For the purpose of the continuous support provided by the Syrian Enterprise and Business Centre (SEBC) to Syrian business leadership and in order expand the business network at a global scale, SEBC / SME Support Programme (SSP) and the Euro-Mediterranean Network of Investment Promotion Agencies (ANIMA Investment Network) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Damascus on Tuesday 23 February, 2010.

The MoU aims to set the principals of cooperation between SEBC and ANIMA to ensure mutual co-operation and support for developing frameworks for supporting SMEs in the Arab world and the European Union, for supporting start-ups and launching initiatives and pilot projects in specific markets, in addition to developing stock markets establishing funds for SMEs and start-ups and creating observatories and resource centers. The Agreement also calls for facilitating the exchange of expertise and good practices between ANIMA and SEBC teams (training, capacity building, transfer of know-how, secondments, short term visits).

Mr Benedict de Saint-Laurent, Managing Director of ANIMA – together for a competitive Mediterranean - explained the importance of signing the agreement: “The agreement will facilitate information exchange of mutual interest and promote various SME related activities such as how to build start-ups, how to access finance, how to increase their competitiveness, how to facilitate partnership and finally how to support innovation for SMEs in the EU, the basin of the Mediterranean Sea and the Arab region”.

“The signing of the agreement, coinciding with the holding of the Euro- Arab Conference to support SMEs held for the first time in Damascus, reflects a concrete step towards Arab-European cooperation to support SMES in the region, the enterprises which are the backbone of any economy”, said SEBC President, Dr Rateb al-Shallah emphasizing the necessity of building capacity of SME owners to increase their competitiveness, capacity for innovation and development.

The agreement was signed by Dr Rateb al-Shallah, the Mr Benedict de Saint-Laurent, Managing Director of Anima in the presence of managers and experts from both sides.


About (ANIMA Investment Network):

• The Euro-Mediterranean Network of Investment Promotion Agencies (ANIMA Investment Network), multi-lateral platform for the Economic Development of the Mediterranean with its headquarters in Marseille, France,  
• ANIMA Investment Network has the following objectives:
• Advocate a stable, dynamic, transparent and fair economic environment for investment towards governments;
• Develop co-operation between the economic development players around the Mediterranean;
• Launch any action contributing to reinforce the economic attractiveness of the Euro-Mediterranean area.

About SEBC:

• The Syrian Enterprise and Business Centre (SEBC) established under Syrian Law with its headquarters in Damascus, Syria,
• SEBC has the mandate to
• Increase the Syrian private sector competitiveness in the local and international markets
• Assist Syrian private sector enterprises to access international markets
• Enhancing the business community through increasing the number of enterprises with high growth potential and evolving capability in addition to providing them with required support
• Promoting positive development of the Syrian organizational and financial frame work to uphold development of private sector enterprise
• Facilitate the establishment of an efficient network of business support institutions.