During the 4th Arab Forum for Small and Medium-sized EnterprisesAl-Mutawakel: 95 percent of Yemeni Enterprises are Small and Medium sized [Archives:2007/1107/Business & Economy]

By: YemenTimes Staff
The recent forum for Small and Medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Arab World has highlighted a number of issues concerning SMEs in the region, in order to modernize the nature and role of SMEs in economic development and participation in the region, and also reduce the negative effects of globalization.

The Forum aimed at diagnosing obstacles and key challenges facing the small and medium industries in the Arab region, in the light of global developments. And create a scientific visualizations to deal with those challenges, and to encourage creativity and innovation and individual initiative in the Arab countries, reduce unemployment by creating job opportunities in the Arab world.

For his part, Minister of Trade and Industry, Yahya Mutawakil, urged Arab governments to increase funding to small and medium industries and consider simplifying procedures and the completion of regulatory and legislative aspects. He also highlighted the impact of globalization and economic developments linked to oil prices and the dollar value on the economies of small structures in the Arab countries including Yemen, calling on everyone to deal responsibly with these developments through the exchange views and suggestions to improve the environment of this type of industries.

The Minister of Industry and Trade reiterated the importance of small and medium industries, which said it represents 95% of the total enterprises in Yemen, in addition to providing employment to 45 percent of the work force. He said: “Governments interested in the issue of funding in order to create jobs to reduce unemployment and for poverty alleviation.”” Adding that the existence of a specific timetable to increase bank lending