Entrepreneurs offered online boost

DUBAI // The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry will begin a series of training workshops this month for entrepreneurs in a bid to boost the business environment.

The first workshop, Growing a business, is a practical online course that will be held on February 20 and 28. Modules offered will be "Growth and Expansion" and "Leadership for Growth".

The workshop aims to help entrepreneurs reassess their business vision and teach them how business is conducted today. Participants will be briefed on the different options available when growing a business, such as franchises or partners.

"It's also a way of helping them from an inside perspective, and understanding how to use technology to enable their business," said Karim Djerboa, the senior manager of global field operations at the Cisco Entrepreneur Institute, the organisation that has partnered with the Dubai chamber.

The chamber hopes this support will add value to the business community and improve overall performance.

Dr Belaid Rettab, the senior executive director at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce, said: "We are providing a window for people who are constrained by full-time jobs to attend online training. I think it will do very well, due to the huge demand for online learning."

Dr Rettab said the goal was to polish and enhance the overall reputation of businesses in the UAE, adding: "It's a great opportunity for the chamber to capitalise on that experience and build on it."

The chamber plans to extend the training in the future and introduce the rest of the workshops offered by Cisco, including "Starting a Business" and "IExec".

"Starting a Business" walks entrepreneurs through the steps of a start-up, including the legal framework. By the end of the workshop, participants must produce a business plan and work with a training centre or a local institute such as the Dubai Chamber of Commerce.

"IExec" is dedicated to small and medium enterprises and government entities. It teaches participants business trends and ways to adapt new technology to their business.

cmalek@thenational.ae