Biban 24 began its activities this year in an atmosphere of ambition, in the presence of a select group of Their Excellencies the ministers and officials, heads of local and international companies, and entrepreneurs from various sectors. The forum is one of the most important entrepreneurship events in the Kingdom, supporting Saudi Vision 2030 and fostering a fertile entrepreneurial environment that contributes to the growth of the national economy and provides new opportunities for Saudi youth.
The opening ceremony of Biban 24 was attended by a group of Their Excellencies from local and international ministries, authorities, and government entities concerned with economic and social development and investment, in affirmation of the government’s support for the entrepreneurship sector and its keenness to provide the right environment for achieving the objectives of Vision 2030. Those attending the ceremony included His Excellency the Minister of Commerce, Doctor Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi; His Excellency the Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Abdullah bin Amer Alswaha; His Excellency the Minister of Investment, Engineer Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih; His Excellency the Minister of Education, Doctor Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan; His Excellency the President of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, Doctor Abdullah bin Sharaf Alghamdi; His Excellency the Governor of the National Cybersecurity Authority, Engineer Majed bin Mohammed Al-Mazyad; His Excellency the Governor of the Communications, Space & Technology Commission, Doctor Mohammed bin Saud Al-Tamimi; His Excellency the Minister of SMEs and Startups of South Korea, Oh Youngju; His Excellency the Minister of Economy and Industry of Estonia, Erkki Keldo; and His Excellency the Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives of Malaysia, Ewon Benedick.
Biban 24 provided real opportunities to build strategic partnerships between the government and private sectors, with more than 30 heads of major national and international companies taking part in the forum. This participation by major companies is an indicator of the private sector’s interest in supporting local entrepreneurial projects and its keenness to invest in Saudi youth and develop the skills needed to keep pace with global economic transformations.
Around 300 young entrepreneurs aspiring to develop their ideas and succeed in their projects flocked to Biban 24, benefiting from the opportunities and guidance the forum provides. The event gives them the chance to connect with experts and investors and learn from successful experiences that enable them to achieve their dreams and ambitions, in a forum that is an important step for them to learn about the latest developments in entrepreneurship and obtain the financial and knowledge support they need to launch their projects.
The number of visitors to Biban 24 over its five days is expected to exceed 160,000. The forum is part of the Kingdom’s commitment to developing the entrepreneurship sector as one of the pillars of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy, reduce dependence on oil, and support small and medium enterprises as a vital element in achieving a thriving economy, by creating a supportive environment for entrepreneurs.