Innovation and access to finance take centre-stage at AIM Congress

In a series of high-impact sessions held as part of the ongoing AIM Congress, global experts and thought leaders came together to share transformative insights aimed at unlocking growth, innovation, and financial opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The sessions, featuring interactive discussions and masterclasses, addressed the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship, B2B growth, digital transformation, and Islamic finance for agribusiness.

The Building Investment Ecosystems for SME Growth and Prosperity session explored the frameworks and conditions necessary to unlock capital and scale innovation-driven ecosystems for SME success.

Francesco Bonfiglio, CEO of DYNAMO SpA, emphasised the critical role of data in powering modern technologies and called for a departure from outdated economic models.

He asserted that market trust, not just funding, is key to SME success, urging investors to prioritise sustainable B2B solutions.

Neo Mngomezulu, Managing Director of Zuloo Holdings, highlighted the importance of entrepreneurial mindset, continuous learning, and relationship-building as essential tools for crafting resilient business strategies.

Yousuf Saeed Ahmad Nasser Lootah, Founder and CEO of Lootah Bio Fuel LLC, positioned the UAE as a global leader in green innovation. He encouraged SMEs to align with national sustainability goals to meet rising global demand for clean technologies. The session concluded with a unified call to action: build SME ecosystems that foster trust, enable long-term investment, and create sustainable impact for communities.

The Masterclass: Market Access Strategies - Unlocking B2B Growth Opportunities for SMEs session provided strategic guidance on modernising B2B sales for SME expansion.

ElHusseiny advocated shifting from traditional sales funnels to relationship-driven models, emphasising continuous customer engagement. He introduced proven sales frameworks such as MEDDIC and GPCTBA/C&I, which align sales efforts with client needs and decision-making criteria.

The session mapped the full customer journey, from initial outreach to post-sale communication, and underscored the importance of sales intelligence and tech enablement to target the right leads efficiently. Topics included effective lead qualification, proposal personalisation, budget tracking, and the integration of feedback loops for continuous performance improvement.

The session emphasised that strategic use of data and technology can significantly enhance SME competitiveness in the B2B market.

The Unlocking Finance for Agribusiness SMEs to Accelerate Economic Transformation - Opportunities for Islamic Finance session brought together international experts to discuss the financing challenges and digital transformation opportunities facing agribusiness SMEs, with a spotlight on Islamic finance.

Elias Eliades, Director, Enterprise Greece, showcased Greece’s AI-focused investment strategy supported by over €145 million in EU funding. He noted Greece’s emergence as a key innovation hub with access to both European and Mena markets.

Prof. Fabrizio Dughiero, University of Padova, outlined barriers SMEs face in digital transformation-such as high costs, lack of expertise, and hesitancy toward AI adoption-and emphasised the role of competence centers and public-private partnerships in bridging the gap.

Peter Pal Mogyorósi, CEO, LC Innoconsult, addressed fears around AI replacing jobs and stressed the need for sector-specific AI integration, robust IP protection, and regulatory frameworks to ensure responsible use of emerging technologies. Sonia Fernandez Maas, Director at AMEC, underlined the role of AI in performance monitoring, industrial modernisation, and the importance of collaborative cluster development to drive industrial innovation.

Suresh Sharma, Founder of Open Range Capital Partners and LunaGen.AI, shared a compelling story of producing ventilators in a remote village-highlighting that innovation is possible without large infrastructure, and SMEs can lead sustainable, tech-enabled manufacturing from the grassroots level.

Separately, Stephen Asiimwe, Executive Director of Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), said that economic relations between the UAE and Uganda have witnessed significant growth over the past five years, with the UAE now ranking among the top exporters to the Ugandan market.

In statements to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of the AIM Congress in Abu Dhabi, Asiimwe noted that more than 100,000 Ugandans reside in the UAE, many of whom have established businesses in the country. These ventures are helping to expand their commercial reach from the UAE to the Middle East and beyond. He also highlighted the daily flights between the two countries, which play a key role in boosting trade, investment, and business connectivity.

Speaking on innovation, Asiimwe pointed out that Uganda has a large youth population, with individuals under the age of 35 making up nearly 75% of the total population. This presents a highly capable human resource base that UAE companies can engage with to develop sectors such as technology and entrepreneurship.

WAM