Platform set to encourage Arab youth startups

An annual event to shed light on creative Arab youth startups will debut this October. It has been launched in a bid to enhance engagement between young entrepreneurs and investors from across the Arab world.

Under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, the Arab Youth Centre will organise the 'Arab Youth Startup Marketplace' (AYSM).

AYSM will look to create an ecosystem that nurtures business leadership in creative industries and promote knowledge exchange that results in business growth and prosperity for the Arab youth.

Scheduled to take place in October this year, AYSM will highlight startups within sectors of the creative economy. Startups owned by Arab youth will be invited to participate and present their creative projects to investors and interested businesses to generate as many deals as possible across various sectors, including technology, media, education, health, research and innovation and many more.

Sheikh Mansour said: "We are immensely proud of the capabilities and energy of Arab youth which considerably contribute to developing a sustainable and renewable economy for the region."

He said Arab youth are eager to "lead their own future" and they are indispensable to the region's efforts of building a brighter future for the Arab world in all fields.

"They represent the largest group in Arab communities and so it is imperative for us to work with them to build a system that enables them to lead. We must adopt their ideas and support their growth in order to build an economy based on creativity and knowledge."

Such an economy will greatly contribute to, and positively impact, the gross domestic product of Arab countries, he said.

Looking to the future, Mansour bin Zayed said the event would help create new job opportunities for Arab youth and develop innovative ways to manage businesses.

A number of Arab ambassadors, business professionals and investors from various creative economy sectors will attend to support and invest in Arab youth startups. Partnerships will be announced soon.

Source: Khaleej Times