New website will help SMEs win government contracts

dubai - Portal will help in pre-qualification and registration of members participating in government procurement programmes

Dubai SME has signed an agreement with e-procurement solutions provider, Tejari, to launch a smart services portal for the pre-qualification and registration of members participating in the government procurement programme (GPP).

The smart services portal will help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Dubai and across the region to actively involve in procurement contracts awarded by government entities in Dubai.

The agreement was signed by Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO of Dubai SME, and Marwan Al Naqi, chairman of Tejari.

"Globally, SMEs are being acknowledged as a reliable measure of economic success and in Dubai, they have a major role in the economic diversification policy pursued by the emirate. Tejari is proud to be partners with Dubai SME to provide a smart platform for pre-qualification and tendering of procurement contracts and together, we aim to bring a major shift in the local business environment and the SME sector," said Al Naqi.

"The smart services portal links SMEs on an electronic platform and enables exchange of data and information to identify qualified SMEs and entrepreneurs. Through this initiative, we seek to support ongoing efforts to increase the contribution of SMEs to Dubai's non-oil GDP and improve the emirate's ranking in the ease of doing business across global indices in line with the Dubai Plan 2021," said Al Janahi.

The smart procurement portal will allow qualified SMEs to receive updates on government contracts and conditions governing such contracts, share information and expertise and participate in the procurement process, added Al Janahi.

"We aim to develop entrepreneurship in the UAE and highlight the opportunities available to our member SMEs to grow their business by supplying the various requirements of government entities in Dubai. The portal will alert SMEs on the best business opportunities," said Al Janahi.

Al Janahi also noted that the Dubai SME members were awarded Dh632 million worth of contracts during the first half of 2016 under the government procurement programme. "Altogether, contracts worth Dh3.2 billion have been facilitated by Dubai SME for the benefit of Emirati entrepreneurs and SMEs since inception. We focus on partnerships among SMEs as well as between the public, private and semi-government sectors in supporting SMEs."

- rohma@khaleejtimes.com