Page 507 - MOE ENGLISH PR - APRIL 2024

4/25/24, 3:43 PM Ministry of Economy organizes ‘National Forum for SMEs - Government Procurement’ forum
procurement efforts,” said H.E. Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry
of Economy.

The Undersecretary added: “The forum enhances the Government Procurements for

Local SMEs performance indicator launched by the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry
of Finance in June of last year to gauge the level of commitment by federal entities to

allocate a specific percentage as mandated by Federal Law no. 2 of 2014 on SMEs. It

stipulates that 10 per cent of the total value of contracts and tenders must be allocated for
members of the National Program for SMEs. The limit is five percent for government

companies where the federal government holds 25% or more of the shares.”

In his speech at the forum, H.E. urged Emirati entrepreneurs to join the National Program

for SMEs and benefit from the advantages it offers. H.E. noted that this move would

contribute to the growth of their businesses and enhance their participation in government
procurement.

The forum showcased contracts and tenders from over 30 federal entities and national
companies, totaling more than AED 2.3 billion in value, available for small and medium

enterprises. These entities utilized digital platforms to present the terms of the tenders and

contracts directly to Emirati entrepreneurs and forum attendees, offering them guidance
and support. Additionally, various initiatives supporting Emirati SME-owners were

introduced during the event. The forum also featured seven diverse dialogue sessions

with a total of 26 speakers participating in discussions.

The first session titled ‘Policies, legislation and initiatives to support SMEs’ showcased a

number of objectives outlined in Federal Law no. 2 of 2014 concerning SMEs. It

emphasized their role in driving the growth of Emirati SMEs, while also exploring the
means to further cooperation and forge partnerships between relevant government

entities. The session was attended by H.E. Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of
the Ministry of Economy; and H.E. Younis Haji Al Khoori, Undersecretary of Ministry of

Finance.

The second session, titled ‘Inspiring stories in the world of government tenders’
highlighted a collection of success stories from owners of national SMEs. Attendees had

the opportunity to hear about the challenges and obstacles that these entrepreneurs
encountered while securing bids and tenders from government entities, along with the

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