LOC23:59
20:59 GMT
KUWAIT, Feb 10 (KUNA) -- Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Thikra Ayed
Al-Rashidi on Sunday opened a business incubator aiming to support the
successful development of females' small enterprises.
The project is developed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor in
collaboration with the Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Planning and
Development (SCPD) and the country office of the United Nations Development
Program (UNDP).
Addressing the opening ceremony, the minister said: "This is the first such
initiative in Kuwait and the Middle East designed to offer logistic and
material support to the female entrepreneurs."
"This project will serve as a nucleus for a chain of business incubators
for young male and female entrepreneurs. The ultimate goal is to tap into the
potentials of the youth and put in play their role in economic development,"
she said.
The minister voiced hope that the project will contribute to creating
better future for the youth and the country, and boosting the woman economic
empowerment.
On her part, Director of the SCPD Division of Technical Cooperation and
Development Support Lana Abu-Eid voiced hope that the adoption of the law on
support to small enterprises will give a quantum leap to the development of
small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
"The SMEs account for up to 70 percent of job creating effort and more than
30 percent of GDP of the Arab countries," she added.
Meanwhile, UNDP Resident Representative in Kuwait Mr. Stein R. Hansen said
the project will empower women economically through offering solutions to the
administrative and bureaucratic problems facing females' enterprises.
Fifty female entrepreneurs have been selected for training under the
business incubator, Hansen added. (end)
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KUNA 102359 Feb 13NNNN