Dubai SME promotes procurement programme via smart dashboards

Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO of Dubai SME

Two smart dashboards introduced by Dubai SME are enabling local start-ups to benefit optimally from the Government Procurement Programme to grow competitively and sustainably.
One of the smart dashboards is for 'Supporting Dubai Government Entities and Institutions' while the other is a 'Supplier Dashboard for Dubai SME Members', and together they have contributed to enhancing SME performance and value added thereby to the local economy.
The dashboards reflect the leadership's directives on the necessity for innovative solutions and initiatives to support emerging projects and their growth. The two dashboards together supported Dubai SME members to win procurement contracts worth around Dh972.9 million in 2019, 48 per cent of which came from Government of Dubai, 35 per cent from semi-government entities; 11 per cent from the private sector, and six per cent from federal government entities.
Abdul Baset Al Janahi, CEO of Dubai SME, said: "Dubai SME has continuously paid great attention to launching innovative initiatives that would enhance the performance of SMEs. We launched the procurement dashboard for government entities and institutions to provide detailed data on the transactions of government agencies with suppliers from national companies, in addition to launching the Tejari dashboard to keep track of supplier details and data of Dubai SME members. These dashboards have actually contributed to providing smart and innovative solutions that facilitate the transactions of entrepreneurs and members of Dubai SME within the GPP."
The GPP is an important initiative that supports the SME sector in line with the Law No. (16) of 2016 issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, that mandates government agencies, institutions, and entities in which the government holds 25 per cent or more in equity to allocate 10 per cent of their purchases to Emirati companies that are members of Dubai SME. His Highness has also directed to allocate 20 per cent of Dubai Government tenders to Dubai SME member firms, thus affirming the leadership's confidence in national competencies and their role in building a competitive and diversified economy.
Saeed Al Marri, deputy CEO of Dubai SME, said: "The government entities dashboard, launched in 2019 with the co-operation of Smart Dubai, serves as a reference for detailed data for the transaction between government agencies and suppliers from over 1,000 national companies registered in the GPP under the umbrella of Dubai SME. The dashboard provides easy and quick access to updated information on supporting entities and their performance, saving considerable amount of time and effort. The fully digital dashboard also supports the Dubai Paperless Strategy."
Al Marri added: "The supplier dashboard, which was launched in cooperation with Tejari Solutions, displays performance and participation details of suppliers from SMEs in government tenders, thereby constituting an inventory. It also helps us establish the reasons for Dubai SME members failing to win bids so that we can address the issue and develop plans to improve the capabilities of such companies and document tended invitation and the level of support from government entities."
Launched in 2002, the GPP has so far supported Dubai SME members with Dh6.9 billion worth of contracts. Members of the GPP are exempt from registration fees for membership in the smart procurement portal for government procurement. SMEs constitute 99 per cent of the businesses in the Dubai and GPP has contributed to enhancing confidence in their capabilities and potential.
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