According to an interview made recently by Seedstars, with Omar Christidis, CEO of Arabnet, the largest entrepreneurship networks in MENA, about the startup ecosystem in the region, get insights on how it has changed over the past 10 years, and discover what is unique about young founders in Arab countries. Hereafter the interview:

What do see as the major difference between the MENA region a decade ago and today?

When Arabnet launched 10 years ago, the ecosystem was at a nascent stage, so we had a different role to play: we were helping to build an industry from the ground up.

Our focus was on developing a platform for startups and investors to connect, engaging new corporates into the digitization sector, and connecting stakeholders across different markets to share insights and do business together.

The ecosystem has substantially grown since then. There’s been a tenfold increase of VCs in many markets, there are over a dozen $100M startups, there’s been an exit at over $1B which we would not have dreamed of before. Verticalization of the industry is another big one. In the past, the conversation was as an industry more broadly, whilst today there’s focus areas such as fintech, foodtech, adtech, etc.

Many governments across the region are prioritizing programs focused on growing the sector, such as Circular 331 in Lebanon, the Kuwait National Fund, and SME Authority in Saudi Arabia.

We have recently seen interest from big family offices and corporations in investing in startups, and have witnessed a good number of corporate venture capital arms and corporate accelerators and innovation programs.

What do you find unique about entrepreneurship in the region? Is there something that you see in the local founders/CEOs that you would not see in entrepreneurs, let’s say, from Europe or the U.S.?

The resilience of entrepreneurs working in the region. Entrepreneurs across the globe have a shared set of challenges in launching and growing their startup - like raising funding and finding talent and growing their customer base. In the MENA region, entrepreneurs face an additional set of challenges related to emerging markets: in some markets, entrepreneurs have to deal with weak infrastructure or face political instability, in other markets, lots of client education needs to be done. To top it all off, the MENA region is fragmented - with major regulatory differences and even cultural differences - which adds the challenge of scaling across borders in the region.

The competition in MENA is growing, thus it’s more difficult for startups to stand out and get the attention of investors, partners, funds, media, customers, etc. Based on your more than 10-year experience of work with startups, what do you think the most successful teams have in common?

Startups succeed and fail by the people that bring them to life. A startup can have all the potential in the world but can be hindered by its people.

For instance, although there’s nothing wrong with being a solopreneur, being a solopreneur adds additional challenges for the get-go. Startups with 2 or more founders are more likely to attract investors and take less time to grow and scale. The main reason behind this is because solopreneurs do not have someone to bounce ideas with or have diverse skills which you have in multiple founders.

Additionally, mid-career professionals are primed to launch startups that tackle the problems that they experience directly. These are people who are between the ages of 35 and 40 who have been working in the industry for 10 or 15 years. They understand the pain points of that specific industry, have the right connections, have built a reputation, knowledge, expertise, and experience. They are familiar with all the issues and they’re much better positioned to tackle that problem than anyone else.

You and your team managed to build one of the largest entrepreneurship networks in MENA. What’s the main aim of your annual event Arabnet Riyadh? What topics and issues will be highlighted this year?

Arabnet’s vision has always been to catalyze growth in the tech industry by being a platform for knowledge and connections - bringing together government policymakers, corporate leaders, and startups and investors to unlock emerging opportunities in the sector.

Arabnet Riyadh is the largest and most influential event for digital business and innovation in the Kingdom that brings together thousands of decision-makers and innovators to connect and learn. With the increasing importance of Saudi Arabia as an entrepreneurial hub, and with startup around the region flocking to expand into the Kingdom, Arabnet Riyadh is the ideal platform to engage with the region’s largest and fastest-growing digital market. It is the perfect platform to understand what it takes to enter the Saudi market, find the right partners or investors, and connect with potential customers.

What do you consider your core strength as an organization?

At our 10 year anniversary, we did a lot of soul searching and dreaming - about what our vision should be for the next decade of our business. In the process, we came to realize that our core strengths are our extensive knowledge in the tech industry, and our access to the largest and widest group of digital experts and decision-makers, and to opportunities.

As technology proliferated over the past 10 years, the sector transformed, and technology went from the IT department to the boardroom, where innovation and digitization strategies became a priority. To answer their needs, we launched our Insight division and Innovation Programs division and we’re focused on growing these two divisions during our upcoming phase.

Arabnet Insights is collaborating with clients to position them as thought leaders through publications and research. Our specialized content dives into disruptive technologies and startup trends, and provide guidance for decision-makers, with tools such as op-eds, whitepapers, reports, case studies, and more.

In Arabnet Innovation Programs, we collaborate with our partners to conceptualize and deliver tailor-made innovation activities, from hackathons and startup competitions to full-year incubation programs. With the rise of corporate interest in innovation and startups, we’re excited to help build new bridges and create new synergies- as we did when we started our business.

How do you envision the future of Arabnet and see your role in shaping the entrepreneurial landscape in MENA?

I see Arabnet becoming more engaged with policymakers in the region. We’ve developed strong relationships with government decision-makers who are focused on innovation and digitization, and we’ve been supporting with data and analysis, as well as advising and proposing solutions. We’ve also helping convene government leaders from across the region in our Digital Policy Forum, where they can share experiences and best practices for building a flourishing digital economy.

Lastly, my aspirations, as I believe is similar to many founders, is to build a strong, independent and sustainable institution, that continues to thrive after my departure, whether that’s in the next 5 years or the next 20. I believe Arabnet has been a positive influence in the region’s tech world over the past decade, and I hope that it will continue to spread knowledge, open up opportunities, and build relationships that lead to lasting impact.

source: seedstars

(عربي)

Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global (TAG.Global)

In an exclusive interview with the founder and Chairman of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global (TAG.Global), H.E.Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh talks about the first Arab laptop and tablet

As part of the interviews conducted by the Swiss-Arab Entrepreneurs Platform with influential Arab and foreign economic figures, we interviewed Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, founder and Chairman of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global (TAG.Global).

In this interview, Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh highlights the new computer that his group has produced completely. It reviews the origins of the dispute between America and China and the desire to find a new world order and reduce Chinese influence.

He then introduces a general principle of intellectual rights principles that allows any individual or country to inspire new ideas through existing products and develop them to register a new invention. Hence, he talked about China's economic renaissance and how China has used this principle to develop its own technology and excel the American Technology.

Regarding the Arab world, he considered there is no unified Arab economy or even a common Arab market because of the differences between the Arab countries and the weakness of the inter-exchanges among them, expressing regret of the lack of the economic integration among Arab countries and the lack of an effective role for Arabs at the international level.

Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh also briefed us on the current important trends of economic growth, given the current industrial revolution based on cognitive technology. Knowledge is the real wealth. The human being is its pillar and its basic material.

Regarding the economic sectors that need investments, he said there is no need to waste time in the search for foreign investments, stressing the necessity of self-reliance, expressing his full support for entrepreneurship and creativity. He concluded by saying there is no limit to the creation of the human mind. A creative idea imagined by the mind can form the nucleus of a successful invention and tremendous wealth.

See the video

We had this interview with HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh

Founder, Mr. Ayman Abualkhair with HE.Dr. Talal Abu Ghazaleh in his headquarter in Amman - Jordan

SAE: Talal Abu-Ghazaleh is one of the most prominent economic figures in the Arab world and a pioneer of intellectual property in the world, if you would kindly give us a summary of your most important achievements.

Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh: From about twenty years we have moved from the major institution in the Arab world to become global. For example, you have mentioned intellectual property, we are the largest intellectual property institution in the world, so our name is Tag Global, and we have over 110 offices around the world. We practice all activities; professional audit, consulting, training, capacity building, in all professional areas and this month we started a new activity, we started the production of technical tools, whether Tablets or laptops.

SAE: Actually, we read about this in the media if you can give us an explanation about the different products you produce?

Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh: We feel that our region needs to be involved in the computer industry because there is no reason why the Arab world should not enter this industry; the Arab world deserves to have a computer industry as other countries.

We have made studies and experiments during a period of several years, until we produced a Tablet and the goal of producing it, in addition to that it is a multitask device, is to be a smart school bag. For the state, the cost of schools is very high (facilities, professors, students, books and the necessary equipment) while using this technology can save a lot through intelligent cognitive study.

In addition to this device, we have completed two laptops of our design and our own manufacturing, and we are not producing through another manufacturing institution. We produce and market, and we have our own brand, and we do not have a partner, our brand is TAG Tech (Talal Abu-Ghazaleh For Technology (TAGTech)) and is produced entirely by us. At first, we wanted something that reduces the cost, as our mission is to spread knowledge in the Arab world, and in the world in general. We wanted to offer a computer with a lower cost than any other company in the world, but at the same time, we wanted to honor our name as Talal Abu Ghazaleh Global, so we could maintain low cost but we maintained high quality to be competitive at the international level.

We have two devices with specifications higher than what exists in the market. I am talking about the major producers in the world. We have technologies with higher specifications than what exist in the world or in terms of price. The fact that the objective of this project is to serve the society, Talal Abu Ghazaleh Foundation, which is the arm of Talal Abu Ghazaleh Global, funded this project with the aim that its price becomes competitive and at the same time high quality, so do not believe me but believe the truth and look at the device and compare it. Our slogan is (compare and then decide). Compare our device with the best devices in the market, if you do not find it as the best then do not buy: And compare its price, if it’s not the cheapest one do not buy it. We have achieved the device with the highest specifications and almost half the price. This device will be in use soon. We will start from a certain area. It is the Arab region, but our goal is not only this region. Abu Ghazaleh Intellectual Property and many other activities are leading the world, I see no complexity or shame to say we want to become an international producer of information technology.

SAE: Thank you for this initiative, because the question really why the Arab world does not enter technical manufacturing in the field of computers, phones or tablets?

Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh: All the Western and Eastern countries produce these technologies, is it forbidden for the Arabs alone to produce? Is there a decision to ban the production of equipment in the Arab world, and I say this, because this is the first Arab production from the private sector.

SAE: Regarding the competition, I heard your comparison between price and quality, we hope to see a presentation about the advantages of the device.

Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh: we have the best device with the best quality and the most competitive price. Because our international name and reputation are all integrated. We are keen to produce high-quality devices to reflect our reputation as one of the largest accounting companies in the world and auditing, consulting and translation, we are the largest translation company in the world. We are the largest company in the provision of training programs, qualification and capacity building in the world. We are the largest company in the field of intellectual property, so we cannot produce a product that is not the highest level, our reputation is a very important issue. All our activities are under the name TAG so we can only be producers of the best device. Supported by Tag Foundation, we have been able to minimize the cost of production.

SAE: Thank you very much for this introduction about this invention, this Arab production in the field of computers and tablets for the first time. Abu-Ghazaleh is said to be the largest company in the world. Is it the largest company in intellectual property or accounting?

Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh: It is the largest intellectual property company ever. In accounting, there is the Forum of Firms, under the umbrella of the International Federation of Certified Public Accountants (IFAC) in New York, it founded the Forum of Accounting Firms abbreviated to (FOF). It contains twenty companies, it is known under the G20, in which our company is a member, and we are the only one from the region. This Forum of Forms includes international companies that are committed to applying international accounting standards and principles, whether as standards or principles of transparency. The focus is on adherence to principles and transparency. Who applies these conditions joins this forum. We are a member since its establishment until now.

SAE: Regarding your personal career, what are the most difficult moments you have faced?

Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh: For me, the most difficult moments are the sweetest moments. I believe that problems make success and that suffering is a blessing. When my colleagues come to me saying: we have a problem, I thank God for that. They say, director, we have a problem, I say I hear you completely. The problem means there is a solution, which means that there is success when you have a problem and you can find solutions and solve them. This is an opportunity, the problem is an opportunity and not only a problem.

I also talk about the global economy now and I have released a full report about the next global crisis, it explains this crisis and how it will end. I expect it will happen next year, i.e., 2020, it will end with the so-called (stagflation) or recession and high prices at the same time. This is a deadly and very bad recipe to have a recession with high prices. So, I pretend I am not inventing this thing or dreaming. I study and analyze phenomena and centers of studies in the world, especially in America talk about that. I say this crisis will force America to enter a war. This war is not with Iran. The importance of Iran comes from it being a supplier of China with oil. The problem is in my personal discretion, in preventing Iran from exporting oil, it’s not because of nuclear weapons. There are many countries in the world that have nuclear weapons, the problem is not the problem of a nuclear bomb. The problem is that America wants to put an end to the rise of China technically and economically and this is its right. If I am America, I cannot allow a country to outdo me. This is not my opinion, but I summarize what the research centers say.

America wants to sit down with China, but China is not willing to sit down to create a new world order, the United States of America, and this is its diligence and it may do so. It says that the current system developed after World War II in 1948 and the resulting Bretton Woods and all the other consequences is no longer valid. It wants to sit down with China to forge a new world order. China says it has no ambitions to control the world, politically, militarily, or administratively. Chinese adhere to the existing standards because it suits them. America and I repeat it has the right to do whatever it deems appropriate, says that we need a new order. Therefore, we see that all American decisions and I do not say Trump, Trump represents this important institution “America”, the issue is not a personal battle with Trump. There are centers for decision-making. The way decisions are presented varies from president to president, but decision-making is not the choice of the president. So, there is an American approach that we want a new world by all standards, for example, we do not accept attempts to depart from the dollar's control over global transactions, this is a very important and sensitive issue and there is no room for maneuver. And when Macron calls for new international currency, I think the anger on Macron is based on his declarations when he said it is time for a new world currency, this talk is not a music which suits the USA, never.

SAE: For the dollar, you mentioned a very important issue, which is linked to the Bretton Woods system, many economists talk about the petrodollars?

Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh: There is no such thing as the petrodollar. This means that oil is sold in dollars. There is no dollar on which it is written “oil”. As the American proverb says, the US dollar is green and has no other colors.

Also, I laugh when it is said that oil prices are determined by supply and demand. For example, we note in a certain month that oil prices are falling by 50% and this happened really, and the price dropped to 20 dollars. Does the consumption of the world fall by 50% in one day or one month, and then rise once, these days oil prices rise on a daily basis. Is there a measure of supply and demand for oil?! Of course not. These are political decisions.

SAE: Is there a possibility for a particular entity to compete with the dollar?

Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh: I do not disclose secrets. Today some countries started to deal bilaterally with their own currencies; this is not acceptable for the USA. In Bretton Woods, the dollar became the only currency to deal with, as a measurement currency and as a reserve currency. This is now under discussion. China and all the BRICS said, "The time has come". The World Bank is looking at other currency formats. There are a lot of transactions going on between countries. We went back to Barter's theory. This is a departure from the dollar's control of the world, and we must consider certain circumstances.

In my view, the issue is not only the uniqueness of America in the decision-making, America feels that the world we live in now no longer fits what was formulated 70 or 80 years ago. We know that wars end with meetings, negotiations and agreements. There is no local, regional or international war unless it ends with meetings to negotiate and take new decisions. That is what is required: a war to force America, Britain, China and Russia to sit at the negotiating table to find new solutions for the world.

SAE: Regarding IP, economists say that IP is being used as a weapon to undermine small businesses and prevent new competitors from entering.

Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh: There are no big and small companies. I served on the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) system, which is responsible for intellectual property, and on the World Trade Organization (WTO) Council of Experts, to discuss intellectual property. Intellectual property systems and agreements are clear, there is no small or large.

