Sana'a: The Chairman of the General Authority for Small and Micro Enterprise Development, Ahmed Al-Kabsi, announced a transformative vision for the year 2026 aimed at shifting the focus of support for small enterprises from mere funding to comprehensive empowerment.
According to Yemen News Agency, Al-Kabsi detailed the Authority's plan to expand its financing scope to include thousands of small and micro enterprises, with a particular emphasis on aiding the most vulnerable groups. This expansion is part of an integrated approach that moves beyond traditional financing to include capacity building, marketing, and other non-financial services.
In an interview with the Yemeni News Agency (Saba), Al-Kabsi highlighted that the 2026 vision marks a significant shift toward creating a supportive environment for small and micro enterprises. This involves establishing collective productive projects like dairy processing facilities and enhancing productive value chains, especially in agriculture and livestock sectors.
Al-Kabsi emphasized key differences between the 2026 vision and previous strategies, noting an integrated institutional approach that includes financing, qualification, marketing, and sustainability. The Authority plans to focus on developing non-financial services systematically and introducing marketing as a core component of its interventions.
Motivations behind this new vision include achieving project sustainability, overcoming challenges faced by small enterprises, and efficiently directing national resources to maximize economic impact. The vision aligns with the state's economic directions by promoting local production, creating sustainable job opportunities, and reducing reliance on external sources.
In 2026, the Authority plans to implement several programs and initiatives, such as offering interest-free loans and supporting productive families. Other initiatives include value chain development projects, economic empowerment programs, and marketing efforts that utilize e-platforms and new sales channels.
Al-Kabsi also mentioned plans to launch specialized programs for entrepreneurs, focusing on comprehensive empowerment through financing, training, and marketing. These programs aim to prepare university youth for the labor market and promote entrepreneurship.
The Authority's strategy relies on mechanisms like practical training, feasibility studies, and linking youth to opportunities within existing value chains. Al-Kabsi stressed the importance of partnerships with government entities and the private sector to ensure the success of the 2026 vision.
Current challenges include market access, capacity development, and resource limitations. To address these, the Authority plans to expand financing, strengthen non-financial services, develop marketing tools, and build partnerships to mobilize resources.