The Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED) organized the first edition of the Tawasul Forum in 2020 on Jan. 29 in Abu Dhabi. The forum was attended by a variety of Emirati entrepreneurs, who are both members and applicants of the fund, alongside government entities and strategic partners. The forum was launched by Khalifa Fund to enhance commercial ties between the SME sector and the government and private sectors, to promote the exchange of expertise, and create new job opportunities, alongside introducing SMEs to local and strategic partners.
The Tawasul Forum cultivates a culture in the UAE focused on entrepreneurship, leadership and innovation, alongside seeking to stimulate investment in SMEs locally. The forum also looks to shed light on the projects, products and services which are offered by the Khalifa Fund, as well as establishing dialogue between entrepreneurs and local UAE institutions, including the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), Higher Colleges of Technology, the National Health Insurance Company — Daman, and the Department of Economic Development.
Mouza Al-Nasri, acting CEO of the the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development, said: “We continue to enhance our programs to complement the needs of both the UAE’s entrepreneurial sector, and the national economy. Khalifa Fund regularly organizes the Tawasul Forum, allowing entrepreneurs excellent networking opportunities that can boost their enterprises.
“To encourage innovation and support startups, we organize a range of events that positively impact funded enterprises’ financial performance. Enterprises affiliated with the Khalifa Fund have a 75 percent success rate, compared to a global average of 50 percent, according to our latest study. The 166 enterprises which are affiliated with the Khalifa Fund achieved a total combined revenue of 500 million dirhams in 2018, reflecting their importance in supporting the national economy,” she added.
The forum included a variety of key discussion sessions, focused on augmenting communication between the Khalifa Fund’s local partners and supporting entities, shedding light on how SME owners could overcome obstacles in developing their enterprises.