There are laws that determine how to register your invention, how to protect your invention, how to file claims and procedures for those who infringe your invention. There is a new look at this subject led by America. America thinks this system is flawed, when I invented a mobile phone, for example, and you invent a better mobile,

As we are now making an IT device laptop or tablet better than the existing ones, this is an exploitation of the existing product, and is not a new invention. The WTO agreements in the TRIPS Council and the World Intellectual Property Organization, and intellectual property agreements in the whole world, say that any update on something that exists is a new invention, this is the current system.

Now there is an American point of view that says: when it put Apple products in China to delocalize the production, China took the technology of Apple and made a new invention. This invention is an infringement on the USA, though China has to pay compensation for that, this is a view I don't want to look into, because this is a conflict between big countries, and by the way, no one is talking about it. The dispute between China and the USA is, in my opinion, not about product taxes, customs or economic sanctions, but about this invention.

Because if you want to talk about the theft or aggression of American technologies by China you are talking, and I use these words from an American point of view, you are talking about not only billions, but trillions of dollars. We are talking about all fields and not just IT tools, for example, the Internet, is an American invention and in return there is a Chinese Internet. America considers this infringement of its rights from its point of view. From the Chinese point of view, intellectual property agreements say that any different invention or so-called innovation, with modernization, is a new invention and this is the biggest problem.

SAE: By the way, I read an economic book in which the Chinese economy is mentioned as a new paradigm, it has changed the Western economic model based on creativity, by relying on imitation and led to a new economic revolution.

Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh: I feel this is the main problem, the rest is only details. Because in this world, in my opinion, power, domination and control over the world are the product of technology, and it is no longer the same as before, i.e., as a result of the economic, political and military power, this was before. The most important criterion now is not military power, but two things: technical power and economic power, and technical power is the one that leads to economic power. It can be summed up that technical superiority is the leadership of the world.

SAE: Regarding the Arab economy, what is your assessment of the Arab economy? There are strong factors of natural resources and population. How do you evaluate the Arab economies in general and what are the obstacles to the renaissance and economic development?

Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh: The problem I say with pain, there is not a single Arab economy and there is no Arab economic integration. The Arab League, although having an important role, does not achieve economic integration, however it is a house for Arabs and represents a symbol of our Arab unity, but there is no such thing as the Arab economy. The Arab countries deal with foreign countries far more than they do with each other. Second, there is no similarity between the economy in any Gulf state, with Morocco, or with a country in the middle of the Arab world. The problem now is, according to a recent study, you will see in my report on the world economy that in 2030, the Chinese economy will become twice the size of the US economy, 2030 means tomorrow.

SAE: Actually the Chinese economy surpassed the US economy.

Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh: But it will be twice the US economy and what will become the second economy? then India, then Indonesia. We are facing a changing world because the criteria for growth is not traditional standards that were in the past, now it depends on: first, the size of the population, and I wish we can say that the size of our population is such, because there is no relationship between the size of the population in any country with any other Arab country, while when we talk about Indonesia the size of its population or India the size of its population. In the world productive knowledge is per capita and therefore the size of the population is very important. And secondly that you can act by turning your country into a state technical knowledge that can compete with technology and this is a very important subject, because we still think that’s the power to attract investment. We invoke our time in calling for investment and bringing in foreign investments, while one invention, for example, Google is a computer application that does not require raw materials, investment, foreign capital, government capital or anything like that. We do not even know where it is located, it is worth about one trillion dollars, the size of the Arab economy.

SAE: Actually we cannot talk about a unified Arab economy, but because of language factors, you can talk about one Arab market, for example, your invention could target the Arab world as a single market?

Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh: It is not possible to think of the Arab region as a single market, because every country has its own systems, borders, requirements, standard of living, own capabilities, there is no one country, we are not India. And even the Common Market Agreement, of course, a dream has not been achieved, let us start again, if we want to become one market and one force, we must start again and stop dreaming and say what we must do to become so.

SAE: Concerning the entrepreneurship, what is your point of view of the entrepreneurship in the Arab world? It is generally said that the future is not for jobs but for independent careers or entrepreneurship, what is do you think of this and what sectors can be worked on and developed?

Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh: Entrepreneurs are part of the country's economy. For example, when Bill Gates succeeds, the entire US economy benefits, so I strongly support entrepreneurs, I was yesterday in a ceremony to honor the first students of the Tawjihi (High school) in Jordan. And I honored the outstanding students and I gave them honorary shields and discussed with them because they are the ones who can make the future.

SAE: Are there specific sectors you recommend to invest in?

Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh: Never, any invention in the world, who can imagine that an invention such as a telephone will change the world?! I was, of course, involved in the development of information technology strategies when I was elected at the United Nations in 2001 as the head of United Nations’ IT team that developed the IT strategy of mobile phones, laptops, etc. Any innovation is an invention. If you invent a system to protect cyber security, it's an invention. And if you invent something in genetics, it is an invention, an innovation in robots is an invention. There are no limits for innovations. Entrepreneurs have infinite initiatives. They have a sea of ​​inventions to do. I have referred to this during my meeting with the students yesterday. I said you cannot imagine how many areas you have to invent, if you are an engineer you have areas for inventions in engineering by applying artificial intelligence, there are countless possibilities to invent. In this field there are more than 1000 projects and ways to develop the engineering system. I said a sentence and I want to conclude by it. All what the human mind can imagine as a dream or imagination is a reality waiting for the realization. Almighty when he created man, he makes his mind as the leadership of creativity. I mean, if you think that there is something to happen and it will happen, when we were thinking about making a plane that could fly, it was a joke, how could an iron object fly in the air? Science fiction in the past was for entertainment, but today it has become a fact. So, all that the human mind can imagine is a fact waiting for the realization.

 (English)

طلال ابو غزالة العالمية من الخدمات الى انتاج أول كمبيوتر عربي

في مقابلة حصرية مع مؤسس ورئيس المجموعة سعادة الاستاذ طلال أبوغزاله يحدثنا عن أول اختراع عربي في مجال المعلوماتية

في اطار المقابلات التي تجريها منصة رواد الأعمال العرب السويسريين مع الشخصيات الاقتصادية العربية والاجنبية المؤثرة، قمنا باجراء لقاء مع الدكتور طلال أبو غزالة مؤسس ورئيس طلال أبو غزالة العالمية.

في هذه المقابلة يسلط الدكتور طلال ابو غزالة الضوء على جهاز الحاسوب الجديد الذي تمكنت مجموعته من انتاجه بالكامل. وهو يستعرض اصول الخلاف القائم بين أمريكا والصين ...والرغبة في ايجاد نظام عالمي جديد والحد من النفوذ الصيني.

ثم ينتقل بنا الى التعريف بمبدأ عام من مباديء الملكية الفكرية بما يسمح لأي فرد أو دولة من استلهام افكارجديدة من خلال منتجات قائمة وتطويرها لتسجيل اختراع جديد، ومن هنا فقد حدثنا عن النهضة الاقتصادية الصينية وكيف تمكنت الصين من استخدام هذا المبدأ لتطوير التكنولوجيا الخاصة بها والتفوق على التقنية الامريكية.

وبخصوص العالم العربي، فقد اعتبر أنه لا وجود لاقتصاد عربي موحد ولا حتى سوق عربية مشتركة بالنظر الى التباينات بين الدول العربية وضعف التبادلات البينية فيما بينها، معربا عن أسفه من عدم الوصول الى التكامل الاقتصادي بين الدول العربية وعدم وجود دور فعال للعرب على المستوى الدولي.

كما قام الدكتور طلال ابو غزاله باطلاعنا على التوجهات الحالية الهامة للنمو الاقتصادي في ظل الثورة الصناعية الراهنة القائمة على التقنيات المعرفية...فالمعرفة هي الثروة الحقيقية....والانسان يشكل عمادها ومادتها الاساسية.

