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
LuLu marks Founding Day with ‘Made in Saudi’ campaign
The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources honored LuLu Hypermarket in recognition of its pivotal role as the exclusive retail partner of the “Najoud Bikhairna 2026” initiative, commending its continued efforts in supporting and empowering national industries while showcasing the quality and competitiveness of locally manufactured products.
The initiative, led by the ministry in partnership with the Saudi Export Development Authority, represented by the Made in Saudi program, stands as a pioneering model of public-private sector collaboration in activating community-driven initiatives with sustainable impact. Through this program, more than 280,000 Saudi-made products were distributed to 10,000 families across various regions of the Kingdom during the holy month of Ramadan, reinforcing the presence of national products and strengthening the values of social solidarity among individuals and institutions alike.
The ministry’s recognition of LuLu Hypermarket coincided with the official launch of its Saudi Founding Day celebrations at the Dharat Laban branch in Riyadh, marked by the unveiling of a comprehensive promotional campaign dedicated to Saudi-made products. On this occasion, a wide range of special offers was introduced on local products, available across all LuLu Hypermarket branches throughout the Kingdom.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Mohammed bin Dayel, general supervisor of the Made in Saudi program at the Saudi Export Development Authority, and Mohamed Haris, director of LuLu Saudi Arabia, alongside members of LuLu’s executive management team. The event featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the specially designed Founding Day gateway.
Following the inauguration, guests toured several dedicated zones and exhibitions highlighting national products. The tour commenced at the grocery and “Made in Saudi” consumer goods sections, showcasing the diversity and quality of local brands. It also included the “Made in Saudi” dates pavilion, presenting a premium selection of the finest locally sourced dates in celebration of one of the Kingdom’s most iconic national symbols.
The visit continued to the fruits and vegetables section under the theme “From Our Land,” featuring an exceptional assortment of Saudi agricultural products, reflecting the richness and excellence of the local agricultural sector. Guests also explored the LuLu private label corner, which features products exclusively manufactured within the Kingdom for LuLu, reaffirming the company’s commitment to supporting local manufacturing.
The tour concluded with a presentation of “Made in Saudi” products within the chilled and frozen categories, underscoring the rapid growth and qualitative advancement of the Kingdom’s food manufacturing sector, and further reinforcing the strong market position and competitiveness of Saudi products.
