INSEAD professor Hal Gregersen reveals in a new study what key skills are needed to develop innovative and creative entrepreneurs.

• First of four workshops held in 2010
• Aimed at providing cutting edge solutions to SME owners
• Quarterly workshops facilitate interaction with industry experts

In line with its commitment to empowering small and medium-sized businesses, Emirates NBD, the largest banking group in the Middle East in terms of assets, announced today that it is serving as the key sponsor of TECOM SME Builder 2010, the ideal platform for professionals to upgrade entrepreneurial skills through networking.

The first workshop was held recently and the remaining three will take place throughout the rest of the year. TECOM SME Builder provides a forum for small and medium enterprises to interact with experts and gain special insights into the latest industry developments.

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The Hurt Locker, a film following the fortunes of a bomb disposal team in Iraq, has received nine academy award nominations for an Oscar, including one for best picture and director, and is considered a favourite in both categories.
While there has been no shortage of critical acclaim for the film, it has not had the same success at the box office.
Making just $12m in the US and another $6m overseas, if the Hurt Locker wins an Oscar it would be one of the lowest-grossing winners ever.

Tips on how to make your first business grow

New businesses are set up everywhere, especially in tough times like these. Whether it’s by choice or by necessity, starting your first business has several things going for it: a way to create wealth and opportunity when both seem to be in short supply, and a  chance to be your own boss.

Destruction is painful, but it creates opportunity. Now is a great time for entrepreneurs to reset their agendas for the next 10 years.

Although millions of people set up businesses each year, even highly competent professionals often manage to fumble the basics. Veterans of big companies, for example, often fail to spend enough time laying the foundations necessary for their new ventures to grow. These can run the gamut from lining up financing to buying the computer and accounting systems necessary to run even a one-person show. It’s also a good idea to consult with an accountant, lawyer and, possibly, an insurance agent before setting up shop.

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Emirates NBD Business Banking, a provider of innovative products and services tailored to meet the needs of small and medium-sized businesses, announced today that it served as a sponsor of “Why Personal Branding,” a seminar focused on the relationship between personal brand image and business.

Led by Lesley Everett, a leading authority on personal branding and executive presence, and the author of Walking Tall: Key Steps to Total Image Impact, this event provided practical insights into building a powerful and sustainable personal brand.

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Under the patronage of H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, INSEAD, one of the world’s leading business schools, held today its first Leadership Summit Middle East, attracting more than 300 delegates from around the world.

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Member of Index Holding has won two prizes during yesterday’s award-giving ceremony of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Establishment for Small and Medium Size Enterprises (MBRE) held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

EOV (Emirates Omni Vision) – Member of Index Holding, received marketing and promotion sector award in addition to best business man award. EOV specializes in marketing and promotion and educational campaigns and the development of corporate identity and all its related implementations.

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The Sheikh Khalifa Fund for Support and Development of Small and Medium Enterprises, has approved to finance 67 new small and medium enterprises at a cost of AED 111.12 million, bringing the number of projects financed by the fund since its inception in June last year to 205 projects with the cost of AED 340 million in which 23 per cent of the projects are for women.

A breakdown shows that the Fund financed 77 projects worth Dh 176 million in the industrial sector, 14 agricultural projects valued at Dh 17.4 million and 114 services projects in tune of Dh 146.6 million.

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Emirates, the UAE’s leading association for financial and investment professionals, has today officially launched the country’s first National Investment Research Challenge.   All universities and business schools are invited to compete.

The nationwide competition, which starts next month, concluding with a final in March, will help develop understanding and awareness amongst business students in how the investment markets work.  It is an educational initiative in which leading industry professionals will guide teams of three to four business and finance students, in researching and reporting on a publicly traded company.  It consists of analyzing a public company, mentoring by a professional research analyst, writing a research report and presenting its results and recommendations to a high profile panel of experts.  Marks are awarded to each team on the basis of their investment case, their delivery and their ability to answer and respond to detailed analysis from the judges.

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The Emirates Foundation for Philanthropy has inaugurated the first ever workshop series in the UAE on intellectual property and patent registration.
The gathering has been designed to train researchers and award winners of the Foundation’s Science ‘&’ Technology programme on the importance of intellectual property rights and on strategies for patent approval and registration.

The first two-day training workshop is being held in collaboration with the Arab Organization for Science and Technology. The meeting highlighted the importance of research and patents to building and developing partnerships with the private sector, in the service of the development process in the country.

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