New strategy to support SMEs and women’s work towards 2020

The Minister of Economy and Trade, Alain Hakim, launched yesterday the "Lebanese Strategy to support SMEs: A roadmap towards 2020"and which includes 40 initiatives, categorised by priority, and will be implemented in three stages starting now and until 2020.  Hakim noted in his address during the event that his Ministry has placed the issue of supporting SMEs on top of its priorities.  In line with this, the Ministry, in collaboration with the UNDP and the private sector, went ahead in preparing this strategy which will seek to strengthen the opportunities of setting up efficient SMEs that are capable of competing in order to create job opportunities as well as develop an economy that has an added value. The regional representative of UNDP, Luca Renda, noted that 93 to 95% of these companies employ hundreds of thousands of individuals and provide employment opportunities for many Lebanese.  He added that Lebanon currently needs to create 23000 new jobs per year to absorb university graduates and thus, helping SMEs will contribute to creating adequate opportunities for young people, and strengthen the role of women in the world of work.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Diyar 17 December 2014