The Arab region has the highest percentage of youth population that is not utilized; therefore, it is important to put this "demographic wealth" into use to help pushing the economic wheel forward, Deputy chairperson of women affairs committee Sheikha Hissah Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah stressed Tuesday. Sheikha Hissah, who is also Chairperson of Council of Arab Businesswomen, said in her opening speech at the fourth small and medium enterprises (SMEs) conference and exhibition being held in Bahrain that small and medium businesses are a successful economic prototype which enhances the social and economic development in many communities. She added that small and medium enterprises contribute by merely 20 percent of the economy of any country in the Arab region. Therefore, these endeavors should be encouraged to eliminate unemployment and improve living conditions. Recent international reports state that the rate of unemployment in the Middle East and North Africa has reached 25 percent. It is expected to hike up to 27 percent by 2017. Reports also indicate that unemployment in the Arab region is structural, not seasonal. Sheikha Hissah has received a medal from International Federation of Business and Professional Women for electing her as ambassador of goodwill in the Gulf region. The three-day conference is by Bahrain Small and Medium Enterprises Society under the theme of "Entrepreneurial Ecosystem for SMEs in GCC."