ICTDAR and TAGorg launch new ?Toolbox? to support micro, small and medium-sized Arab businesses

Amman – 01 May 2007, The Information and Communication Technology for Development in the Arab Region (ICTDAR) Programme – affiliated with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - , in partnership with Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAGorg), officially launched the “Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Toolbox (M/SME Toolbox),” at the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh College of Business, on April 30, 2007. The event took place at a public ceremony attended by representatives of the private sector, the government, UN agencies, embassies and the media.

The M/SME Toolbox is a new, creative business tool intended to help entrepreneurs and business owners to increase their productivity and efficiency through the use of ICT. A practical, user-friendly tool to introduce M/SME owners and entrepreneurs to the basics of business management, the M/SME Toolbox is available on CD ROM in Arabic, English and French. The M/SME Toolbox provides entrepreneurs with computer-based courses, and easily customizable templates and forms that can be tailored to specific enterprises, covering business management, business planning, human resources management, accounting, costing, buying, marketing, operations management, and stock control.

Already in use in Morocco, this enhanced and expanded M/SME Toolbox will be rolled out in other Arab countries, with the objective of making a qualitative difference in the way micro and small enterprises operate in the Arab Region. The new version includes a ‘Training the Trainers’ component, and a user guide that will be distributed through ICT hubs and professional associations in the Arab region.

Ms. Suheir Al-ali, the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation affirmed the government’s support for this initiative and thanked both ICTDAR and TAGorg for their efforts in making it happen.
During the ceremony’s opening statement, Chairman Talal Abu-Ghazaleh stated that this initiative will be useful in supporting investments and projects in the Arab region. He further elaborated that the more important work, represented in improving the infrastructure of professional services and removing the bureaucratic expenses associated with starting projects, still needs to be complete by Arab governments.

TAGorg operates throughout 70 offices in the Arab region and abroad, providing services through member companies in audit, intellectual property rights, management consultancy, project management, IT training, quality assurance, legal services, translation, publishing and distribution. TAGorg has extensive experience in creating, customizing, and delivering IT training material and courses and hence plays a vital role in developing the M/SME Toolbox and its training programs.