​​Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the third edition of Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) will be held in Dubai World Trade Centre (DTWC) on December 11 and 12. GES brings together high-ranking policymakers from the MENA region, prominent global business leaders, international financiers and C-level procurement decision makers who have a strong role in the Pan Arab economic ecosystem, in addition to a number of SME pioneers, and representatives of elite companies, as well as individuals who wish to adopt the modern concepts in the development of entrepreneurship in the Arab world. On the occasion of the UAE hosting the event that takes place in the region for the first time, Helal Saeed Almarri, CEO of Dubai World Trade Centre, said: “We are honoured to host the Global Entrepreneurship Summit - Entrepreneurial Ventures of Arabia (GES-EVA), as it comes in line with the thought leadership and wise directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and his commitment to set the necessary foundation to enhance the performance of the small and medium enterprises, and strengthen growth opportunities for entrepreneurs, thus contributing to job creation and spurring innovation.” He added: “We believe that the Global Entrepreneurship Summit - Entrepreneurial Ventures of Arabia (GES-EVA), sets the stage for renewed dialogue and engagement that will empower the growth of the small and medium enterprises sector across the Arab world. “ Almarri explained; “What sets aside this global event is the clear thought leadership that the UAE brings to the forefront with the Entrepreneurial Ventures of Arabia Summit and Exhibition (EVA). Today, the SME sector is a significant factor that contributes to the region’s economies and is a perfect fit to the diversification goals of regional governments.” In this context, Almarri announced DWTC’s commitment to organize EVA in the UAE to support entrepreneurs in the region, as well as create jobs opportunities for them and support the industries that support them. He added: “Participating in the activities of the summit and conference is extremely beneficial for senior executives as well as young entrepreneurs as it provides an exceptional platform for communication.” Mr. Abdulla Al Basti, Vice Chairman of the Organising Committee, said: “The concurrent launch of GES and EVA for the first time in the UAE and the region, reflects the global confidence in the UAE’s ability to provide an ideal environment for investment and supporting projects and enabling creativity and innovation. This comes in line with the UAE’s Vision 2021.” He added: “Organising such events serves as an ideal platform to promote a culture of entrepreneurship while enhancing the creation of sustainable jobs, which provides SMEs the opportunity to communicate as well as deepen the partnerships between the private and public sectors, in turn ensuring sustainable economic development within the country.” The event will feature a Summit, Exhibition and Special Events that together will play a vital role in encouraging youth entrepreneurship, fuelling diversified employment opportunities, and facilitating SME and start-up success by providing access to markets and capital for entrepreneurs across the region. The event will also foster knowledge sharing to strengthen entrepreneurial skills, especially in the SME sector, through insightful conferences, discussions and keynote addresses held in partnership with Abraaj Capital, AllWorld Network, The Aspen Institute, Higher Colleges of Technology, Kauffman Foundation, Wamda and other leading entities. Among the knowledge sessions, GES-EVA includes a debate on ‘Entrepreneurship through the ages,’ focused on the evolution of the entrepreneurial scene globally and what motivates today’s entrepreneurs; panel discussions on ‘Establishing a unified GCC SME system’ and ‘Womenpreneur focus: Thinking big and building big,’ on the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs; and keynote speeches on ‘Transforming Strategy: Creating Shared Value,’ and ‘Building Your Team’s Potential.’