Dubai SMEs supported by millions

Ebtihal Al Naji, Director of the Government Procurement Programme at Dubai SME has said that 'Government departments in Dubai have demonstrated their support to the small and medium enterprises sector by providing procurement contracts worth over Dh40 million in the first half of 2011.' Al Naji said this at a Programme at the annual forum for Government Procurement Programme members, organized by Dubai SME, the agency of the Department of Economic Development, at Dubai SME. "Last year hardly any of the entities were meeting the 5 per cent target, but now everyone is meeting the minimum of 5 per cent and there are a lot of entities who have really showed their support and are much higher," said Al Naji. Some of the leading government departments that supported SMEs through contracts included Dubai Government Workshop, Dubai Police, Financial Audit Department, Dubai Courts, Public Prosecutor, General Administration of Civil Defense and Statistics Center of Dubai. Seven government departments provided contracts worth more than the prescribed 5 per cent with some donating up to 29 per cent of their total budgets during this year. This support came at a moment when SMEs across the world are supported in totality by governments the world over. SMEs offer an opportunity to the middle and poor class segment to prosper through small enterprises.