Prince Mohammed bin Salman College (MBSC) of Business & Entrepreneurship, the first educational institution in Saudi Arabia dedicated to entrepreneurial development, hosted the Kingdom’s first-of-its-kind SME Forum. The event was held at King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) with MBSC as the knowledge partner and was attended by entrepreneurs and owners of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
The event was held as part of a strategic partnership with the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and attracted more than 400 participants from the health, education, technology, retail, real estate, consulting, and food and beverage industries among others.
Dedicated to building connections between SMEs, the event featured rotational networking, speed networking and mentor networking as well as digital networking, in which participants developed a one-minute video pitch to promote their business.
The forum was attended by Turki bin Abdul Majeed Al-Sulaimani, deputy governor of the authority, as well as by Bandar Arab, director of SMEs Center at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), and Walla Nahas, economic development consultant.
“The SME Forum 2017 is part of MBSC’s and KAEC’s shared commitment to supporting and embracing small and medium-sized companies in recognition of their key role in Saudi Vision 2030,” said Fahd Al-Rasheed, vice-chair of the board of trustees for MBSC, and group CEO and managing director of KAEC. “SME Forum 2017 redefines what forums are all about, making networking the primary goal and helping entrepreneurs and owners of SMEs get together, share experiences and build solid business relationships and partnerships.”
SMEs are a significant driver of economic growth, job creation and innovation and in many countries form more than 90 percent of all business operations.
KAEC is a key enabler for the SME sector and a major contributor to the successful outcome of Vision 2030.
KAEC currently has more than SR6 billion in projects under implementation, providing many opportunities for SMEs to participate in the growth of the city.
Officially inaugurated last year, MBSC is the first institution of higher education in Saudi Arabia to focus on developing entrepreneurial leadership skills for students entering government, businesses and civil society.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman College, KAEC partner to host SME Forum 2017
Prince Mohammed bin Salman College, KAEC partner to host SME Forum 2017
25,000 attend Social Development Bank’s DeveGO25 forum
The Social Development Bank concluded the second edition of the Entrepreneurship and Modern Business Practices Forum — DeveGo 2025 — announcing the achievement of high-impact outcomes that further reinforced the forum’s position as the largest national platform in the region dedicated to entrepreneurship, innovation, and freelance work in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
The forum witnessed broad participation from local and international experts, investors, entrepreneurs, and representatives of local, regional, and international institutions.
Over three days at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, the forum drew 25,000 participants and visitors, who benefited from over 45 specialized workshops and over 2500 advisory sessions delivered by more than 70 consultants and experts.
The sessions covered key areas including entrepreneurial planning, business models, venture capital, digital platforms, freelancing, and emerging technologies.
The forum also featured 20 panel discussions with leading local and international speakers, addressing major global trends in entrepreneurship, including the future of artificial intelligence, the creative economy, digital transformation, and venture investment.
The forum saw the launch of the Saudi Empretec Fellowship, in the presence of Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development.
The partners in success within the Social Responsibility Portfolio supporting entrepreneurs were honored.
It also saw the honoring of 13 winners of the Handicrafts Competition, representing various regions of the Kingdom, the announcement of winners of the Salam Award for Promising Projects, and the recognition of leading entrepreneurial projects fund under the Enterprises Track.
In addition, the NEXT UP Challenge concluded on the third day of the forum with 20 startups presenting their projects to more than 500 investors, enhancing opportunities for networking and partnership building.
As part of efforts to strengthen the support ecosystem, the forum witnessed the signing of 51 agreements, along with the launch of a suite of new financing products. These included the Capital Expansion Product with a ceiling of up to SR10 million, the Payroll Product with a ceiling of SR2 million, and the Rental Product with a ceiling of SR1.5 million, aimed at supporting enterprises in asset development and covering operational costs.
This reflects the bank’s direction toward offering more specialized financing tools that respond effectively to market needs.
The forum concluded by reaffirming its role as a unifying national platform for entrepreneurship, where accompanying activities and events provided direct engagement opportunities between entrepreneurs, investors, and experts.
The forum also highlighted success stories and practical experiences that reflect the scale of entrepreneurial momentum in the Kingdom and the growing role of the Social Development Bank in supporting a national economy driven by innovation and knowledge.
