For millions of my generation, Russia was never considered as a possible destination — until recently. Be it for business, tourism, academic, medical or other purposes, we opted to visit and explore other countries.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) play a pivotal role in any economy, generating jobs and contributing to growth. Saudi Arabia has long realized the importance of providing a nurturing environment to these entities.

Last week I was invited to participate in a workshop chaired by Yousef Abdullah Al-Benyan, who is CEO of Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) and the president of the B20, a group of businessmen and CEOs representing the 20 countries of the annual G20 summit.

My family, like most families in Saudi Arabia, have had to look after elderly loved ones, going through the ultimate decision of moving bed-bound relatives from hospitals to either homes or specialized long-term medical centers.