Sharjah SME (RUWAD) in cooperation with the Sharjah Education Council, have launched the “Business Stars” initiative, which empowers school and university students and encourages them to take part in the business investment experience.

The initiative was inaugurated by Dr. Saeed Musbah al Kaabi, Chairman of Sharjah Education Council, and Abdullah Musabah Al Tunaiji, Board Member of RUWAD. The event witnessed the participation of 120 male and female students, presenting some 40 projects, all representing their own ideas and vision for the entrepreneurship sector, which will be on display over the next 10 days until 9th January, 2019.

All projects in the exhibition are subject to special criteria, which are evaluated on a daily basis by a specialised committee of businessmen and women in addition to influential and public figures.

The committee guides and provides direction to students on how to succeed in the exhibition and helps them achieve the highest percentage of sales by taking into account factors such as ideas, sales, efficiency and effort. It also considers adherence to general conditions such as networking with participants, supervisors and customers, and the commitment to hygiene and specific times of the initiative.

Speaking at the event, Sultan bin Haddah Al Suwaidi, Chairman of the Board of Director of RUWAD, said, "The dazzling success that this initiative has achieved is a clear indication of the keen vision of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, which underlines the necessity to invest in people as the main engine of the local economy. It is also a clear indication of the significant role that family and educational institutions can play in building and preparing future entrepreneurs."

Underlining the importance of the joint cooperation agreement between RUWAD and Sharjah Education Council, Al Suwaidi added, "This agreement is undoubtedly important because it gives us the opportunity to encourage the younger generation to experience investment, make use of their innovative ideas and motivate and encourage them to think in a different way in line with the current developments."

Hamad Al Mahmoud, Director of RUWAD Establishment, highlighted the importance of the initiative that would motivate future generations to participate in the business sector with their innovative ideas.

"Such initiatives have the potential to enhance entrepreneurship among the youth, which can not only help them to qualify but also enable them to set up innovative ventures," he added. 

The ceremony was attended by numerous officials.