In its interest to support and develop Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through enhancing cooperation between Arab and European states, the Syria Enterprise and Business Centre (SEBC) in cooperation with the Arab Industrial Development Modernization Organization (AIDMO), the Italian Ministry of Economic Development and the Milan Chamber of Commerce with the support of the League of Arab States and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs are preparing to hold the “Euro-Arab Conference to Support Small and Medium Enterprises” during the period July 11 -12, 2011 in Milan, Italy.

The Euro-Arab Conference to Support Small and Medium Enterprises aims to enhance the existing cooperation between Arab and European States for developing the capacities of SMEs, to increase its contribution to the national GDP, to open new job opportunities to overcome the growing unemployment rate in Arab countries, to discuss means of motivating exchange of investments in the SME sector and finally finding solutions to support SMEs through the existing European and Arab funds and financial instruments, maximizing the benefit made from them.

A press conference was held on the occasion of promoting the 2nd session of the conference at the premises of the Arab League in Cairo on 28 April. Secretary General of the Arab League, Mr Amr Moussa, who spoke on his behalf, Ambassador Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Tuwaijri, Assistant Secretary General of the Arab League for Economic Affairs stressed that the conference creates a distinguished initiative to consolidate the cooperation existing for developing small and medium sized industries as they are considered the backbone of the economy of any nation.

On his part, Mr Mohammed Bin-Yousef, Director General of AIDMO, pointed out to the importance of the Arab European cooperation particularly in the SME sector calling for the necessity of reaching consensus between the European and Arab sides to meet the needs of SMEs of both regions taking into consideration, its greater urgency during the current situation witnessed in the region.

Participants of the Euro-Arab Conference to Support Small and Medium Enterprises will be Ministers of economy, trade and industry and their European counterparts, investment agencies, SME and Business support institutions and other related parties, chambers of commerce and industry, business councils and regional economic conglomerates. In addition, funds and financial programmes, export credits, investment and development banks and financial institutions, industrial and commercial companies are expected to take part in the conference.

It is important to mention that SEBC in cooperation with the AIDMO and the SME Support Programme (SSP) which was being implemented by SEBC during the time, organized the 1st session of the conference in February, 2010 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus, Syria. Over 600 participants, including ministers, officials, businessmen and company owners from more than 30 countries participated in the conference. The conference resulted in very important recommendations at an international level for developing SMEs, most importantly:
•    establishing an Arab-Euro Business Council
•    enhancing the role of human recourses in developing Small and Medium Industries through training and rehabilitation
•    supporting innovation and creativity by connecting potential innovative investors through networks of business incubators and start-up support centres
•    establishing an Arab export development centre for supporting SME exports to the EU
•    facilitating access for SMEs to financial products and services through distribution and publication of relevant information on how to access current networks of investors and financiers