A press conference was held on February 11, 2016, at the premises of the Beirut Traders Association (BTA) in Sanayeh, to launch the fifth edition of the “Grow My Business” competition, an initiative by the BTA, in collaboration with the MIT Enterprise Forum – Pan Arab Region, and in partnership with Bank Audi sal.
Building on the success of previous editions, the objective of the competition is to help businesses grow in the right direction. This is achieved by inviting Lebanese entrepreneurs and SME owners to develop plans which will boost their businesses forward. Candidates can download the application from the website www.growmybusiness.me, following which a jury composed of prominent figures of the BTA, of the MIT Enterprise Forum – Pan Arab Region, and of Bank Audi will shortlist the top 15 candidates on May 4, 2016.
During the second stage of the competition, the 15 nominees will benefit from a two-day workshop organised by experts and professors, and focused on how to draft a successful business plan.
All 15 business plans are then submitted to the jury who will accordingly choose the 5 best candidates for a final assessment through a series of oral presentations.
In light of these enriching sessions, the jury will pronounce, in July 2016, the ultimate winner of the “Grow My Business 2016” competition who will carry off a LBP 50,000,000 prize courtesy of Bank Audi.
Mr. Nicolas Chammas, Chairman of the Beirut Traders Association, seized the opportunity to explain that “the purpose of this competition is to give a tangible added value to small and medium-sized companies, to uplift the professional standards of the commercial sector as a whole, and to contribute to the sustainable development of the national economy.”
Mr. Marc Audi, General Manager Lebanon – Bank Audi sal, underlined that “Bank Audi’s involvement in “Grow My Business” is part of its solid conviction that SMEs are the engine of the Lebanese economy.” He added: “This year, we have decided to give bigger and better opportunities to participants, as will unfold in the weeks and months to come.”
As for Mrs. Hala Fadel, Chair of the MIT Enterprise Forum – Pan Arab Region, she added: “We look forward to supporting the growth of Lebanon and innovative Lebanese companies during this fifth edition of the “Grow My Business” competition, in collaboration with BTA and our supporters Bank Audi.”
For more information on “Grow My Business 2016”, please log on to www.growmybusiness.me