Under the patronage of the Minister of Social Affairs H.E Mrs. Hanin El Sayed, represented by Mr. Robin Saghirni, the Faculty of Business Administration at Beirut Arab University – Tripoli Branch organized a conference titled: “Ideas to Impact: The New Era of Entrepreneurship”
The conference focused on the concept of social entrepreneurship and its role in confronting the economic and social challenges facing Lebanon, as well as the importance of transforming innovative ideas into tangible initiatives that create a positive impact on society.
The conference aimed to motivate youth to stay in Lebanon and invest their capabilities there through social entrepreneurship, considering it an effective means of creating new opportunities, achieving sustainable development, and enhancing Community Well-Beingthrough initiatives that combine innovation and social responsibility, and included 3 sessions covering “The social concept of entrepreneurship in Lebanon”, “Real-life success stories of projects that created a tangible impact on society”, and “Opportunities and mechanisms for financing social entrepreneurship in Lebanon”.
The conference began with a speech by the Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration Professor Mohammad Abo El Naga, "who emphasized the importance of social entrepreneurship and its role in supporting the national economy, pointing to its great impact in directing students towards innovation and social responsibility, and affirming the faculty's keenness to prepare a generation capable of creating positive change in its environment."
Then, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Rashid Karami International Exhibition Professor Hani El Chaarani, highlighted in his speech the "importance of such conferences and their role in supporting youth and students, as they provide them with a space to express their entrepreneurial ideas and turn their dreams into realistic projects." El Chaarani "referred to the role of Beirut Arab University in fostering the entrepreneurial spirit through the Entrepreneurship Hub, which launched numerous training programs and workshops that contributed to honing students' skills and connecting them with the reality of the labor market, emphasizing that this approach contributes to spreading a culture of innovation and productivity among the rising generations."
The speeches concluded with the address of the representative of the Minister of Social Affairs Mr. Robin Saghirni, who stressed the importance of organizing such conferences that bring together academics, legal experts, social entrepreneurs, and state representatives, considering them genuine dialogue platforms that contribute to formulating an integrated national vision for social and economic development. Saghirni pointed out that the budget of the Ministry of Social Affairs witnessed a40% increase, reflecting the importance the state places on empowering the Lebanese society and enhancing its human capabilities.
Saghirni continued, "Social entrepreneurship is considered one of the most successful ways that has proven effective in many countries, as it constitutes a powerful tool for facing crises by integrating innovation with responsibility. Furthermore, the ministry has included in its strategy the focus on encouraging and providing the necessary support for social entrepreneurial projects, affirming its commitment to strengthening partnership with universities and the private sector to ensure the sustainability of development initiatives."
The significance of this conference lay in its role as a platform that brought together academic circles and the professional community to exchange knowledge and expertise and foster dialogue on transforming entrepreneurial ideas into initiatives with a sustainable social and economic impact.
iConnect
