Dubai SME And Ministry Of Finance Host Awareness Workshop On Federal Government Purchases
Dubai SME, the agency of the Department of Economic Development (DED) mandated to develop the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, hosted a workshop in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Finance to create awareness among Dubai SME members on federal government purchases and the modalities involved.
The workshop followed the recent decision of the Federal Cabinet, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, directing federal government bodies and ministries to allocate 10 per cent of their annual purchases for SME projects set up by Emirati youth. The Ministry of Finance is the government body in charge of the centralised purchasing of federal government entities.
“Dubai SME has been successfully running a Government Purchasing Programme (GPP) as part of our initiatives to help SMEs market their capabilities and cement their position as key contributors to the national economy. Since its launch GPP has helped local SMEs win AED 1.5 billion worth of procurement contracts from government entities,” commented Ibtihal Al Naji, Senior Manager in charge of GPP at Dubai SME.
“In 2012 alone, Dubai SME members won AED250 million worth of government procurement contracts. We expect this value to increase by at least 30 per cent in 2013 as a result of the decision of the Federal Cabinet,” added Al Naji.
The workshop was the first phase of an awareness building programme Dubai SME plans to implement in association with all stakeholders. Participants in the workshop were briefed on the e-purchasing and tendering processes of federal government bodies and sources of updated information on government purchases.
Over 100 members of Dubai SME attended the workshop, in addition to officials from the Ministry of Finance and Dubai SME. “Dubai SME members have substantial experience working with the local government bodies and meeting their purchase requirements. Widening the field to include all federal government bodies and SMEs nationwide will support Emirati entrepreneurs and entrepreneurialism in moving to the next level of competitiveness and healthy competition,” Al Naji added.
Emirate: Dubai
Date: Mar 12, 2013
Back