Through Inspiring Experiences and Advices for Sustaining Giving, Development and Progress
The National Library and Archives Organizes a Symposium on Entrepreneurship and Projects in its 2024 Cultural Season
Within its 2024 cultural season, the National Library and Archives organized a symposium entitled: “Entrepreneurship and Small Enterprises,” in which participants reviewed inspiring experiences aimed at sustaining progress and development on the personal and work levels. The symposium was held as the National Library and Archives believes that its topic would promote positive energy in the people.
The symposium, which was moderated by Ms. Iman Al-Bariki from the National Library and Archives, began with a talk by Mr. Tayseer Mohammed Ismail, Head of the Small and Medium Enterprises Data Section at the Department of Economic Development, on the concept of entrepreneurship and how to transform an idea into a business, by going through all the stages of establishment, growth, and financing in an effective and unconventional way, while ensuring continuity untill making profit and achieving financial independence.
He provided important details about the characteristics of an entrepreneur, the key criteria for selecting projects, the foundations for their success, and how to overcome challenges. He also reviewed entrepreneurship indicators in the UAE, both locally and internationally.
The second speaker at the symposium, Engineer Iman Ahmed Al-Thaqafi, founder of Avitek, a company specializing in the field of Metaverse, said: “A successful entrepreneur must have the ability to intelligently extrapolate and plan, and to seize every available opportunity to achieve his/her ambition. The success of small projects depends on the owner’s desire for change and development through hard work, guided by a vision that explores future horizons and turns dreams into reality, and the pursuit of overcoming all challenges faced.”.
Al-Thaqafi discussed the working conditions in the field of electrical engineering at Sharjah Electricity, Water, and Gas Authority. She pointed out that this opportunity allowed her to pursue her passion in the field of Metaverse. Consequently, she established a specialized company named Avitech, which is the first Emirati company founded by an Emirati engineer to apply it to an environment that can be simulated. This resulted in a professionally designed project, so realistic that it is difficult for people to distinguish it from the real world. The company specializes in the field of augmented virtual reality. Iman insisted on delving into the details by researching, learning, and attending most of the specialized training courses in this field. She mentioned that what distinguishes the startup is its ability to offer the best services in an innovative way, ensuring the provided programs are handled with high quality and at a competitive price.
The third speaker, Engineer Saleh Samhan Al Nuaimi, founder of small home-based businesses and a content creator for developing youth knowledge and skills in an easy and enjoyable manner, said: “Entrepreneurship is not an easy task. The challenges faced by entrepreneurs require a special ability and skill to overcome them and promote innovation. Success and excellence sometimes require a significant amount of change and risk-taking. A project owner needs to efficiently foresee the future of his/her project and manage it skillfully. The Entrepreneur also requires ambition and perseverance.”
Al Nuaimi mentioned that his motivation began while studying abroad. He continued to work and put in efforts until he earned an additional income, greatly aided by the encouragement of his family and friends. He started his home-based baking business during the summer vacation, and subsequent home projects followed on, untill he ventured into clothing design, perfumes and flowers.
He advised the audience not to hesitate in implementing any ideas come to their minds and to quickly start their business projects. He also emphasized that an entrepreneur should strive to use smart marketing for their projects’ products in order to gain others’ trust.