INSEAD, the leading international business school, hosted today its second capacity-building training session under the Leadership Programme and Empowerment of the Youth Initiative organised by the "University Leadership Consortium in the UAE", to both discuss the impact of economic policies on the success and viability of SMEs and provide future young leaders and decision-makers on the various strategies of decision-making.

The capacity-building training session targeted a group of distinguished graduates in areas of entrepreneurship, business administration and innovation from the "BUNYAN" initiative, launched recently by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, during the annual Arab Knowledge Forum in Dubai.

The session started with a keynote address delivered by Tirad Mahmoud, CEO of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, who highlighted the vital role of small and medium enterprises, which serve as key drivers of the UAE economic growth and development. He also recognised the role of government and financial institutions in supporting SMEs' growth and he addressed both the potential challenges and the key factors in ensuring the viability and success of SMEs within the UAE.

In her inaugural speech, Professor Nada Mourtada-Sabbah, Secretary-General of the University Leadership Consortium in the UAE, expressed the gratitude and pride of The Consortium in seeing so many leading figures from industry and government lend their time and expertise to enhance the initiatives aiming at the empowerment of the youth within the UAE and support the joint educational and capacity-building endeavours of The Consortium in this regard. Dr. Mourtada-Sabbah emphasised the importance of these capacity-building training programmes to support the process of sustainable national development and foster young talents and competencies to drive economic and social growth, in the spirit of the "BUNYAN" initiative strategy aimed at supporting young and preparing them to be the future leaders in the UAE and contribute to the country's development and progress. Professor Mourtada noted that INSEAD which had been ranked by the Financial Times as the number one business school of the world was certainly the venue par excellence to contribute to the enhancement of joint capacity-building efforts with The Consortium.

The panel discussions saw the participation of Abdullah Saeed Al Darmaki, Chief Executive Officer of Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, who addressed the challenges and opportunities facing young entrepreneurs in the UAE, as well as relevant illustrations from the key success stories of the Emirati youth with the support of the Khalifa Fund.

Providing a thorough analysis of the ingredients that could stimulate the success of such entrepreneurial activities and the hurdles that the SMEs could face along the way, Al Darmaki expressed pride in the talent and sense of innovation displayed by Emirati youth in the many entrepreneurial undertakings being brought to the Khalifa Fund over the past years.

The round tables and panel discussions also included insightful contributions from leading figures from industry. Discussions focused on best ways and strategies to provide opportunities that empower young talents, help them contribute in building the UAE knowledge society, and enhance their role in shaping the nation's promising future.

Miguel Lobo, Director of INSEAD Abu Dhabi, concluded the session by offering an address on the various models and strategies of decision-making. He expressed his thanks and appreciation to all leading participants from industry and key foundations, emphasising the role of such capacity-building and training programmes in supporting the UAE's talent hubs and the competencies and empowerment of the youth by encouraging them to take the first steps by their innovative entrepreneurial activities toward building a continued bright future of our nation.

Source:WAM