Dubai SME, the agency of the Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai mandated to develop the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, has invited school students in the UAE and college students across GCC to register for the 11th cycle of the Young Entrepreneur Competition (YEC). Students can register for YEC on the website www.dubaiec.ae till February 1, 2016. Young Entrepreneur Competition 2016 will be held from March to April 2, A2016 at the Dubai Festival City. Held as part of the Dubai Entrepreneurship Carnival program of Dubai SME, the Young Entrepreneur Competition is intended to provide opportunities for students to translate their business ideas into projects and gain experience in the various aspects of operating a business, including buying and selling, and dealing directly with customers. Students from schools and public as well as private universities will manage their businesses and sell products to real clients in a competitive environment during the four days of the Competition. Products sold at YEC will come from the health, fine arts, cultural, fashion, design, interior, education and environmental segments in addition to traditional products. Launched in 2005, YEC was conceived in line with the vision of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai to nurture the entrepreneurial traditions of the UAE by identifying and promoting entrepreneurial spirit from a young age. "Dubai SME aims to provide a broad platform for entrepreneurs to boldly display their skills in investment and business, eventually evolving into successful businessmen and leaders. The Young Entrepreneur Competition is a valuable tool in building a generation of confident and determined young entrepreneurs capable of leading the UAE and the region along a sustainable development path," said Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO of Dubai SME. "Over the past 10 cycles, YEC has demonstrated that our student community has exceptional qualities in terms of innovation, business acumen and productivity. We have made the field as wide as possible in terms of participation and projects to ensure maximum opportunity for students in the region to participate in Young Entrepreneur Competition 2016," said Abdel Aziz Al Mazam, Head of the YEC Organizing Committee. Students registering for YEC will receive special training on successfully participating in the event and their projects will be screened for compliance with the rules and regulations before being shortlisted. — SG
