INGENUITY, determination and entrepreneurial talent — young Saudi entrepreneurs are currently ‘talk of the town’ in one of the topics in the world’s leading industrial nations — Germany. As one of the key pillars of the Vision 2030, the Saudi government is promoting small and medium-sized enterprises and has therefore rolled out numerous support programs for young entrepreneurs.

This did not go unnoticed by German and European companies, investors, and media likewise. For example, the most-known German online magazine SPIEGEL Online, with more than 20 million readers a month, discusses the booming and vibrant startup scene in the Kingdom enthusiastically. Furthermore, numerous television crews from France, Germany, Denmark, and Switzerland have been screening developments throughout recent months, introducing Saudi projects and their founders to the audience in their countries.

Just in April, three Saudi entrepreneurs, Basim Albeladi (Labayh), Abdullah Asiri (Lucidya) and Maha Shirah (Sheworks) were awarded as being among the Top 5 startups from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) at a conference in Berlin. At one of the most important Business Forum on the MENA region the young entrepreneurs represented their businesses in the presence of a high-class business audience from Germany and Saudi Arabia.

During the trip — organized by the German Saudi Arabian Liaison Office for Economic Affairs, GESALO — they looked into cooperation opportunities with major companies such as SAP, Roland Berger or VISA as well as institutions such as the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

As a first follow-up the Konrad Adenauer Foundation called for a new Leadership Program (July 1-7) for Saudi female entrepreneurs in Berlin. The exchange program between businesswomen from both countries shall contribute towards building a professional network and strengthen individual positions. Interested applicants with excellent English language skills can apply until May 15, to Philipp Dienstbier (philipp.dienstbier@kas.de). Hotel and travel costs are fully refunded. Further information can be found on following link: http://www.kas.de/rpg/en/.