The ICC-ESCWA Centre of Entrepreneurship is an initiative co-led by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) to prepare and mobilize the next generation of entrepreneurs in the Arab region.
The ICC-ESCWA Centre of Entrepreneurship was launched in October 2020 to develop the skills of young people who face uncertain employment prospects, mentor start-ups and local entrepreneurs, and improve the livelihoods of citizens in Lebanon and the Arab region. The ICC-ESCWA Centre of Entrepreneurship is located at the United Nations House in Beirut, Lebanon.
In partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESWA), the Centre pairs local entrepreneurs with experts from the United Nations and ICC to provide virtual mentoring and coaching. Drawing upon the expertise of chambers of commerce in over 100 countries, ICC’s Knowledge Solutions Department, and ESCWA’s knowledge hubs, the Centre provides local entrepreneurial initiatives with a platform for regional and international exposure.
Each year, the ICC-ESCWA Centre of Entrepreneurship organises a series of talks for entrepreneurs, chambers of commerce, businesses, banks, and governments, to share ideas, exchange experiences, and develop solutions to the structural challenges facing developing markets in the region. By bringing together leaders, businesses and entrepreneurs, the ICC-ESCWA Centre of Entrepreneurship will establish a community of innovative professionals to challenge convention and transform the future of business.
Community Workshops
The ICC-ESCWA Centre of Entrepreneurship has organised a series of community workshops to look at the structural challenges facing emerging and developing entrepreneurial markets in the region. The purpose of these workshops is to bring together different stakeholders from the region to identify, understand, and address the critical issues facing business in the region.
Tech Scaleup MENA Preliminary Report 2021
In April 2021, the ICC-ESCWA Centre of Entrepreneurship and Mind the Bridge published the Tech Scaleup MENA – 2021 Preliminary Report, a landmark overview of the of the MENA tech scaleup ecosystem.
Download a copy of the report now.
Helping Lebanon rebuild
The ICC-ESCWA Centre of Entrepreneurship will convene stakeholders from government, business, and civil society across the region, to exchange ideas and policies to aid Lebanon’s rebuild.