The World Bank estimates that 100 million new jobs will be needed in
the Middle East and North Africa over the next 10 years to keep the
region's unemployment rates—now as high as 13 percent for adults and
twice as high for young people—from climbing even higher. To meet the
needs of this region's rapidly growing population and put it to work
meeting the world's needs, there is no surer route than
entrepreneurship. That was the big takeaway at the first-ever Presidential
Summit on Entrepreneurship focused on the Muslim world, held at the
Ronald Reagan Building in Washington in late April.
Attending the event and meeting some of the 275 delegates from over 50 countries with large Muslim populations gave us hope that business could indeed help bridge the gap between the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds. Apart from their affiliation with Islam, these entrepreneurs—nearly half of whom were women—had something else in common: They represent a generation of business people intent on charting a new course for economic and social change in and beyond their countries. Addressing highly charged political problems in this region remains paramount, but the folks we met were searching for a more tolerable life. Their activities hold the potential to help defuse, if not circumvent, some of the political tensions and lead to improved stability and security.
To read the full, original article click on this link: Supporting Entrepreneurs in Muslim Countries - BusinessWeek
