Visitors to the enhanced version of the Biban Riyadh Forum, launched by the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises “Monsha’at” on January 29, 2020, for four days, will experience a new journey through 11 sections that catered to the aspirations of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs. The forum aims to motivate the entry of new enterprises into the market by promoting the culture of freelancing, entrepreneurship, initiative, and innovation.
The visitors begin their journey at the "Monsha’at" section, where they are introduced to numerous initiatives and services provided by “Monsha’at” to empower and develop startups and SMEs. They then disperse to the ten different sections of the forum based on their interests and needs. Registration for the forum is available for free to everyone through the link: biban.monshaat.gov.sa.
In the current edition, “Monsha’at” has introduced two new sections for those interested in innovative projects and real estate and construction projects. The Innovation section aims to empower SMEs to adopt innovative solutions and promote more innovative projects within the national economy, fostering the generation of innovative business ideas and an overall innovation ecosystem. The Real Estate and Construction section aims to provide investment opportunities for SMEs in property management, contracting, construction works, real estate auctions, real estate marketing, as well as design, engineering supervision, and qualification and accreditation of real estate appraisers.
The forum also includes the Launch Gate, which supports aspiring entrepreneurs in enhancing their creative ideas and guiding them on the necessary means to build and implement their projects in the market. Additionally, the Growth Gate assists owners of existing startups in improving their performance through diverse and specialized workshops across various business sectors.
The "Biban Riyadh Forum" promotes the role of entrepreneurs in the Kingdom and encourages the entrepreneurial ecosystem by spreading the culture and concepts of entrepreneurship. It also introduces the initiatives provided by "Monsha’at" to entrepreneurs, idea owners, and innovators. Saudi universities, as well as incubators and accelerators, participate in this section. The Empowerment Gate also has government representatives on hand to acquaint guests with the primary business operations, like acquiring a commercial registration and other required operating permits. Additionally, visitors can discover the most recent government programs that are accessible to business owners and SMEs.
The Finance Gate brings together financial and investment institutions, incubators, and accelerators under one roof, opening up new routes, avenues, and funding alternatives. This collaboration, in partnership with public and private supporting entities, aims to bridge the financing and lending gaps for SMEs. Meanwhile, the E-commerce Gate aims to enable micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises to utilize electronic channels in their business operations, ensuring their growth, increased sales, and the development of e-commerce in the Saudi market.
The Industry and Logistics Services Gate aims to encourage entrepreneurs and SMEs to enter the field of light and clean industries and benefit from the government support. It also aims to transform and develop new and innovative industrial project ideas into successful ventures. In the Market Gate, visitors can experience shopping with SMEs by purchasing their products and services.
Since its launch in 2017, the Biban Forum series has witnessed over 326,000 visitors who have benefited from more than 5,773 advisory sessions and over 1,442 workshops focused on supporting and empowering those interested in starting their entrepreneurial journey. The forum's goals are to assist young people how to turn their ideas into successful ventures and provide them with the knowledge they need to launch a profitable business. The Biban Forum has attracted over 589 sponsors and service suppliers.