Doha, Qatar - 18 to 20 November 2024
What: Under the patronage of Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the Qatar Development Bank (QDB) are organizing the third Arab Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Summit and the tenth edition of the Rowad Entrepreneurship Conference 2024 (ASMES-Rowad 2024), under the theme "Navigating Digital Horizons."
When: From Monday 18 to Wednesday 20 November 2024.
Where: Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, Doha, Qatar.
Who: Keynote speakers at the opening session on 18 November at 9:00 a.m. Doha time:
- Representative of the Qatari Government and QDB,
- Chairman of the Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGFUND) Prince Abdul Aziz bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, and
- UN Under-Secretary-General and ESCWA Executive Secretary Rola Dashti.
For the agenda and more details, click here.
The joint event will feature high-level participation from across the region, gathering over 1,300 participants, including inspiring Arab SMEs, business incubators, investors, business influencers, regional leaders, policymakers, as well as representatives from international and non-governmental organizations, donors, and media outlets.
Why: The three-day event aims to provide a regional platform dedicated to supporting SMEs and empowering Arab entrepreneurs to keep pace with global technological developments. It will focus on six strategic pillars reflecting economic priorities and future trends that contribute to stimulating growth and fostering innovation in the region.
It will also feature diverse activities and sessions, including discussions on digital technologies and advanced strategies, inspiring success stories, interactive workshops, policy dialogues, exhibitions showcasing companies and opportunities, training and mentorship sessions, networking meetings, agreement signings, and more.
Media colleagues who wish to physically attend the event and cover its activities should liaise with the ESCWA Communication Unit to make the necessary arrangements:
