A three-day youth conference titled “Arab youth and entrepreneurship: holistic approaches to nurturing local ecosystems” discussed strategies and lessons in promoting youth entrepreneurship.
Held under the patronage of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar Foundation, and organised by Silatech and Arab Urban Development Institute (AUDI), the conference brought together over 350 leading entrepreneurs, government officials, researchers, NGOs, corporate executives, youth leaders and the media to seek synergies and complementarities in entrepreneurship interventions from the region.
In his keynote address, leading entrepreneur and founder and vice chairman of Aramex, Fadi Ghandour said: “It is of utmost importance to offer young people the needed backing and right environment that will encourage them to build their future with their own hands and support their projects, noting the positive difference this support will have on the lives of the young
entrepreneurs.”
He stressed the vital role the private sector can have in supporting the social and economic development in the countries and societies in which they
operate.
Dr Tarik M Yousef, chief executive officer, Silatech, said: “The problems young people face in our region cannot be solved by governments alone. The same can be said for the private sector and for civil society. Adequate solutions to the challenge of youth employment will require sustained and serious effort on the part of all three, as well as co-ordination among them to broaden and deepen the impact of interventions.”
Dr Abdulsalam al-Sulaiman, director, child and youth programme at AUDI, commented: “Arab cities, towns and municipalities need to be at the forefront of efforts to encourage entrepreneurship and address unemployment for young Arabs — but they need the full support and participation of both the private sector and NGOs as well.”
During the conference, leading social entrepreneurs and technologists showcased examples of how innovative approaches can promote positive social good while maintaining financial sustainability. The day’s final sessions focused on innovative approaches to working with youth, as well as how to maximise social impact by mobilising multi-sectoral collaboration. The conference was organised in partnership with the Global Partnership for Youth
Employment and the World Bank.