The Biban 24 forum opened yesterday with an elite gathering of ministers, officials and prominent entrepreneurs from various sectors, reflecting the scale of government support and strong interest in developing the Kingdom's entrepreneurship sector. This annual event, organized by the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority ("Monsha'at"), forms part of the Kingdom's commitment to supporting Vision 2030 by fostering a fertile entrepreneurial environment that drives economic growth and provides promising opportunities for ambitious Saudi youth.

Yesterday's opening ceremony drew notable attendance from ministers and officials from local and international government bodies and entities related to economic and social development and investment, embodying the government's vision of providing full support to entrepreneurs. Attendees included Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha, Minister of Investment Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih, Minister of Education Dr. Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan, as well as heads of technical and security agencies, alongside South Korea's Minister of SMEs and Startups, Estonia's Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry, and Malaysia's Minister of Entrepreneur Development.

The forum provided a strategic opportunity to build partnerships between the government and private sectors, with more than 30 CEOs of major national and international companies in attendance, including investment firms interested in developing Saudi talent and supporting entrepreneurial ventures, reflecting the private sector's interest in investing in youth potential and keeping pace with global economic shifts.

Biban 24 also saw strong attendance from young entrepreneurs, whose numbers exceeded 300 participants, benefiting from the guidance and investment opportunities offered by the forum, and taking part in panel discussions and workshops that let them learn from successful experiences and pitch their projects to investors and experts across multiple fields. The forum aims to support entrepreneurs with knowledge and financial resources, helping turn their ideas into successful ventures that boost the national economy.

Over its five days, the forum is expected to draw more than 160,000 visitors, reinforcing its role as a key hub for developing the Kingdom's entrepreneurship sector, one of the fundamental pillars of Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the Saudi economy, reduce reliance on oil, and strengthen the small and medium enterprise sector as a key driver of sustainable economic growth and an integrated entrepreneurial environment.