وبخصوص القطاعات الاقتصادية التي بحاجة للاستثمارات، قال بأنه لا حاجة لاضاعة الوقت في البحث عن الاستثمارات الاجنبية، وضرورة الاعتماد على الذات، معربا عن دعمه الكامل لريادة الأعمال والابداع، وختم بالقول أنه لا حدود لابداع العقل البشري، فأية فكرة ابداعية يتخيلها العقل يمكن أن تشكل نواة لاختراع ناجح وثروة هائلة.

شاهد الفيديو.

كان لنا هذه المقابلة مع سعادة الدكتور طلال ابو غزالة

 مؤسس المنصة، الاستاذ أيمن أبو الخير مع سعادة الاستاذ طلال أبو غزالة في مقره الرئيسي في عمان - الأردن

المنصة: طلال ابو غزالة يعتبر من أبرز الشخصيات الاقتصادية في العالم العربي وهو رائد الملكية الفكرية على مستوى العالم، فيا حبذى لو تكرمت باعطائنا نبذة عن أهم انجازاتكم

د. طلال ابو غزالة: من حوالي عشرين سنة انتقلنا من المؤسسة الكبرى في الوطن العربي لنصبح عالميا. مثلا ذكرت الملكية الفكرية، نحن اكبر مؤسسة للملكية الفكرية في الدنيا. لذلك اسمنا تاغ غلوبال.. تاغ العالمية.. ولدينا ما يزيد عن 110 مكتب منتشرة في العالم. ونمارس نشاطات كلها مهنية تدقيق حسابات استشارات تدريب بناء قدرات، في كل المجالات المهنية.

وهذا الشهر بدأنا نشاط جديد وهو نشاط انتاج ادوات التقنية سواءا تابلتس او لابتوبس.

المنصة: في الواقع قرأت عن هذا في الاعلان اذا ممكن تعطونا توضيح عن الاجهزة المختلفة التي تنتجونها؟

د. طلال ابو غزالة: نحن نشعر ان منطقتنا بحاجة الى أن تدخل صناعة الكمبيوتر، لانه لا يوجد سبب يمنع أن يكون هذا الوطن العربي، وانا رايت خارطتك عن الوطن العربي واهتمامك بالوطن العربي، يستحق الوطن العربي ان يكون لديه صناعة كمبيوتر كما للدول الاخرى ...صرنا ندرس ونجرب... خلال فترة عدة سنوات الى أن انتجنا تابلت (tablet) والهدف منها بالاضافة الى أنها جهاز لكل الاستعمالات هي تصلح لأن تكون الحقيبة الدراسية (Smart school bag).

تكاليف المدارس عالية جدا على الدولة... ان تفتح مدرسة وما يعنيه ذلك من تكاليف من منشات واساتذة وطلبة وكتب وما يلزم من تجهيزات... في حين أنه يمكن توفير الكثير باستخدام دراسة بتقنية المعلومات ... دراسة ذكية معرفية. بالاضافة الى هذا الجهاز انجزنا جهازي لابتوب من تصميمنا وتصنيعنا، نحن لسنا منتجين مع مؤسسة تصنيع، نحن ننتج ونسوق، والبراند (العلامة التجارية) خاص بنا ولا يوجد معنا شريك وهي تاغ تك (طلال ابو غزالة للتقنية) ويتم انتاجها بشكل كامل من قبلنا، الفرق الوحيد أننا اردنا في البداية شيء يخفف التكلفة من خلال رسالتنا لنشر المعرفة في الوطن العربي وفي العالم بشكل عام، بالتالي بدانا من منطلق كيف نوفر جهاز رخيص أو منافس في السعر، ولكن بالنظر الى أن اسمنا هو طلال ابو غزالة العالمية، وللحفاظ على الجودة لم يكن باستطاعتنا تنزيل جهاز الى السوق بمستوى اقل من أي مستوى كمبيوتر في العالم، من هنا اصبحنا امام محددين: التكلفة التنافسية واعلى مواصفات عالمية للجودة...اي جهازين بمواصفات أعلى من الموجود في الدنيا.. وانا اتكلم عن المنتجين الرئيسيين في العالم...نحن لدينا تقنيات بمواصفات أعلى من كل الموجود في الدنيا...اما من حيث السعر.. فكون أن هذا المشروع الهدف منه خدمة المجتمع قامت مؤسسة طلال أبو غزالة (Talal Abu Ghazaleh Foundation) والتي هي الذراع لطلال ابو غزالة العالمية لاعمال خدمة المجتمع بتمويل هذا المشروع وبهدف أن يصبح سعره منافسا، وفي نفس الوقت.. واقول لا تصدقونني.. ولكن صدقوا الحقيقة وانظروا الى الجهاز وقوموا بفحصه، قارنوا سعره .. ونحن وضعنا في شعاراتنا (قارن ثم قرر)... قارن هذا الجهاز مع احسن الاجهزة في السوق اذا لم يكن أفضل منها..لا تشتريه.. وقارن سعره، اذا لم يكن أرخص منها ...لا تشتريه... فنحن انجزنا جهاز بأعلى المواصفات .. وبتقريبا نصف السعر... سوف نبدأ من منطقة معينة... وهي المنطقة العربية ..ولكن هدفنا ليست هذه المنطقة فحسب، كما أن ابو غزالة للملكية الفكرية ونشاطات أخرى كثيرة نحن نقود العالم من خلالها، لا ارى أية عقدة أو خجل بأن أقول أننا نريد أن نصبح من المنتجين الدوليين لتقنية المعلومات ...ادوات تقنية المعلومات.

المنصة: نشكركم على هذه المبادرة لانه فعلا. السؤال هو لماذا لا يدخل العالم العربي التصنيع التقني في مجال الكمبيوتر أو التلفونات أو التابلت؟.

د. طلال ابو غزالة: كل الدنيا الدول الغربية والشرقية تنتج هذه التقنيات، هل هو ممنوع على العرب وحدهم أن ينتجوا؟ هل هناك قرار صادر ينص على منع انتاج الاجهزة، واقول هذا الكلام، لان هذا هو اول انتاج عربي من القطاع الخاص.

المنصة: بخصوص المنافسة، سمعت المقارنة التي اجريتها بين السعر والنوعية، نتمنى أن نرى عرض حول مزايا الجهاز؟.

د. طلال ابو غزالة: نقول نحن الافضل نوعا ومواصفاتا، والاكثر تنافسية سعرا. لان اسمنا الدولي وسمعتنا كلها مرتبطة مع بعضها البعض... ونحن حريصين على انتاج جهاز بمواصفات عالية يعكس سمعتنا كواحدة من اكبر شركات المحاسبة في الدنيا وتدقيق الحسابات والاستشارات والترجمة، ونحن اكبر شركة ترجمة في العالم.. نحن اكبر شركة في تقديم برامج التدريب والتأهيل وبناء القدرات في العالم... ونحن اكبر شركة في مجال الملكية الفكرية...لذلك لا نستطيع انتاج منتج ليس على اعلى مستوى، فسمعتنا هي مسألة غاية في الاهمية... وكل نشاطاتنا تنضوي تحت اسم تاغ (Tag)، لذلك لا نستطيع الا أن نكون منتجين للجهاز الأفضل... بدعم من تاغ فاونديشن (Tag foundation) استطعنا أن نجعل هذه التكلفة الارخص.

