WAM Abu Dhabi, May 29th, 2012 (WAM) -- The activities of the second Sharaka Forum kicked off today at Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi in order to activate the role of Governmental Sector in supporting the small and medium-sized enterprise (SMEs).

The Forum is organized by Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development and with participation of more than 50 governmental and semi-governmental entities in Abu Dhabi and will be attended by Executives from various Governmental entities.

"The Forum aims in activation the role of Governmental sector and large national companies in supporting the national small and medium enterprise which are under the umbrella of Khalifa Fund, and that is part of Khalifa Fund's dedication to create the best environment for this projects and to help them to grow and succeed", said Abdullah Saeed Al Darmaki the Chief Executive Officer of Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development in his opening speech.

"The support of SMEs in promoting and marketing its products will reduce the risk factors it may face which will lead for its success and growth, granting a rate of the total government purchasing amount for those projects will assist them to improve the quality for their products due to their obligation to meet the entity's specifications and standers, as well as will empower its competitive ability in the local market", he added.

"We encourage all governmental and semi-governmental entities as well as the large companies in the public and private sectors to provide all the needed support and encouragement for the SMEs by giving them the chance to grow and develop which will have a valuable impact to the national economy", explained Al Darmaki.

The Forum provides a real opportunity for a number of the owner of SMEs to present their services and productsin front of decision makers and heads of purchasing departments in several governmental entities as well as the large national companies which will enrich the communication channels between the SMEs and the said entities.

During the Forum, which was attended by a number of Executives and heads of purchasing departments from different governmental entities, four MoUs were signed between Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development and Fujairah Municipality, Fujairah Tourism and Antiquities Authority (FTAA), Mubadala Development Company and Etihad Airways.

The MoUs are mainly about the methods of supporting the SME sector by providing them with facilities and exemptions for project bids as well as priority to enter tenders, all of which are aimed at enriching the performance of these projects.

Al Darmaki signed MoU with Saeed Al Samahi the General Manager of Fujairah Tourism and Antiquities Authority in which the authority will be obliged to provide the recommendations and facilities for the projects funded by Khalifa Fund and working in tourism sector.

On the other hand, Mohamed Mater Al Shamsi the Sr. Manager of Enterprise Development '&' Support Department in Khalifa Fund singed MoU with Abdulla Al Hantoubythe Deputy General Manager of Fujairah Municipality in which the municipality will be obliged to exempt the projects funded by Khalifa Fund partially or completely from the municipality fees.

In addition to that, Al Shamsi and Adel Al Mulla the Vice President of Procurement and Logistics in Etihad Airlines signed MOU, in which Etihad Airlines will be obliged to provide a patch of facilities for the projects funded by Khalifa Fund which includes: registering those projects in the suppliers book, exemption from the registration fees, giving the priority in participating in the tenders as well as reduce the repayment period for them to the half.

Al Shamsi also signed MoU with Nasir Al Nabhani, Associate Director of Corporate Support Services at Mubadala Development Company, in which Mubadala will provide facilities and exemptions to SMEs or companies supported by Khalifa Fund to participate in bids for different types of Mubadala projects.

"The Khalifa Fund's efforts to support Emirati entrepreneurship and the growth of local enterprise across the UAE are having a significant positive impact on the wider economy. As Mubadala continues to pursue investment and development opportunities within key sectors, the growth of a robust ecosystem to support Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises is critical. We are therefore delighted to partner with the Khalifa Fund through this Memorandum of Understanding, the signing of which demonstrates Mubadala's firm commitment to providing opportunities for SMEs to thrive in the future", said Al Nabhani.

"The efforts given by the entities that singed the MoUs with Khalifa Fund are very valuable because these initiatives are coming in line with the Government of Abu Dhabi directions to support all the categories of SMEs which all will lead to the benefit of the local economy. We also encourage all large local companies as well as the governmental entities to take similar initiatives and give the needed support which will grantee the sustainability and growth of the SMEs", commented Al Darmaki on the MoUs.

Khalifa Fund also organized an exhibition on the side of the Forum in which about 40 projects funded by Khalifa Fund in different sectors present in order to show the decision makers in the governmental entities their services and products which will empower the communication channels between them and will help the projects to promote for their products in effective way. The representatives of the governmental entities roam in the exhibition and listen to the explanation given by the owner of the projects about the services and products they are given.

In addition, there was an announcement during the exhibition for the four contracts which were given to Khalifa Fund's applicants. ADNOC Distribution signed a contract with the Swiss Bakery in which the Swiss Bakery will distribute its products in ADNOC stations. Where ADAC signed a contract with the Designer in which the Designer will design the outdoor advertisements for ADAC. On the other hand, ADNEC signed two contracts with our applicants; the first contract was with Zone Group in which they will be responsible of the promoting for IDEX in Jordan, Egypt and GCC, while the second contract was given to the Designer.

Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development singed more than 20 Memorandum of Understanding with governmental and federal entities aiming to create the appropriate environment for the projects funded by Khalifa Fund which exceed 370 projects up to date.

WAM/AM