Saudi/UK SME Partnership Forum

Location: Level 39, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AB
Organised By: The Saudi British Joint Business Council
Date: 24th April 2018

The Saudi British Joint Business Council (SBJBC) is organising an SME Partnership Forum for innovative Saudi and UK technology companies, in London on 24th April. Supported by Saudi British Bank (SABB) and Mishcon de Reya, the forum will be held at Level 39 in Canary Wharf. Target sectors are: Smart Cities (including AI and IoT), Fintech, E-commerce and Cyber Security. The UK is home to some 58,000 technology firms. It attracted some US$ 7 billion venture capital investment into its Fintech sector in 2017, taking second place worldwide behind the US. Innovation hubs, such as London’s Tech City and regional centres, have helped to promote SME growth and attract significant capital investment. With a young and tech-savvy population and one of the highest concentrations of social media users worldwide, Saudi Arabia hosts the largest ICT market in the region - worth some £100 billion to 2021. As in the UK, many young people are starting their own businesses, and innovation hubs are being established across the Kingdom. A new entrepreneur license is available to new companies in approved incubators to benefit from SME support services.

The purpose of the Forum will be:

● To provide a platform for selected Saudi and British tech companies to present projects, meet investors and discuss potential partnerships 
● To hear about the opportunities in both markets and make participants aware of the support available for SMEs
● To exchange experience in the development of successful SME ecosystems and access to finance and mentoring

Representatives of some 50 Saudi and British companies will be selected, in line with the target sectors. There will be no charge for attendance.

A visit to an innovation centre outside London will be offered to Saudi delegates on 25th April, and a follow-up mission to Saudi Arabia will be offered to UK delegates in late 2018.
SBJBC UK is a not-for-profit company, dedicated to the development of business-to-business relations and expertise exchange between Saudi Arabia and the UK.