The Social Development Bank (SDB) has announced its participation as a contributing partner at Biban 2023, the Kingdom’s flagship startup and SME conference. Hosted and organized by the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha’at), the event is scheduled to take place from March 9 to March 13, 2023, at Riyadh Front Exhibition & Convention Center.
As one of the leading partners of this year’s conference, SDB represented by a selection of the organization’s executives and spokespeople, which will underline the importance of advancing social development across the Kingdom. The bank will showcase its efforts to empower entrepreneurs and enhance entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia by creating greater access to an extensive suite of financial and non-financial services offerings.
SDB continues to strengthen its relations with the relevant authorities by concluding contracts and signing agreements for entrepreneurs and small and micro businesses.
Over the course of the five-day event, SDB will take part in a range of seminars and panel discussions. SDB CEO, Mr. Ibrahim Al-Rashid, will be joined by several other industry leaders and experts in a panel discussion titled “The Kingdom unites efforts to expand financing for SMEs in Saudi Arabia ”. The panel will provide the SDB CEO the opportunity to spotlight the solutions and financing programs launched by the bank to equip SMEs with the tools to fulfil their potential and succeed, meet targeted sectors’ needs, and raise economic productivity levels.
SDB Business Development Director, Fahad Al-Ashgar, will also participate in a panel discussion exploring opportunities to develop SDB’s services for SMEs, empower male and female citizens’ efforts to enhance the Kingdom’s economic development, and encourage them to manage in their own facilities. The discussion will also outline steps taken by SDB to create job opportunities, enhance its contributions to the Kingdom’s national economy and bolster the economy of the country’s most remote areas and communities.
During the event, SDB will also host a range of workshops, providing free consultations targeting entrepreneurs and training programs — the latter being organized by SDB’s Dulani Business Center.
Furthermore, SDB will participate in Biban Exhibition in 3 stands. The main pavilion, Dulani Business Center and Jaadah 30 will welcome visitors to their dedicated pavilions to learn more about their services, including the bank’s financial and non-financial offerings. These pavilions will showcase SDB’s programs and products, highlighting the success stories of entrepreneurs funded by the bank.
Jaadah 30 participation’s in the exhibition will extend SDB’s work to leverage its resources and transform its parts into various business spaces to support the Kingdom’s entrepreneurial communities and create employment opportunities in the SME sector.
Dulani Business Center will provide integrated packages of support services for enterprises through a diverse range of development programs. The business center will also offer access to capacity building, consulting and training; in addition to constructive professional networks and workshops in specific market sectors to assist entrepreneurs in their projects.
The theme of Biban 2023 being “Attract-Connect-Achieve”, the event aims to promote technical entrepreneurship, raise the digital capabilities of young men and women, and inspire the development of novel ideas and innovations.
The event will host over 300 workshops and 370 speakers, attracting more than 700 entrepreneurs. 120-plus entities are scheduled to take part in and contribute to the conference. Biban23 will also feature the final round of the Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC).
Crucially, the gathering is in keeping with the goals of Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s long-term objective of raising SMEs’ contribution to the nation’s GDP to 35%.
