Bahrain
Egypt
Kuwait
Oman
Palestine
Saudi Arabia
Tunisia
Elham Abu Nejim , Head of SMEs Unit at JEDCO
Tuesday, 01 November 2022
09:30 - 10:30 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
Format: ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Grand Ballroom (Ground Floor)
This session will showcase and provide an overview of disruptive business models in the past decade.
Joel Dietz, CEO of MetaMetaverse
Youssef Mohamed, Alibaba’s Middle East and Africa Managing Partner
David Madié, CEO of GrowthWheel International Inc., Denmark
Abedalrhman Habashneh, CEO of Decapolis, Jordan
Kristina Podnar, International Consultant on Digital Technology, United States
Tuesday, 01 November 2022
10:30 - 11:30 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
Format: ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Grand Ballroom (Ground Floor)
Discussion about current and future opportunities for SMEs in Immersive technologies, digital services, and e-commerce.
Rudy Shoushany, Founder of CryptoTalks and DxTalks/ Lebanon
Kavya Pearlman, Founder and CEO of XR Safety Initiative ( XRSI)
Asha Easton, Immerse UK
Emmanuelle Ganne, MSMEs and Blockchain Lead, World Trade Organization
Mohab Anis, Chief Executive Officer of Innovety, Egypt
Tuesday, 01 November 2022
12:00 - 13:30 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
Format: ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Grand Ballroom (Ground Floor)
10 min
70 min
10 min
ICC Centres of Entrepreneurship Download
International Trade Centre Download
UfM Forum Download
Impact MENA Download
Jordan Youth Innovation Forum Download
Talal Abu Ghazaleh Global Download