The BIBAN 23 Forum, organized by the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha'at), began today in Riyadh with the attendance of several officials: Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Eng. Ahmed bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi, Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs, and Housing Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha, and South Korean Minister of SMEs and Startups, Lee Young. During the inauguration ceremony, Monsha'at Governor Sami Al-Husseini delivered a speech expressing gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, His Royal Highness Prince Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and to the government for their support of the Kingdom's entrepreneurship sector. He noted that this support has contributed to the increase of SMEs and startups to more than 1.141 million in 2022, creating job opportunities for more than 6.2 million people. Al-Husseini also announced that BIBAN 23 will provide a platform with nine doors for entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into tangible businesses and improve their startups. He added that several agreements and initiatives will be launched during the forum to enhance the Kingdom's entrepreneurship environment. He also said that more than 350 entrepreneurs and experts and more than 120 enabling agencies from the public and private sectors will be participating in the forum which, he added, will provide entrepreneurs with the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas and expertise with their peers from all over the world and discuss with decision-makers the challenges they face. The governor also noted that the BIBAN 23 will host the Entrepreneurship World Cup finals and crown winners of the competition, expressing gratitude to all partners and entrepreneurs for their endless support of the global event. The forum is held at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Convention Center under the slogan "Opportunities Create Entrepreneurship" and will feature more than 350 local and international speakers and 750 entrepreneur exhibitors.
