The director general of the ministry of economy and trade (MoE&T), Alya Abbas, uncovered yesterday the ministry’s intention to activate coordination with various universities in order to invest in youth potentials for the aim of building a better economic future. Abbas was speaking at the Annual Entrepreneurship Competition ‘USEK New Venture Challenge’ organized by the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK) where she represented minister Raed Khury. Abbas disclosed that studies prepared by her ministry have shown that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) make 93% to 95% of the total establishments operating in Lebanon. She mentioned the main challenges facing SMEs, including, mainly: barriers to growth especially regarding SMEs that are incapable of making a transition to advanced stages of growth or those that face high risks in long-term sustainability; slow economy; a business environment in constant turmoil; fiscal and economic instability, and lack of cross-institutional coordination, and finally, sluggishness at the level of initiatives. Abbas called for increased cooperation and integration between the private and public sectors, notably in the academic sector. This, she underlined, requires the launch of novel disciplines and centers for the training of students on principles of entrepreneurship, as well as, kicking off specialized centers inside universities to assist young entrepreneurs in starting their projects and provide them with the knowledge necessary to establish them. (Al Mustaqbal, April 27, 2017)