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Overview

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:

  • Day 1: Opportunities to access markets and global value chains
  • Day 2: Financial opportunities and green growth
  • Day 3: Digitization and disruptive innovation



Daily Schedule

Day 1 | 30 october 2022

Sessions-DAY-1 Download

Day 2 | 31 october 2022

Sessions-DAY-2 Download

Day 3 | 1 November 2022

Sessions-DAY-2 Download

Opening Session

Opening Session



Opening Session
Watch Session

Sunday, 30 October 2022
9:30 - 10:00 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Grand Ballroom (Ground Floor)

Opening note

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H.E. Yousef Alshamali, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, Jordan

Keynote speaker

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Dr. Rola Dashti, Under-Secretary General and the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia

Welcoming note

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H.E. Bisher Al-Khasawneh, Prime Minister of Jordan

Dr. Rola Dashti

Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)

Master of Ceremony

Agenda

Opening Session

Opening Session
Watch Session

Sunday, 30 October 2022
9:30 - 10:30 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Grand Ballroom (Ground Floor)

Opening note

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H.E. Yousef Alshamali, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply, Jordan

Keynote speaker

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Dr. Rola Dashti, Under-Secretary General and the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia

Dr. Rola Dashti

Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)

Master of Ceremony

Day 1: Opportunities to access markets and global value chains

Session 1:Inspirational panel: businesses beyond borders
Watch Session

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.

Speakers

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Mona Ataya, Founder and CEO of Mumzworld.com, and eTrade for Women Advocate

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Abdulaziz B. Al Loughani, Founder and CEO of Flowerd

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Fabio Russo, Chief SME Development and Job Creation Unit, UNIDO

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H.E. Dana Al-Zoubi, Secrtary General Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply, Jordan

Moderator

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Nicole Tannouri, Journalist at MBC.

List of Biographies download

Session 2: Opportunities know-how: how can Arab SMEs integrate into global value chains (GVCs)?
Watch Session
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.

Speakers

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Amer Bukvic, Director-General Global Practice and Partnership at the Islamic Development Bank

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Nadia Al Saeed, CEO, of Bank al Etihad, and Chair of Endeavor Jordan

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Abdulla Al-Awadi, Head of Change Management at Kuwait International Bank

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Ali Badarneh, Chief of the Food Security and Food Systems Unit, UNIDO

Moderator

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Nisreen Barakat, Executive Director of JSF, and Former Minister of Social Development (2012), and Public Sector Development (2011), Jordan

List of Biographies download

Background Note download

Session 3: Regional overviews, and ways forward.
3.1. Overview: How to Scale up SMEs in the Arab Market
Watch Session

Sunday, 30 October 2022
14:00 - 15:00 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Grand Ballroom (Ground Floor)

  • Entrepreneurs and SMEs scaling up in the Arabian Market.
  • Overview of understanding the Arab Consumer.
  • Overview of the performance of the best Franchising businesses in the Arab region?

Speakers

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Rana Nawas, Founder of When Women Win, Palestine.

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Karim Shaaban, Program Director, Levant Region, CIPE.

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Zahraa Taher, Board member, Bahrain International Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW)

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Rafik Feki, Industrial Development Officer, Division of Digital Transformation and AI Strategies, UNIDO

Moderator

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Lara AL Arab, Entrepreneurship Consultant

3.2. Policy dialogue: exchange of experiences – benchmarking the entrepreneurship-enabling environment Part 1: Overview and Inspiring Models
Watch Session

Sunday, 30 October 2022
14:00 - 15:00 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Orchid Room (Ground Floor)

Speakers

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Datuk Hafsah HashimDatuk Hafsah Hashim, former CEO of SME Corporation Malaysia

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Ambassador José Luis Cancela, Coordinator of the WTO Informal Working Group on MSMES

Moderator

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Farhan Kalaldeh, ESCWA Technology Centre

Session 4: Parallel Capacity Building Workshops
4.1. Fostering SME Resilience across Arab States through Accessible Trade Intelligence
Watch Session

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.

Speakers

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Osama Makki , Director of International Cooperation, JEDCO

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Anna Jankowska-Ericksson , Programme Officer, Trade & Market Intelligence, ITC

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Mohammed Khair Obaidat , Executive Director, Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship

Moderator

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Emmanuelle Ganne, Senior Analyst, Economic Research & Statistics Division, WTO

4.2. Developing your strategy using a fast start roadmapping approach
Watch Session

Sunday, 30 October 2022
15:00 - 16:30 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Jasmine Room

Roadmapping is a powerful strategic planning technique that is integral to creating and delivering strategic plans. Its flexibility enables an application for a large variety of scopes: different types of organizations, sectors, a whole business, and a business unit or even for a product or process. This session will introduce you to the IfM’s fast start roadmapping approach and guide you through a hands-on case study, showing how it can help your organisation to align digitalization, sustainability, R&D and commercial objectives, develop a strategy and identify its implementation pathway. You’ll learn about the graphic and collaborative nature of roadmapping and how this facilitates strategic alignment and dialogue between functions from across your organisation.

Speakers

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Diana Khripko, Cambridge University

4.3. Part 1 (continued): Exchanges and showcases from Arab countries
Watch Session

Sunday, 30 October 2022
15:00 - 16:30 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Orchid Room (Ground Floor)

Speakers

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Algeria

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Jordan

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Mauritania

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Morocco

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Sudan

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Syria

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United Arab Emirates

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Qatar

Moderator

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Yousef Al Abdallat, Vice Chairman, JEDCO


Day 2: Financial opportunities and green growth

Session 1: Inspirational panel: green businesses
Watch Session

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.

