Small enterprises conference wraps upThe Road Ahead [Archives:2002/25/Business & Economy]

Taiz Chamber of Commerce & Industry organized the first conference on developing small enterprises held on June 9-10. It was hosted by the al-Saeed Foundation for Science & Culture in cooperation with Yemeni-German Small Enterprises Promotion.
Participants stressed the importance of establishing industrial complexes for small enterprises, support in marketing and organizing exhibitions nationally and internationally. The role of the private sector and local councils in rendering care to developing small enterprises was also highlighted.
The conference also recommended strengthening commercial courts to settle disputes and focus on developing technical education and vocational training.
Papers were presented by many businessmen, industrialists and economists to assist in the development process. The role of women in this sector was brought up by many participants.
A need for a higher committee to promote small enterprises and to be responsible for providing technical assistance and finding new funding was acknowledge at the conference.
The conference benefited from the successful experiences of other Arab countries in the establishment of a small enterprises promotion fund. Capital of the proposed fund can be obtained by assistance and grants contributed by international donors to Yemen.
In the concluding meeting, Dr. Ahmed Hayel Saeed, chairman of Taiz Chamber of Commerce & Industry, delivered a speech in which he stressed that Yemen is one of the developing countries in dire need to support small enterprises.
This is because we have a high population growth and a high number of graduates combined with high unemployment rates, said Dr. Saeed.
He added that this situation relies on the government and donors to cooperate to support small enterprises.
The Taiz chairman of Commerce & Industry called on all relevant government and international agencies and donors to give a hand to support the establishment of a small enterprise complex in Taiz. This would be a significant step forward to boost small enterprises business in Yemen. The idea of the Taiz small enterprise complex was conceived in 1986, but unfortunately nothing has been done since.

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