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Beyond the Crisis: Policies to Support Young Enterprises - Working Group Meeting
4th meeting of MENA-OECD Working Group 2 on SME Policy, Entrepreneurship and Human Capital Development
On 29-30 March 2010, over 100 MENA and OECD policy-makers, representatives of international organisations, local stakeholders and the donor community met to debate how public policy can promote entrepreneurship and support young enterprises in the MENA region.
Specifically, the meeting, “Beyond the crisis: Supporting Young Enterprise”, examined the role for direct and indirect policies to support entrepreneurs through their first three years of development from their inception to establishment, growth and expansion.
Hosted by the OECD in partnership with the Tunisian Ministry of Development and International Cooperation, the event brought together dignitaries and distinguished speakers including:
- H.E. Minister Mohamed Nouri Jouini, Ministry of Development and International Cooperation, Tunisia;
- H.E. Minister Mohamed Agrebi, Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training, Tunisia;
- and high-level experts and private sector representatives from MENA and OECD countries.
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Opening Session : Anthony O’Sullivan (OCDE), le Secrétaire d'État Abdelhamid Triki (Tunisie), Monsieur S.E. le Ministre Mohamed Nouri Jouini (Tunisie) ; S.E. l'Ambassadeur Senen Florensa (Espagne) |
Presentations on Results of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor: Prof. Faysal Mansouri (University of Sousse), Dr. Lois Stevenson (IDRC), et Dr. Rym Ayadi (CEPS) |
On 29 March, delegates to Working Group 2 provided their input to develop a Work Programme to take forward the key recommendations in the Marrakech Declaration adopted at the November 2009 Ministerial Conference where MENA Ministers reiterated their firm commitment to further promote entrepreneurship and SME development.
On 30 March, a public conference brought together a wide audience to share good practices -- from both OECD and MENA economies -- on the first stages of SME development, from schemes to help entrepreneurs start off on a positive trajectory, to ways to confront early difficulties, to strategies for facilitating the transformation of young enterprises to growing companies. Each panel invited a MENA entrepreneur to provide a testimonial on their individual experiences and motivations.
The Working Group meeting was held-back-to-back with the first meeting of the MENA-OECD Women’s Business Network, which examined specific challenges that women entrepreneurs face and brainstorm on ways to overcome them.
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Closing Session : S.E. Ministre Agrebi, Ministère de l'emploi et de la formation professionnelle, Tunisie et M. Antonio Fanelli, OCDE |
For more information contact:
Sara Sultan: Sara.Sultan@oecd.org
Draft Agenda (French /English )
Draft Conclusions (French / English)
Mr. Antonio Fanelli, Deputy Head, Private Sector Development Division, Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs
Mrs. Marie Corman, Administrator, International Affairs, Directorate General Enterprise and Industry, European Commission
Antonio Fanelli, Deputy Head, Private Sector Development Division, Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs
Mariarosa Lunati, OECD
Sara Sultan, Policy Analyst, Private Sector Development Division, Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs
Panel 1:The Embryonic Phase – Taking the Leap
- Ms. Lois Stevenson, Visiting Research Fellow, International Development Research Centre, Middle East/North Africa Regional Office
- Mr. Essam Disi, Manager, Strategy and Policy Department, Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development, Government of Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Panel 2:The Establishment Phase – Embarking on the Journey
- Prof. Stephen Roper, Professor, Warwick Business School, United Kingdom
- Mr. Khalil Ammar, Président-Directeur Général de la Banque de financement des PME (BFPME), Tunisia
- Dr. Dahlia El Hawary, Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of Investment, Egypt
- MENA 100 Business Plan Competition – A project of the MENA-OECD Business Council
Mr. Saїd Kechida, Policy Analyst, MENA-OECD Investment Programme, OECD
Panel 3:The Establishment Phase for Innovative SMEs – A Mix Between Public and Private
- Mrs. Mariarosa Lunati, Principal Administrator, Entrepreneurship Indicators, Statistics Department, OECD
- Mr. Mohamed Ben Abdullah, General Director, Industrial Promotion Agency (API), Tunisia
- Mr. Hussein T. Al-Natsheh, Founder & General Manager, Ciapple, Jordan
Panel 4: The Growth and Expansion Phase
- Mrs. Monica Carco, UNIDO Representative, Tunisia
- Mrs. Douja Gharbi, General Manager, Royal Tapis Expression, DG International, Tunisia
- Mr. Al-Sadok Bejja, SME Development Director, Ministry of Industry and Technology, Tunisia
Conference Conclusions
H.E. Minister Mohamed Agrebi, Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training, Tunisia