المنصة: نشكرك جزيل الشكر عن هذه المقدمة عن الاختراع والانتاج العربي في مجال اجهزة الكمبيوتر والتابلت لاول مرة من انتاج شركة أبو غزالة...يقال أن شركة ابو غزالة اكبر شركة في العالم...فهل هي اكبر شركة في الملكية الفكرية أم المحاسبة؟

د. طلال ابو غزالة: هي اكبر شركة في الملكية الفكرية على الاطلاق، في مجال المحاسبة، هناك ما يسمى فورم اوف فيرمز (Forum of Firms) تحت مظلة الاتحاد الدولي للمحاسبين القانونيين ifac (www.ifac.org) في نيويورك، هذا الاتحاد اسس ملتقى (Forum of Accounting Firms) ويختصر ب (FOF) وهو يحتوي على عشرين شركة هي ما يسمى لدى اهل المهنة بـ ج20 وشركتنا تعتبر عضوا فيها، ونحن الوحيدون من المنطقة.

هذا المنتدى (فورم اوف فيرمز) يضم الشركات العالمية التي تلتزم بتطبيق معايير ومباديء المحاسبة الدولية... سواءا كمعايير او مبادي الشفافية... التركيز هو على الالتزام بالمباديء والشفافية... من ينطبق عليه هذه الشروط ينضم الى هذا المنتدى... ونحن عضو فيه منذ تأسيسه وحتى الان.

المنصة: بخصوص مسيرتك الشخصية، ما هي اصعب اللحظات التي واجهتها؟

د. طلال ابو غزالة: بالنسبة لي أصعب اللحظات هي احلى اللحظات...انا اؤمن بأن المشاكل هي التي تصنع النجاح، وان المعاناة نعمة، وعندما يأتوني زملائي يقولون لدينا مشكلة، اقول الحمد لله على ذلك، فيقولون ايها المدير لدينا مشكلة، اقول اسمعك تماما، المشكلة تعني أن هناك حل، يعني أن هناك نجاحا، عندما يكون لديك مشكلة وتستطيع أن تجد لها الحلول وتنتصر عليها. هذه فرصة، فالمشكلة هي فرصة وليست هي مشكلة فقط.

كما اتكلم عن الاقتصاد العالمي الان. وانا اصدرت تقرير كامل يمكن أن ازودك به، عن الازمة العالمية القادمة. والتقرير يشرح كيفية وماهية هذه الازمة التي ستنتهي، وانا اتوقع أن يحصل هذا العام القادم 2020، ستنتهي بما يسمى (stagflation) (الرُّكود التضخُّميّ) أي كساد وغلاء اسعار في نفس الوقت. وهذه وصفة مميتة وسيئة جدا. أن يكون كساد مع ارتفاع في الاسعار. بالتالي انا ازعم وانا لست ابتدع هذا الامر ولا احلم، فأنا ادرس واحلل الظواهر، مراكز الدراسات في العالم وبالذات في امريكا تقول ان هذه الازمة ستفرض على امريكا أن تدخل في حرب. والحرب هذه ليست مع ايران، وجود ايران في المعادلة لأنها تأتي كمزود للصين بالنفط فقط. المشكلة في اجتهادي الشخصي، من حيث منع ايران من تصدير النفط هو ليس بسبب السلاح النووي، فنحن نعرف أن هناك العديد من الدول في العالم لديها السلاح النووي، المشكلة ليست مشكلة قنبلة ذرية أو نووية، المشكلة هي أن امريكا تريد ان تضع حدا لصعود الصين تقنيا واقتصاديا. وهذا حقها، لو كنت انا امريكا، لا يمكن أن أسمح لدولة ما أن تتفوق علي. تعالي يا صين لنجلس سويا، وهذا ليس رأيي ولكني ألخص ما تقوله مراكز الابحاث. امريكا تريد أن تجلس مع الصين، والصين ليست موافقة على الجلوس لوضع نظام عالمي جديد.

الولايات المتحدة الامريكية، وهذا اجتهادها وهي حرة في ذلك، تقول أن النظام الحالي الذي وضع بعد الحرب العالمية الثانية في العام 1948 وما نتج عنه من بريتن وودز وغيرها وما نتج عنها لاحقا لم يعد صالحا، فهي تريد الجلوس مع الصين لصياغة نظام عالمي جديد. الصين تقول انا ليس لدي طوح في السيطرة على العالم لا سياسيا ولا عسكريا ولا اداريا، أنا التزم بما هو موجود من معايير قائمة لأن ذلك يناسبها.

امريكا، وانا اكرر ان لها الحق أن تقوم بكل ما تراه مناسبا لها تقول اننا نحتاج الى نظام جديد. ولذلك نرى أن كل القرارات الامريكية، ولا اقول ترامب، فترامب يمثل المؤسسة الهامة أمريكا، فالمسألة ليست معركة شخصية مع ترامب. فهنالك مراكز لاتخاذ القرارات. طريقة اخراجها وتقديمها تختلف من رئيس الى اخر لكن صنع القرار ليس من صنع الرئيس. فبالتالي هناك توجه امريكي باننا نحن نريد عالم جديد بكل المعايير

ولا نقبل مثلا المحاولات للخروج عن سيطرة الدولار في التعاملات العالمية هذا موضوع مهم جدا وحساس ولا مجال فيه للمزاح، وعندما ينادي ماكرون، وانا اعتقد ان الغضب على ماكرون اساسه مقالته عندما قال حان الوقت لعملة عالمية جديدة، هذا الكلام ليس بالموسيقى بالنسبة لامريكا، بيس موسيقي ابدا.

المنصة: بالنسبة للدولار، ذكرت مسألة مهمة جدا، وهو مرتبط بنظام بريتون وودز، ويتم الحديث عن البترودولار؟

د. طلال ابو غزالة: لا يوجد شيء يسمى بترودولار وهذه من الأمور التي تضحكني، المقصود من هذا ان البترول يباع بالدولار، لا يوجد دولار مكتوبا عليه بترول، كما يقول الامريكيون (the color of money is green) فالدولار الامريكي لونه أخضر ولا يوجد عليه الوان اخرى. كذلك فانني اضحك عندما يقولوا بأن اسعار النفط يقررها العرض والطلب. مثلا نلاحظ في شهر معين بأن أسعار النفط تنخفض بنسبة 50% وحصل هذا الأمر وانخفض السعر الى 20 دولار، فهل استهاك العالم انخفض بنسبة 50% في يوم واحد أو بشهر واحد، ثم يرتفع مرة واحدة، هذه الأيام ترتفع اسعار النفط بشكل يومي. فهل هناك من يقوم بقياس العرض والطلب على النفط؟! طبعا لا، هذه قرارات سياسية.

المنصة: هل هناك امكانية قيام جهة معينة بمنافسة الدولار؟

د. طلال ابو غزالة: أنا لا افشي اسرار، هنالك تصاريح معلنة، بأن الدول بدأت تتعامل بشكل ثنائي بعملاتها (bilaterally)، وهذا غير مقبول امريكيا، لان هناك عملة واحدة وهذا ما تقرر في بريتون وودز ولا يجب أن ننسى أهمية بريطانيا في هذا الموضوع يعني تنازل بريطانيا عن الاسترليني في بريتون وودز ليصبح الدولار العملة الوحيدة للتعامل كعملة قياس وكعملة احتياط، هذا الان اصبح موضع نقاش، فالصين قالت وكل مجموعة بريكس (BRICS) قالت حان الوقت، كذلك البنك الدولي يبحث في صيغ لعملة أخرى هناك تعاملات كبيرة اصبحت تقوم بين الدول، رجعنا الى نظرية المقايضة (Barter) اي بنفس القيمة خذ مني واعطيك، فهذا هو خروج عن سيطرة الدولار على العالم، ويجب أن نراعي ظروف معينة، أنا في نظري أن الموضوع ليس فقط انفراد أمريكا في اتخاذ القرار، امريكا تشعر أن العالم الذي نعيش فيه الان لم يعد يصلح له ما صيغ قبل 70 أو 80 سنة. نحن نعلم أن الحروب تنتهي باجتماعات ومفاوضات واتفاقيات، لا يوجد حرب محلية ولا اقليمية ولا دولية، الا انتهت باجتماعات للتفاوض واتخاذ قرارات جديدة، فهذا هو المطلوب، المطلوب أن تحصل حرب لتجبر امريكا ومعها بريطانيا، والصين ومعها روسيا ليجلسوا على طاولة التفاوض لايجاد حلول جديدة للعالم.

