The UAE Teams up with Israeli Start-up to Train SMEs in Digital Marketing
The Ministry of Economy, Google, and Elevation have come together in order to launch the SkillUp Embark program, which will teach SMEs about online marketing. Come read our article to learn more about this program.
In a move that will further consolidate the UAE’s position as a global business hub and fast-track the digitalization of enterprises across the country, the Ministry of Economy, Google, and Elevation, an Israeli start-up, have joined hands to launch the SkillUp Embark program to train small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in online marketing.
The Data
According to the World Bank, SMEs are the backbone of virtually every economy in the world. SMEs account for more than 95% of registered firms worldwide, over 50% of jobs, and more than 35% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in many emerging markets. As regards to the UAE, there are 350,000 SMEs, which represent over 94% of all companies operating in the country. Moreover, SMEs employ over 86% of the labor force in the private sector and make up over 60% of the UAE’s GDP.
About the Program
The SkillUp Embark program will go a long way in empowering the SMEs digitally and opening up new avenues for them in the virtual world. It entails providing training in online marketing and advertising to boost sales and increase traffic on websites by imparting knowledge about digital platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Google.
Elevation, through Google’s ShoppingIL Academy, has successfully trained 500 Israeli businesses in improving their digital presence by giving them the tools they need to increase sales online. Elevation offers the training course to companies with an objective to upskill and reskill current employees as well as train them to hire new ones to make the best use of the ever-expanding digital market. 68% of all businesses participating in the program reported an increase in sales within 60 days of completing the course. Google has invested an additional $1 million to expand the program to help more small businesses in Israel.
What Does the Future Hold?
Now, Google is aiming at replicating the success story in the Gulf region. ShoppingIL has helped the Israeli e-commerce industry grow. “I’m proud to see this local initiative being replicated in the Emirates following the excellent results we achieved,” stated Barak Regev, Google-Israel Country Manager.
Along with Elevation and the Government of the UAE, Google believes it can change the digital landscape in the Arab nation. “Digitization is a key pillar across all our programs in The Entrepreneurial Nation. We hope this program will support SMEs in their digital transformation efforts,” said Dr Hassan Al-Sayegh, Director of SME Development at the UAE’s Ministry of Economy.
Meanwhile, Avi Snir, Elevation’s founder and CEO, also stated, “branding and online visibility are an integral part of the business process today. Therefore, participants will receive a branding package that includes a logo, website, private domain and post design tools for social networks. We, at Elevation, are excited to foray into the UAE’s business landscape and play a significant role in boosting online capacities of small businesses.”
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