Ministry of Economy teams up with UPS to support UAE’s SMEs

The Ministry of Economy, in collaboration with UPS, a global logistics and shipping company, launched ‘ScaleUp Export’ initiative under the Entrepreneurial Nation, which was launched by the Ministry in November 2021.

Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, said that the UAE, based on the vision of its wise leadership and in line with the ‘Principles of the 50’, continues its efforts to advance the leadership sector and support SMEs, given its role as a key pillar for building a future knowledge- based economy, innovation, diversity, and competitiveness. “The Ministry of Economy, in partnership with various relevant federal and local government entities and in cooperation with the local and international private sector, is working to provide all possibilities for prosperity of entrepreneurship and rapid growth of SMEs that enhance their contribution to the growth of the national economy,” he added.

Bin Touq explained, “The past phase saw the launch of a distinct set of initiatives and programmes under the umbrella of the ‘Entrepreneurial Nation’, which aims to bring about a qualitative shift in the supporting environment for entrepreneurship, start-ups, and SMEs in the UAE and enhance their attractiveness to entrepreneurial projects from around the world, through a series of partnerships with global institutions and companies in various fields. The launch of the ScaleUp Export, in collaboration with UPS, is a continuation and extension of the ‘Entrepreneurial Nation’ initiatives with the aim of supporting its growth and providing the tools and information needed to increase its export volume to foreign markets and develop its business sustainably.” He also noted that the programme is designed to support the strategic target of the Entrepreneurial Nation by providing the catalytic environment for the development and incubation of 20 unicorns in the country by 2031.

The ScaleUp Export programme supports the export capacity of UAE start-ups and SMEs. It also aims at enhancing the access of their products and services to global markets via a range of supportive tools and programmes and through a range of targeted local and international partnerships with relevant sectors.

Registered companies can gain access to a range of experts and advisers in various sectors through the programme. It facilitates technical and legal consultations, as well as special shipping prices. The programme also provides training and mentoring opportunities, conducting technical workshops to increase their exports to global markets. It also provides mentoring and supervisory programmes, and seminars on export target markets.

The Ministry of Economy explained that duly licensed and registered SMEs in a certain emirate can benefit from the services of this programme by registering via the website of the Entrepreneurial Nation using the following link https://theentrepreneurialnation.com//. SMEs have to meet one or more of the following required standards, which will be verified and examined by both the Ministry and UPS: The company must be active in the following sectors: e-commerce, high-tech, or electronics in general. The company must be a manufacturer of one of the following goods: clothing, fashion accessories, consumer electronics, mobile phones, spare parts, machinery parts.- The company must be currently exporting and wants to increase its exports by activating existing products or expanding its markets and sales channels. The company must have high export potential, as each case will be evaluated individually. The company must be exporting weekly or biweekly or plans to do so.

The Ministry of Economy’s National Programme for Small and Medium Enterprises recently held several training workshops for Emirati entrepreneurs and owners of SMEs to highlight the mechanisms of leveraging procurements and tenders presented by the partner entities under this programme through the Government Procurement system. The workshop, which was organised in collaboration with partners, also highlighted the opportunities offered by the programme.

Faisal Al Hammadi, Acting Assistant Under-Secretary for Entrepreneurship and SMEs, stated that the UAE, in line with the leadership’s vision and directives, adopts a strategic approach to advancing national entrepreneurship in being a driver for the country’s future economy and a pillar of the new national economic model based on resilience, diversification and sustainability. It is also in accordance with the ‘Projects of the 50’. Al Hammadi noted that the Ministry of Economy is moving forward with its endeavours and initiatives in partnership with the concerned federal and local government entities, and in cooperation with the local and global private sector and academic and research institutes as well. “The Government Procurement system is an important source of support for Emirati entrepreneurs. Through the training workshops, we seek to increase Emirati entrepreneurs’ market share and enhance their contribution to the national economy by facilitating their access to government procurement transactions presented through the Programme’s platform.