المنصة: بخصوص الملكية الفكرية، يقول الاقتصاديون بان الملكية الفكرية تستخدم كسلاح للنيل من الشركات الصغيرة والحيلولة دون دخول منافسين جدد؟

د. طلال ابو غزالة: لا يوجد شركات كبيرة وصغيرة. انا خدمت على نظام المنظمة العالمية للملكية الفكرية التي تعتبر مسؤولة عن الملكية الفكرية وعلى مجلس خبراء المنظمة العالمية للتجارة، لبحث شؤون المليكة الفكرية. الملكية الفكرية هي انظمة واتفاقيات واضحة، لا يوجد فيها صغير أو كبير. فيها قوانين تحدد كيف تسجل اختراعك، كيف تحمي اختراعك، كيف ترفع دعاوى واجراءات لمن يتعدى على اختراعك. هنالك نظرة جديدة في هذا الموضوع تقودها امريكا، أمريكا تعتقد أن هذا النظام فيه خلل ما، عندما اخترع أنا موبايل على سبيل المثال، وانت تخترع موبايل افضل منه. كما نحن الان نصنع جهاز تقنية معلومات جهاز لابتوب او تابلت أحسن من الموجود. هذا يعتبر استغلال للمنتج الموجود، ولا يعتبر أختراع جديد. اتفاقيات المنظمة العالمية للتجارة في مجلس تريبس (TRIPS) والمنظمة العالمية للملكية الفكرية، واتفاقيات الملكية الفكرية في كل الدنيا تقول أن أي تحديث على شيء موجود هو اختراع جديد. هذا هو النظام الحالي. الان هناك وجهة نظر امريكية تقول أنني عندما وضعت منتجات أبل لديكم في الصين لصناعتها فأخذتم التقنية الموجودة في أبل وعملتم مخترع جديد، هذا المخترع هو تعدي علي ويتوجب عليكم دفع تعويضات على ذلك، هذه وجهة نظر لا أريد أن ابحث فيها، لأن هذا صراع بين الكبار، وبالمناسبة هذا الموضوع لا يتحدث فيه احد. الخلاف ين الصين وأمريكا بحسب رأيي ليس حول الضرائب على المنتجات ولا على الجمارك ولا العقوبات الاقتصادية، بل هو بشأن هذا الموضوع. لانك اذا اردت أن تتكلم على سرقة أو تعدي على تقنيات أمريكية من قبل الصين أنت تتكلم، وانا استعمل هذه الكلمات من وجهة نظر أمريكية، أنت تتكلم عن، ليس فقط مليارات، بل تريليونات. نحن نتحدث عن كل المجالات وليس فقط الادوات التقنية، في كل مجال،

مثلا الانترنت، هي اختراع امريكي وفي المقابل هناك انترنت صينية، أمريكا تعتبر هذا تعدي على حقوقها من وجهة نظرها. من وجهة نظر صينية اتفاقيات الملكية الفكرية تقول ان اي اختراع مختلف أو ما يمسى (innovation) ابتكار، فيه تحديث، هو اختراع جديد وهذه هي المشكلة الكبرى.

المنصة: بالمناسبة تعقيبا على هذا الموضوع، قرات في كتاب اقتصادي يذكر فيه الاقتصاد الصيني كنموذج جديد غير المعطيات الحالية بحيث أنه قلب النوذج الغربي القائم على الابداع، من خلال اعتماده على المحاكاة وادى الى احداث ثورة اقتصادية جديدة.

د. طلال ابو غزالة: في شعوري هذه هي المشكلة الرئيسية، والباقي كله تفاصيل لانه، وانا ازعم، القوة والهيمنة والسيطرة على العالم هي نتاج التقنية ولم تعد كما في السابق: الاقتصاد والقوة السياسية والعسكرية، هذا كان في السابق، وهكذا انهار الاتحاد السوفييتي رغم أنه كان متفوقا عسكريا ولكنه كان متخلف اقتصاديا، لم يعد هذا المعيار، المعيار الأهم الان اصبح ليس القوة العسكرية بل شيئين: القوة التقنية والقوة الاقتصادية، والقوة التقنية هي التي توصل الى القوة الاقتصادية، فيمكن اختصار الموضوع بأن التفوق التقني هو قيادة العالم.

المنصة: بخصوص الاقتصاد العربي ما هو تقييمك للاقتصاد العربي. هناك عوامل قوة من الموارد الطبيعية والسكان. كيف تقيم الاقتصادات العربية بشكل عام وما هي المعوقات للنهضة والتنمية الاقتصادية؟.

د. طلال ابو غزالة: المشكلة وأقولها بألم، ليس هناك اقتصاد عربي واحد وليس هناك اي تكامل اقتصادي عربي، لكي نكون صادقين مع انفسنا، الاوضاع العالمية والسياسية الاقليمية والمحلية فرضت علينا أن لا يكون هناك تكامل اقتصادي. بالتالي لا نستطيع ان نتكلم عن الدول العربية كوحدة. الجامعة العربية جامعة تدار بطريقة لا تحقق التكامل الاقتصادي. لها دور هام وأنا أعتز بها كبيت للعرب وكرمز لوحدتنا العربية، لكن لا يوجد شيء يسمى الاقتصاد العربي.

الدول العربية تتعامل مع الدول الاجنبية بشكل اكبر بكثير من تعاملها مع بعضها البعض. ثانيا لا يوجد تشابه لا بين الاقتصاد الموجود في اية دولة خليجية أو دولة في المغرب أو في دولة في وسط العالم العربي. المشكلة الان اصبحت، وفقا لدراسة حديثة، ستراها في تقريري عن الاقتصد العالمي، تقول بأنه في العام 2030، سيصبح الاقتصاد الصيني ضعف حجم الاقتصاد الأمريكي، 2030 يعني بكرة.

المنصة: فعليا الاقتصاد الصيني تجاوز الاقتصاد الأمريكي.

د. طلال ابو غزالة: لكن سيصبح الضعف. الاقتصاد الثاني حجما في العالم هو الهند، وبعدها اندونيسيا. نحن أمام عالم متغير لان معايير النمو فيه ليست المعايير التقليدية. الانتاجية الان تعتمد على: اولا، حجم السكان، ولا نستطيع القول أن حجم سكان العالم العربي كذا، لأنه ليس هناك علاقة بين حجم السكان في اي دولة مع أي دولة عربية أخرى، على العكس في كل من أندونيسيا أو الهند اللتان تتمتعان بحجم سكان كبير.

في عالم المعرفة الانتاجية هي للفرد وبالتالي حجم السكان مهم جدا. وثانيا أن تستطيع أن تتصرف بتحويل دولتك الى دولة معرفية تقنية تستطيع أن تنافس تكنولولجيا. وهذا موضوع مهم جدا، لاننا ما زلنا نظن بأن القوة في استجلاب استثمارات اجنبية، ونصرف وقتنا في الدعوة للاستثمار وجلب الاستثمارات الاجنبية في حين أن اختراع واحد، الذي هو برنامج (بروغرام)، مثلا غوغل ما هي الا تطبيق على الكمبيوتر لا يحتاج الى مواد أولية ولا استثمار ولا رأس مال أجنبي ولا رأس مال حكومي ولا أي شيء من هذا القبيل ولا يعرف أصلا اين هي. اصبحت قيمتها توازي تريليون دولار وهو حجم الاقتصاد العربي. فنظرتنا للتوجه الاقتصادي ما زالت بالمعايير التي اصبحت لا تنطبق في عصر المعرفة.

