The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) has launched on Tuesday an initiative to support small- and - medium enterprises in the area of information and communication technology, in partnership with the International Computer Company (ICC), Cisco, Microsoft Corporation, Zai Computer Company and Epson. The initiative was announced during a press conference held here at the JCCI headquarters in the presence of the secretary general of the chamber, vice president of the ICC, and head of Cisco's SME sector as well as representatives of Microsoft, Zai Computer Co and Epson. Sheikh Saleh Alturki lauded the initiative which will make available technical means to owners of small- and -medium enterprises in an easy way and with reasonable prices that would ensure wider opportunities for competition. He also appreciated the support of the ICC, Cisco, Microsoft, Zai Computer and Epson for the initiative, stressing the importance of supporting small- and -medium enterprises. He said they (small- and -medium enterprises) represent a large segment of the community seeking better future in the light of the major challenges and the competition from the large and foreign firms. ICC vice president Akram Elias said the initiative will provide the latest computer hardware and software, including the techniques on installment in order to support small- and -medium enterprises. He added that his company will ensure the best installment package to the owners of some fifty thousand small-and -medium enterprises of up to 10 months. Elias underscored that the most important objectives of the initiative is to increase knowledge of SMEs in the field of Internet applications and information technology, saying that the acquired skills are needed to achieve the growth of the small- and -medium businesses. Software applications, hosting solutions, basic networking, connectivity, IT infrastructure and services technical support are things that they should know, he added. Moreover, the initiative will present accessible offers to small-and-medium companies in helping them in applications of information technology solutions through consulting expertise that would eventually equip them with wider opportunities for competition and improve their productivity. Elias pointed out that the firms that use modern technology in their business transactions increase the proportion of trade success by more than 50 percent. “Small-to-medium businesses are the heart of the Kingdom's trading community, and we want to provide them with the tools and the advice to ensure that they can benefit from new routes to market such as the internet, while also increasing their workforce's productivity,” said Dr. Badr Bin Humoud Al-Badr, managing director for Cisco Saudi Arabia. “IT will be the enabler that drives the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia into the global economy. IT will empower small-to -medium businesses to compete locally, regionally and eventually on a multinational stage. We're proud to take the initiative here with our parents at ICC and the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce,” he added. __
