Young Entrepreneur Competition Brings Spotlight On Entrepreneurial Talent In Ras Al Khaimah

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of Dubai’s Executive Council, the Young Entrepreneur Competition (YEC 2013), organised by Dubai SME, the agency of the Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai mandated to develop the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, is moving to Al Hamra Mall in Ras Al Khaimah after a grand opening and four days of successful run in Abu Dhabi.

Supported by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs as the main sponsor and Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone as a silver sponsor, the competition will run for another four days in Al Hamra Mall, 10-13 April, with students from Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah showcasing their entrepreneurial projects in designated kiosks across the mall.

Dubai SME organises YEC with the objective of inculcating entrepreneurial spirit among students in public and private secondary schools and universities across the UAE. The annual event, currently in its ninth cycle, is being held in Ras Al Khaimah for the first time.

Abdul Baset Al Janahi, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai SME, commented: “The Young Entrepreneur Competition has had a remarkable run so far after a successful take-off in Abu Dhabi. The response from the student community underlines the stature the competition has attained as an ideal platform for student creativity and innovation and we thank the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone for their support in expanding the event to Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah this year.”

“The Young Entrepreneur Competition has evolved into a catalyst for entrepreneurship promotion and attracting our youth to the entrepreneurial fold. With a bigger and better event this year more students across the country will have the opportunity to take their first steps into the world of business and playing a part in the social and economic growth of the country,” added Nisrin Mohammed Al Harmoodi, General Coordinator of YEC.

“Al Hamra Mall is proud to be associated with Dubai SME in supporting the Young Entrepreneur Competition. This will be the first time that the event will take place in the Northern Emirates, Ras Al Khaimah. Such initiatives are providing the right encouragement to the future generations to develop entrepreneurial skills and apply their knowledge towards the advancement of UAE on a local and global platform. We are looking forward to the competition and providing any required assistance in making this a continued success year on year,” said Mr. Wesam Aldora, Manager, Al Hamra Mall.

Food and beverage outlets in Al Hamra Mall have announced special discounts for YEC participants during the four days of the competition. Participants can avail of the discounts at Chinese Connection (20 per cent on a la carte menu), Feast International Buffet (20 per cent), Lebanon Express Restaurant (10 per cent) and Oliva Iranian Italian Restaurant (10 per cent) by producing their YEC badges.

The competition is an opportunity for participants to test-launch their entrepreneurial ideas and skills in the real world of business while also learning the basic principles of starting and operating a business. High school (grade 10) and university students in the age group of 15-25 years can participate in the event.

A jury comprising of specialists from Dubai SME and external agencies will evaluate the projects and shortlist the best 100 before selecting the final winners. Creativity, innovation, marketing and customer service are the key criteria in selecting the winners. The winners will be honoured later by Dubai SME. Students in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman will compete in Dubai from 17-20 April.

The competition will feature a range of projects spanning fashion, fine arts, handicrafts, traditional or heritage products, health products (excluding medicines), environmental awareness products (recycling, renewable energy), educational material (games, tools, modern teaching aids), interior design, cultural activities, and information technology.

For more information on YEC 2013, call 800 SME (763) or email www.yec.ae. YEC 2013 is also on www.facebook.com/yecuae, www.twitter.com/yecuae, and www.youtube.com/yecuae.

Emirate:  Ras Al Khaimah

Date: Apr 8, 2013

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