المنصة: اذا كان لا يمكن الحديث عن اقتصاد عربي موحد، نتيجة لعوامل اللغة، يمكن مثلا الحديث عن سوق عربي واحد، على سبيل المثال الاختراع الخاص بكم يمكن أن يستهدف العالم العربي كسوق واحد؟

د. طلال ابو غزالة: لا يمكن التفكير في المنطقة العربية كسوق واحد اطلاقا، لان كل دولة لها أنظمتها وحدودها ومتطلباتها ومستوى معيشتها ومستوى الغلاء فيها وقدراتها، فلا يوجد دولة واحدة، نحن لسنا الهند، وحتى اتفاقية السوق المشتركة طبعا اصبحت حلم لم يتحقق، فدعنا نبدأ من جديد، اذا نريد أن نصبح سوق واحدة وقوية واحدة يجب أن نبدأ من جديد ونتوقف عن الحلم ونقول ماذا يجب أن نعمل كي نصبح كذلك.

المنصة: بالنسبة لريادة الأعمال، ما هي نظرتك لريادة الأعمال في العالم العربي، ويقال بشكل عام بأن المستقبل هو ليس للوظائف ولكن للمهن المستقلة أو ريادة الأعمال، ما هي نظرتك لهذا الأمر وما هي القطاعات التي يمكن العمل عليها وتطويرها؟

د. طلال ابو غزالة: رواد الأعمال هم جزء من اقتصاد البلد. مثلا عندما ينجح بيل غيتس فان الاقتصاد الامريكي برمته يستفيد. لذلك انا اؤيد وأدعم بقوة رواد الأعمال. وقد كنت شاركت في احتفال لتكريم طلبة التوجيهي الأوائل في الاردن، وكرمتهم واعطيتهم الدروع التكريمية وجلست معهم وحاورتهم لانهم هم من يستطيع أن يصنع المستقبل.

المنصة: هل هناك قطاعات محددة تود أن يتم التوجه اليها؟

د. طلال ابو غزالة: ابدا، اي اختراع في الدنيا. من يمكن ان يتخيل أن اختراع مثل جهاز التلفون سيغير العالم. وأنا طبعا كنت في اساس وضع استراتيجيات تقنيات المعلومات عندما انتخبت في الامم المتحدة عام 2001 كرئيس لفريق تقنية المعلومات في الامم المتحدة الذي وضع اتسراتيجية تقنيات المعلومات من موبايلات ولابتوبس...الخ. أي تطوير هو أختراع. فلو تخترع نظام لحماية الأمن السبرالي هو اختراع. وان تخترع شيء في الجينيتكس هو اختراع. وتخترع اختراع في الروبوتس هو اختراع. الاختراعات لا حدود لها. والمبادرات توفر لمبادري الأعمال بحر من المجالات ليخترعوا. وقد اشرت الى هذا الأمر خلال لقائي مع الطلبة. قلت لا يمكن أن تتخيل كم مجال امامك للاختراع، اذا كنت مهندس لديك مجال للاختراعات في الهندسة. هناك تطبيقات في الذكاء الاصطناعي لا تحصى. في هذا المجال هناك اكثر من 1000 مشروع وطريقة لتطوير نظام الهندسة. وانا قلت جملة واريد أن اختم بها: كل ما يستطيع العقل البشري أن يتخيله... كحلم أو كخيال هو حقيقة تنتظر التطبيق. سبحانه وتعالى عندما خلق الانسان جعل عقله هو القيادة للابداع. يعني اذا أنا فكرت أن هنالك شيء يجب أن يحصل وممكن أن يحصل سيحصل. عندما كنا نفكر كيف يمكن للطائرة أن تطير كان الأمر نكتة. اذ كيف يمكن لجسم حديدي أن يطير في الهواء. كان الخيال العلمي في الماضي للتسلية فاصبح حقيقة. كل ما يستطيع العقل البشري أن يتخيله هو حقيقة تنتظر التطبيق!.

Exclusive Interview for SA Entrepreneurs

Bahrain EDB is the country’s investment promotion agency. In practice, the EDB’s acts as a nerve centre for the Kingdom’s economic ambitions

1. Can you tell us about the role of the economic development board of Bahrain?

On the surface, Bahrain EDB is the country’s investment promotion agency. Although in practice, we have developed the EDB’s network and scope to the extent that it acts as a nerve centre for the Kingdom’s economic ambitions.

The EDB functions as a business development division, but we do not stop at just finding the right investors and business prospects. We offer this through our integrated Team Bahrain proposition. When an opportunity arises, we consider every network, contact and resource that could help the prospect launch and grow successfully. This starts from introducing the prospect to relevant government entities and local private sector businesses. It continues to ensure they have access to funding, infrastructure, and the right talent locally.

At the EDB, we are determined to be anything but complacent in our ability to attract new investments. We go all in and have had great results with this approach. For example, ICT continues to be a focus sector for us as we look at promoting Bahrain’s potential. We have cloud aspirations but only an embryonic data centre network. Knowing this could be a gamechanger for Bahrain, we invited the biggest cloud providers to come see for themselves how we could give them access to the $1.5 trillion regional economy. From regulation to cost-effectiveness, we were able to show a clear advantage over other cities. Today, Amazon Web Services (AWS), the biggest and fastest growing cloud enabler globally, is setting up its regional hub in Bahrain. As the EDB, we have taken every measure to make Bahrain the top choice, and this is the differentiation we bring to every conversation.

2. What are the main sectors in which you have been successful so far in attracting foreign investors? any data on their sectorial distribution in terms of the size of investments?

We have five main sectors and two subsectors that we, as the EDB, are promoting actively to investors. ICT, which accounted for 5% of FDI in 2018 is definitely top on our economic agenda. As with the AWS example, we have been keenly developing the sector to become a key growth generator. As you can imagine, technology cuts across all industries and segments of business, and this is where we see its value.

Another core area that we are focused on is the financial sector. Bahrain has a long-standing tradition of being a financial hub in the region. We were admittedly slower in evolving the sector technologically than other financial hubs, but this is something we believe is changing rapidly. In fact, we are currently the only country in the region to have an onshore regulatory sandbox, which today includes close to 30 FinTech concepts, in cryptocurrency, trade, payments and more.

FinTech is also an important growth segment for Bahrain. One of the key advantages we offer is competitive operating costs, approximately 30-40% less than neighbouring countries. In the Gulf, FinTech startups are expected to attract $2bn in private funding over the next 10 years, compared to $150m over the previous decade. To this end, we have developed Bahrain FinTech Bay as the region’s largest hub for FinTech businesses to come together, collaborate, learn and grow.

As part of our efforts to diversify the economy, we have also built up our profile as a manufacturing hub. The sector, along with logistics and transportation brought in a significant 24% of investments last year. Much of this comes down to the cost advantage, as well as connectivity to the entire GCC and most importantly to the largest market, Saudi Arabia.

Logistics, as it complements manufacturing, is also key to other growth sectors such as ecommerce and regional trade. We have seen tremendous success in this area. In fact, today the occupancy rate of Bahrain’s logistics zone is well above 80%, compared to 39% in 2015. Moreover, the sector has attracted over US$184 million in investments, creating 875 new jobs in the market.

Finally, and most importantly, we’re developing the tourism sector in a big way. The potential here is greatly underestimated. In 2018, for example, Bahrain received a record 13.7 million international visitors, which is 7.9% over the previous year. We have two UNESCO world heritage sites, and a growing number of retail and leisure concepts prompting greater investment into tourism. For Bahrain, we think that if we can ensure we have the right assets we can see significant tourist flows.

