The Syrian Enterprise and Business Centre (SEBC) is a Syrian non-profit making institution established in 2006 as an NGO according to Syrian laws, benefiting from a legacy of 10 year cooperation between the EU and Syria in developing business sector in Syria (namely the Syrian-European Business Centre 1996-2006).

Evolving as a smooth transition from the “Five-A” extremely successful EU funded programme, SEBC has become the leading  implementation agency for development projects, ensuring an integrated socio-economic development process with a focus on developing the private sector. In other words, SEBC is the catalyst institution for business sector development and growth in Syria.

Leading by example and serving as a role model, SEBC, The European styled, Syrian operated and managed business institution, adopts innovative styles, bottom up approach and demand driven techniques to achieve its set objectives;

these are:

• Increase the Syrian economic enterprises (Private and Public) competitiveness in local and international markets
• Assist Syrian private sector enterprises to access international markets
• Enhance the business community through increasing the number of enterprises with high growth potential and evolving capability in addition to providing them with required support
• Promote the positive development of the Syrian organizational and financial frame work to uphold development of private sector enterprises
• Facilitate the establishment of an efficient network of business support institutions

It managed over the past years to run and implement initiatives, projects and programmes of more than 65 Million of Euros. SEBC is considered by its beneficiaries, donors and partners as their technical arm which is due to the methodology SEBC uses and the close relation of partnership that SEBC believes in. from those partners:

• The European Union: SEBC succeeded to expand its cooperation with the EU by implementing and hosting several EU Funded programmes (I.e. SME Support Programme, Trade Enhancement Programme, Business Environment Simplification Programme, Quality Infrastructure Programme) also with the European Training Foundation (ETF), other than TNA Study for Syria SEBC has executes, they both had a success story in developing and delivering the famous “SKILLS” programme. In addition SEBC hosts run and manage the Syrian national network of the Enterprise Europe Network; has been working with ANIMA network in executing several Invest in Med Initiatives; and is part of the EBN/BIC.  Briefly SEBC acts as a channel and interface to EU TA aid to Syria.
• The Syrian Public Sector:  SEBC implemented several different-size projects to the Syrian Public Sector(just to mention for example, the National Quality Programme, Public Sector Reform Programme, preparing the Syrian national strategy to support SMEs, Developing Raqqa Governorate, Citizen Service Centres in Damascus …). All that made the Syrian Public Sector to consider SEBC as its technical arm, resulting that many public entities approach SEBC to benefit from the trusted high quality services and expertise.
• International Organizations: SEBC has powerful relations with several International organisations for instance the National Competitiveness Observatory (NCO), hosted by SEBC, was chosen as partner institute of the World Economic Forum to cover Syria’s presence in the International Competitiveness Report, also several projects and studies on Syria were done on behalf of the World Bank in addition to being partner in the PSLO network. From the other different partners SEBC worked for years with UNRWA, British Council, GEF/SGP, UNDP, GIZ(GTZ), JICA, UNIDO, International trade Centre, Mena 100 Competition, … offering them its experiences and implementing projects and activities on their behalf.
• League of Arab States (LAS): SEBC has good relations with many LAS organisations. One of the most success stories is the cooperation with the Arab Industrial Development and Mining Organisation (AIDMO) in developing and implementing many of its Initiatives which led to sign an MoU considering SEBC as the technical office of AIDMO and the organization-in-charge of launching the Arab Union for Industrial Exports Development and the Euro Arab Business Council for SMEs
• Syrian Civil Society: SEBC works hand in hand with the civil society in Syria, sharing with them its long accumulated expertise and the know-how. Over the past 7 years SEBC helped Business NGOs (such as Chambers, Bilateral Syrian Business council, Syrian Exporters Federation, Businesswomen …) in addition to capacity development programmes to many NGOs (Syrian NGO Development Programme co-financed by GEF/SGP). CSOs in Syria consider SEBC as the model to learn from of an efficient, powerful and successful NGO.
• Business Sector: SEBC offers various types of services to Businesses in Syria and others interested in Syrian market, companies from all levels (from micro to Big enterprises  and start-ups to old fashioned with a long tradition), services differs and covers wide range of types starting from advise, consulting and training up to incubation, coaching, access to finance and innovation. Some of these services are provided free of charge or subsidized or in worst scenario at the cost price, (0 profit). Businesses in Syria consider SEBC the first and the right door when they need support or to improve their business.
   

All the above mentioned work is done out from its two offices in both Damascus and Aleppo, supported by several Business incubators, affiliated training centre, relays and standalone initiatives.
 

Recently, SEBC has expanded its activities in the Social domain due to the new circumstances and the needs facing Syria. In cooperation with the British Council SEBC supported the establishment of MOBADEROON, the Network of Active Citizens in Syria. This fresh born network hosted by SEBC, gathers more than 1000 activists and community leaders from almost all the Syrian governorates working together and individually through small initiatives on the ground.
 

Finally, the continuous success of SEBC was a natural result of the strategy it has adopted from the early beginning: transparency, clear vision, integral complete strategy, combining Socio- and economic development, partnership and networking with all actors, the capacity of our local experts and our world-wide network of international experts, the know-how of Syria’s real need and commitment through working up to the international standards and continuous evaluation of work using the right set of quantative and qualitative indicators.