The document discusses developing entrepreneurial skills in Saudi Arabia. It describes the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Center (SMEDEC) which aims to support entrepreneurs and SME development. SMEDEC provides various services including consulting, training, workshops, and networking opportunities. It also outlines an Entrepreneurship Development Program which teaches participants skills like opportunity recognition, business planning, and personal skills like communication and problem solving. The program has helped graduates from different backgrounds start their own businesses.

1. Developing Entrepreneurial Skills in the Kingdom
of Saudi Arabia
By
Dr. Nabil Shalaby
Manager, Entrepreneurship & SMEs Development Center
www.chamber.org.sa
Nov. 18, 2008

2. Small and Medium
Enterprises Development Center
SMEDEC
To be the essential body for
Vision supporting Entrepreneurs and
SMEs development in KSA
Providing high quality
Mission services to enhance the
competitiveness of SMEs
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www.smedec.org.sa

3. Activities
Administration Technical
Consulting Consulting
Diagnosis of Information
Enterprises Services
Training &
Technology
Workshops
Transfer
Marketing
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Services Networking
Publications

4. Consultancy
More than 3500
consulting services
(2002-2008)
Finance
Marketing
Adminstration
New Business
Tenders
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Legal Advice
Innovations
Technology
Others
0 100 200 300 400

5. Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP)
Don’t give me a fish,
but teach me how to fish.
A Chinese old proverb
Don’t give me a fish,
but teach me how to start and
operate a “ fish farm”.
www.chamber.org.sa
Nabil Shalaby

6. Entrepreneurship Development Program (EDP)
Contents
Before you start.
Differentiate business opportunities.
Prepare your feasibility study.
Financial and Accounting Issues.
Marketing Issues.
Legal and Laws.
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Developing personal skills.
Franchising.
Business Plan.

7. Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs
An eye for opportunity
Many entrepreneurs start by finding a need and quickly satisfying it.
Independence
Even though most entrepreneurs know how to work within the framework for the
sake of profits, they enjoy being their own boss.
An appetite for hard work
Most entrepreneurs start out working long, hard hours with little pay.
Self-confidence
Entrepreneurs must demonstrate extreme self-confidence in order to cope with all
the risks of operating their own business.
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Discipline
Successful entrepreneurs resist the temptation to do what is unimportant or the
easiest but have the ability to think through to what is the most essential.

8. Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs
Judgment
Successful entrepreneurs have the ability to think quickly and make a wise
decision.
Ability to accept change
The entrepreneur thrives on changes and their businesses grow.
Make stress work for them
On the roller coaster to business success the entrepreneur often copes by
focusing on the end result and not the process of getting there.
Need to achieve
Although they keep an quot;eyequot; on profits, this is often secondary to the drive toward
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personal success.
Focus on profits
Successful entrepreneurs always have the profit margin in sight and know that
their business success is measured by profits.

9. EDP- Personal Skills Development
• Self Assessment of Entrepreneurial Characteristics
• Strategic Thinking and Planning
• Communication Skills
• Presentation Skills
• Time Management
• Problem Solving and Decision Making
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• Negotiation Skills

10. ‫مقارنة السمات الشخصية للخزيجين‬
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0 1 2 3 4 5
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11. ‫مقارنة السمات الشخصية لكل من الذكور واإلناث‬
‫‪www.chamber.org.sa‬‬
‫‪www.chamber.org.sa‬‬

12. www.chamber.org.sa
EDP - 1st Group

13. www.chamber.org.sa
EDP - 2nd Group

14. www.chamber.org.sa
EDP - 3rd Group

15. www.chamber.org.sa
EDP - 4th Group

16. www.chamber.org.sa
EDP - 5th Group

17. www.chamber.org.sa
EDP - 6th Group

18. EDP - 7th Group (Only Tourism Ideas)
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19. Trainees Business Plans
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20. www.chamber.org.sa
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21. Field Visits
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22. Field Visits
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23. Gender of Graduates
Females
22 %
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Males
78 %
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24. Age of Graduates
18-25 Years
17 %
36-45 Years
17 % 26-35 Years
66 %
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25. Education Qualification
M.Sc. &
Ph.D.
6% Secondary
30 %
University
64 %
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26. Business Sectors
Trading Manufacturing
31 % 18 %
Service
37 %
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Contracting
18 %
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27. EDP - Success Stories
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28. EDP - Success Stories
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29. Fostering Entrepreneurship
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30. Fostering Entrepreneurship
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31. www.chamber.org.sa
Thank You