Prince Turki bin Talal sponsors the Social Development Forum in Belqarn and witnesses the launch of five initiatives to support small projects

His Royal Highness Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, Emir of the Asir Region, Chairman of the Region Development Authority, witnessed the launch of five initiatives to support small and emerging projects in the areas of investment in Balqarn Governorate. His Highness looked at a number of the Social Development Bank’s products, and was informed of the bank’s projects that support male and female entrepreneurs and the youth of the governorate, and the products provided to the beneficiaries, during his sponsorship of the Social Development Forum, which was held at the theater of the College of Science and Arts for Girls in the governorate. The initiatives launched by the Social Development Bank in Balqarn Governorate included five initiatives: “Allocating an amount of 60 million riyals to support small and emerging projects,” targeting investment areas in Balqarn Governorate in order to achieve the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, to establish (tourist resorts - commercial centers - hospitalization - restaurants). - Places and vehicles for camping - farmers markets and entertainment centers), and work on the initiative will begin during the first quarter of 2022 AD, while the second initiative was “Qualifying and training entrepreneurs to manage small and emerging projects.” Among them are spreading the culture of self-employment, the “Direct Me to the Market” program, the “Empiretech” global program, the “Road to Success” program, and “Return to Business Basics.” The initiative will be launched in the second quarter of this year, with the third initiative “Qualifying and Empowering Associations to Manage Lending Portfolios,” which included: Two agreements, the first for a loan portfolio worth 2 million riyals with the Charitable Society in Al-Bashaer, and the second for a loan portfolio with the Al-Birr and Social Services Association in Afra worth 2 million riyals, will be implemented in the first quarter of this year. The fourth initiative “vocational and craftsmanship rehabilitation for the targeted segments in the governorate” also came. To empower craftsmen with training skills and transfer knowledge, and aims to train craftsmen in the Sadu industry and the crochet industry. It also witnessed the signing of an agreement with the Salem Bin Mahfouz Association, to empower families in addition to craft and vocational training, and its implementation will begin in the second quarter of 2022 AD. The fifth initiative was “Empowering productive families to access the market.” Which will begin its work in the second quarter of 2022 AD, signing an agreement of understanding with the National Social Development Committee in Balqarn to establish permanent and temporary outlets and electronic stores, and establishing a training, production incubator, and organizing specialized courses for electronic shopping, as the total funding provided by the Social Development Bank to Balqarn Governorate amounted to 144 million riyals, which benefited. Of these, 2,577 male and female citizens benefited from the non-financial services provided in the governorate, and 316 beneficiaries, male and female, varied between productive family forums and the establishment of workshops to spread the culture of self-employment and courses in smart investment, saving, and self-employment. The meeting included a presentation of the bank’s projects that support male and female entrepreneurs and the governorate’s youth, and the bank’s products provided to beneficiaries, in the presence of the Executive Vice President of the Business Sector, Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Humaidi, the Executive Vice President of the Strategy and Innovation Sector, Engineer Moeid bin Nasser Al-Bishi, the General Supervisor of Empowerment and Development, Saeed Al-Zahrani, and a number of Pioneers, entrepreneurs and families.