Speakers

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Johannes Heeb, Founder of Seecon International GmbH, Switzerland

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Ramy Boujawdeh,Deputy General Manager at Berytech, Lebanon

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Lieve Fransen, Co-founder of Platform for Transformative Technologies, Belgium

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Mohamed Wageih, PRIMA Secretariat Project Office, Spain

Moderator

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Aline Bussmann, Green Businesses Consultant, Germany

List of Biographies download

Session 2: Opportunities know-how: how can Arab SMEs improve their access to finance, digital marketing, and eCommerce
Watch Session
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

Speakers

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Fares Akkad, Regional Director for META in MENA

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Ramez El Serafy, CEO at Flat6Labs, Egypt

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Katja Muelheim, CEO of Prestel & Partner, Germany

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Mirna Sleiman, Chief Executive Officer of Fintech Galaxy, Lebanon

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Adi Ghuneim, Director of Governate Development Fund, Jordan

Moderator

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Valentina Qussisiya, CEO of Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation

List of Biographies download

Background Note download

Session 3: Regional overviews, and ways forward.
3.1. Overview: Regional capacity building and support programs.
Watch Session

Monday, 31 October 2022
14:00 - 15:00 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Grand Ballroom (Ground Floor)

  • Overview of Women Supporting Programs in the Arab Region.
  • Mainstreaming Green Businesses in the Arab region.

Speakers

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Viridiana Garcia-Quiles, Programme Management Officer, eTrade for Women, UNCTAD

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Emad Al Khaja, CEO of Injaz, Qatar

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Laila AL Hadhrami, Smart Cities Development Manager in NEC, Oman

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Ali Haddad, Director of the Jordan Youth Innovation Forum

Moderator

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Gabriel Petrus, International Chamber of Commerce

3.2.Policy dialogue: exchange of experiences – national funding support programmes for SMEs Part 2: Overview and Inspiring Models
Watch Session

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.

Speakers

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David Prais, Chairman of Greater London Investment Fund

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David Madié, CEO of GrowthWheel International Inc., Denmark

Moderator

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Farhan Kalaldeh, ESCWA Technology Centre

Session 4. Parallel Capacity Building Workshops
4.1. How to digitize your business and sell online?
Watch Session

Monday, 31 October 2022
15:00 - 16:30 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Lotus Room

Speakers

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Joelle Yazbeck, Executive Coordinator of the ICC-ESCWA CoE

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Abdelbasset Boulelouah, International Trade Centre

4.2. Understand and develop successful green business models.
Watch Session

Monday, 31 October 2022
15:00 - 16:30 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Jasmine Room

Speakers

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Maisam Otoum, Project Manager at Cewas

4.3. Policy Dialogue Part 2 (continued): Exchange and showcases from Arab countries
Watch Session

Monday, 31 October 2022
15:00 - 16:30 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Orchid Room (Ground Floor)

Speakers

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Bahrain

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Egypt

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Kuwait

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Oman

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Palestine

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Saudi Arabia

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Tunisia

Moderator

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Elham Abu Nejim , Head of SMEs Unit at JEDCO


Day 3: Digitization and disruptive innovation

Session 1. ​​Inspirational panel: disruptive technologies and business models
Watch Session

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.

Speakers

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Joel Dietz, CEO of MetaMetaverse

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Youssef Mohamed, Alibaba’s Middle East and Africa Managing Partner

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David Madié, CEO of GrowthWheel International Inc., Denmark

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Abedalrhman Habashneh, CEO of Decapolis, Jordan

Moderator

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Kristina Podnar, International Consultant on Digital Technology, United States

List of Biographies download

Session 2. Opportunities know-how: how to create opportunities for SMEs in disruptive technologies and digitization
Watch Session

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.

Speakers

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Rudy Shoushany, Founder of CryptoTalks and DxTalks/ Lebanon

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Kavya Pearlman, Founder and CEO of XR Safety Initiative ( XRSI)

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Asha Easton, Immerse UK

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Emmanuelle Ganne, MSMEs and Blockchain Lead, World Trade Organization

Moderator

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Mohab Anis, Chief Executive Officer of Innovety, Egypt

List of Biographies download

Closing Ceremony
Watch Session

Tuesday, 01 November 2022
12:00 - 13:30 (Amman Time – GMT+3)
Format: ZOOM/Hybrid
Kempinski Hotel, Grand Ballroom (Ground Floor)

ESCWA Awards: 10 min

  • Announcement of the "Restoring Hope Challenge" Winners.

National and Regional Initiatives: 70 min

  • UNIDO Announcement: StarPack Initiative, Accreditation Program
  • WTO Announcement: MSMEs Informal Working Group Meeting
  • Rising Arab Changemakers Award, Mona Itani, CEO of Riyada Innovation.
  • Regional Partnerships Promotion, H.E. AbedFattah Al-Kayed, CEO of JEDCO.
  • Investment Opportunities in Jordan, Zaher Al Qatarneh, Secretary General, Ministry of Investment, Jordan
  • Launching the ICC-ESCWA Centres of Entrepreneurship

Announcement of the Arab SMEs Summit 2023 10 min

List of Biographies download

Side Events

ICC Centres of Entrepreneurship | 30 october 2022

ICC Centres of Entrepreneurship Download

International Trade Centre | 30-31 October 2022

International Trade Centre Download

UfM Forum | 30-31 October 2022

UfM Forum Download

Impact MENA | 30 October 2022

Impact MENA Download

Jordan Youth Innovation Forum | 30-31 October 2022

Jordan Youth Innovation Forum Download

Talal Abu Ghazaleh Global | 30 October 2022

Talal Abu Ghazaleh Global Download

2. Side Events

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Official Delegates

Opportunities Zone




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(Speaker), Testimonial

SMEs Exhibition

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Media Advisory
Opening Press Release:
Closing Press Release:
Wrap up video:

Participating media

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