3. What are the procedures for foreign companies to enter the market?

Bahrain has a really simplified market entry process in many ways. We have an online registration system, Sijilat, which has digitised and accelerated the entire process of obtaining a commercial registration. On top of that, the change in entry visa procedures now allows for visa on arrival for 66 countries and eVisa’s for 114 countries. In terms of regulation, we reduced the minimum capital requirement from BD 50,000 to BD 100. We at the EDB are here to support companies, and what differentiates us and Bahrain from other business hubs is that we have a private sector approach to business. We like to call it our Team Bahrain approach, it is where the public and private sectors collaborate to create a successful business environment.

4. How can you help businesses and investors to become successful, what is your formula for entrepreneurs to be successful?

I think what is most important is that as the EDB, we recognise that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for businesses to be successful. We have consciously developed various platforms and initiatives to help entrepreneurs get the best value and returns in Bahrain. For one, as our size allows new businesses to test their products or services from here, and then scale beyond borders.

We have also worked tirelessly towards creating a startup hub in Bahrain, not just to spur investments but also to address some of the biggest challenges facing the region, such as youth unemployment. We see startups as job creators and skill enablers. To help fledgling businesses, we introduced a new bankruptcy law to allow entrepreneurs to fail and start again. In addition to that, we are the first country in the region to have a nation-wide cloud first policy, which will allow the government to provide services more efficiently and at a lower cost. Shortly after that came the data protection law which is modelled after global practices.

We believe business success is relative to the ecosystem in which it operates. Our efforts have been consistently directed at making sure Bahrain offers the ideal conditions for entrepreneurs and investors to thrive.

5. What is your vision and your efforts in terms of the 4^th industrial revolution and the digital economy?

I think as a nation we are on the right path towards digitalisation and Industry 4.0. Proving this point is the fact that we saw investment levels rise by over 13% in 2018, to approximately US$830 million..

To this end, we have attracted several incubators and accelerators, as well as a substantial flow of financing through the US$100 million Al Waha Fund of Funds. Already, we have deployed 45% across five funds, four of which are technology focused and one FinTech focused.

To add to this, Bahrain is the first country in the region to introduce a cloud-first policy. Our ability to attract big names such as AWS reinforces Bahrain’s willingness and potential to create the perfect environment for 4IR-driven disruption in the region.

We are also developing the skills to complement this evolution. This includes upskilling Bahraini talent to lead the region in highly technical fields, including in programming, coding, industry 4.0 and FinTech. Amazon Web Services has come to Bahrain and has set up their AWS Educate program. A huge number of young Bahrainis have signed up for this – even more than in India and China. Additionally, we are working with Udacity, the Polytechnic University, and Tamkeen to develop local talent as it is a very crucial part of the ecosystem.

6. The fintech industry is gaining momentum globally and in the GCC region. Why has Bahrain chosen to be a hub for FinTech, what type of cooperation do you have with Bahrain FinTech Bay?

Financial services account for close to 20% of Bahrain’s GDP. Even before FinTech became a global phenomenon, Bahrain has had a long tradition of financial innovation that is widely accepted as the leading standard in the region. Naturally, we see a clear parallel between the Kingdom’s historical success as a financial hub, and the emerging technology trends that we are now well-positioned to support, not least because of our advanced digital infrastructure.

Bahrain FinTech Bay is a shining example of how countries can catalyse expertise and innovation. We work very closely with Fintech Bay to ensure a good balance of established names and newcomers in the financial sector. The idea here is to create an environment of collaboration, mentorship and learning that generates new ways of activating financial services. We are looking to develop capabilities in RegTech, InsurTech, and Blockchain technologies. Through its state-of-the-art venture accelerator program, FinTech Bay is bringing exciting new ideas to life. We see the co-working space as a launch pad for realising Bahrain’s FinTech ambitions.

7. According to “Expat Explorer Survey”, Bahrain is in the top of the ranking (5^th place) before the USA, UK and Switzerland, how could Bahrain achieve that? 

Bahrain offers a very high quality of life that sets it apart from the rest of the region. The population mix here is balanced 50:50 between expats and Bahrainis, which reinforces the Kingdom’s long history of being a cosmopolitan trading centre. Bahrain’s connectivity with the rest of the Gulf region also plays to its strengths, with flights from most cities in the region taking less than hour.

As such, the cost of living in Bahrain is also quite favourable, with estimates showing that it is 45-70% lower than our neighbours. The country also promotes religious tolerance, and is home to a number of mosques, churches, temples, and the GCC’s only synagogue.

From the perspective of workplace diversity as well, Bahrain offers equal opportunities and encourages women to enter the workforce. As an example, women make up 61% of the EDB’s workforce, while 58% of them work in management positions. On the other hand, Bahrain offers flexible worker permits, which allow expatriates to work and live in the country without a sponsor, work full or part-time, and for more than one employer, for a renewable two-year period.

8. Can you give us some examples of the most successful stories that you have?

As mentioned earlier, Team Bahrain’s success in bringing Amazon Web Services to Bahrain is perhaps one of the most notable success stories we have seen recently.

Another notable example is the expansion of the FMCG giant, Mondelez, in Bahrain. The company opened its second facility and it’s 6^th global megaplant in the Kingdom in 2018, This was a great moment for EDB, given how closely we worked with the Mondelez team to build their trust in the market.

There were several critical factors that led to this. For one, Bahrain’s talented young workforce allowed Mondelez to build a world-class team here. The other equally important factor was access to Saudi Arabia. Approximately 97% of Mondelez products made in Bahrain are exported, of which 60% goes to Saudi Arabia. Through our Team Bahrain approach, we worked with Mondelez to reduce the transit times from its Bahrain factory to the Saudi market by 70%. This was significant, and stands as a testament to the Kingdom’s strength as a leading manufacturing hub in a fast-growing market.

9. Could you describe the entrepreneurial scene in the country? In terms of entrepreneurship, Bahrain (ranked: 10^th) overcome Switzerland (ranked: 21^st), what are your expectations in the next 10 years?

Up to 90% of Bahraini companies are SMEs, and Bahrain is top in the global startup ecosystem in terms of female founders, therefore, it’s safe to say that we see entrepreneurship as a fundamental pillar of economic growth. Education is key to develop the next generation of entrepreneurs. This forms a huge part of what we offer as a stepping stone towards entrepreneurship, through platforms such as Startup Bahrain.

We’ve seen the local startup ecosystem grow substantially in the past couple of years, from the number of accelerators and incubators to funding opportunities. This has lead to a growth in the number of startups set up in Bahrain, which has doubled, and an increaed international recognition. We recently signed an MOU with Invest Istanbul to cooperate on ecosystem development and growth and stratup support.

Looking forward, we are transforming the playing field through a comprehensive startup support programme, which is essentially a bespoke concierge for entrepreneurs. New businesses can fast-track registration applications, pitch and access funding, and really cut through the noise of business set-up. One of the more notable benefits of this programme is that it allows Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) members access to seed financing programs offered by Tamkeen, including a $13,000 grant and an accelerated activation timeline, alongside Bahrain Development Bank’s seed fuel program which offers up to $25,000 for 15% equity.

 --------------------------------------------------------

* Dr. Simon Galpin was appointed Managing Director of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) in February 2016.

Previously, Dr Galpin was the Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), the Government Department responsible for attracting and facilitating foreign direct investment into Hong Kong, and helped establish the Department as one of the world's leading investment promotion agencies.

With senior management experience in both the private and public sectors, Dr. Galpin was also actively involved in promoting Hong Kong’s expanding start-up ecosystem. Prior to joining InvestHK, Dr. Galpin spent ten years with Scottish Enterprise – at that time Europe’s largest economic development agency. He was initially posted to Hong Kong in 1992 but also worked in Glasgow, Taipei, Sydney and London.

Dr. Galpin holds Masters degrees in Business Administration, Local Economic Development and International Business Law and recently graduated as a Doctor of Juridical Science.