Formalization as a Pathway to SME Growth and Economic Resilience

SMEs are a key driver of employment and local economic activity across the Arab region, particularly in fragile and crisis-affected contexts. However, many operate informally due to barriers such as costly registration, complex licensing, limited access to finance, weak infrastructure, and low institutional trust. While informality may offer short-term flexibility, it often limits business growth, legal protection, and access to support programmes and markets.
 

This ESCWA webinar series, organised with the ICC–ESCWA Centre of Entrepreneurship, focuses on promoting business formalization as a gradual and practical pathway to economic resilience, growth, and inclusion, with particular attention to Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and Somalia.

Target Audience

 SMEs (including informal and semi-formal enterprises) and policymakers/support institutions such as ministries, tax authorities, chambers of commerce, financial institutions, and development partners across the Arab region, with focus on countries facing fragility and transition and alignment with the Arab SMEs Summit dialogue.

Format

 The webinar series consists of 7 sessions delivered in Arabic.

Sessions Overview

Session 1 — Tunisia: Incentivising Formalization through the Startup Act

📅 02/06/2026 

Speaker: Yassine Gouia, President of Organisation Nationale des Entrepreneurs (ONE)
Brief: This session highlights Tunisia’s Startup Act and simplified business registration, showcasing recent reforms and how incentive-based frameworks encourage SMEs, startups, and youth-led businesses to formalise. It focuses on transferable lessons and policy implications.

Session 2 — Yemen: Formalization in Fragile Contexts

📅 09/06/2026
Speaker: Hashed Aljaberi, Director of Planning and Development at Nama'a Development and Microfinance Foundation
Brief: This session explores SME realities in a fragile context, drawing on ongoing initiatives. It highlights adaptive approaches that support businesses despite systemic constraints and identifies applicable lessons.

Session 3 — Egypt: The Entrepreneurship Ecosystem and the Startup Charter

📅 16/06/2026
Speaker: Tamer TahaFinance Expert. Former Advisor to the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation
Brief: This session will examine recent reforms in Egypt, including the Startup Charter, and how they aim to simplify administrative procedures and improve the business environment. It will explore the collaborative efforts between government entities, founders, investors, and ecosystem stakeholders to shape a more enabling environment for innovation and entrepreneurship. The discussion will highlight key lessons and regional opportunities for advancing more innovation-driven and founder-friendly ecosystems across the MENA region.

Session 4 — Syria: The Role of Public Institutions in Supporting SME Formalization  

📅 23/06/2026
Speaker: Rasha Karkouki, Deputy Minister for Internal Trade, Ministry of Economy and Industry in Syria
Brief: This session focuses on the role of the Ministry of Economy and Industry in shaping the environment for SME formalization in Syria. It highlights current priorities, institutional efforts, and policy directions aimed at supporting small businesses and improving regulatory frameworks. The discussion explores how public institutions are addressing key challenges faced by SMEs, and draws out practical insights and lessons relevant to similar contexts across the region.
 

Session 5 — Palestine: Formalization in Conflict and Recovery Contexts

📅 30/06/2026
Speaker: Monshati
Brief: This session examines SME formalization in a conflict-affected context, focusing on how institutions support business continuity and gradual transition to formality during recovery through practical and adaptive mechanisms.

Session 6 — Lebanon: Private Sector Advocacy to Address Formalization Barriers in Lebanon

📅 07/07/2026
Speaker: Lebanese Private Sector Network
Brief: This session presents the private sector perspective on formalization barriers in Lebanon, highlighting real business experiences and key policy gaps affecting SMEs, with emphasis on priority reforms.

Session 7 — Somalia: Gradual Pathways to Formalization

📅 14/07/2026
Speaker: Federation of Somali Trade Unions
Brief: This session explores informality as the dominant business model in Somalia and highlights entry points for gradual formalization through simplified procedures, reduced costs, and stronger trust between SMEs and institutions.