Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - “Forsa”, the Deauville Partnership’s Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) mentoring initiative was launched in Amman today in the presence of the Director General at the UK Department for International Development, Mark Bowman, and the British Ambassador to Jordan, Peter Millett. Working with the UK’s regional and international partners, Forsa will deliver mentoring support across the six transition countries – Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, Egypt and Yemen.

Alistair Burt, UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, launched Forsa regionally yesterday in Tunis. Speaking at the event, Mr Burt said:

“Forsa, which means opportunity in Arabic, will help the G8 and regional partners to share expertise and nurture entrepreneurial skills in Arab countries undergoing transition. Focussing on young and female entrepreneurs, Forsa will establish mentoring relationships between at least 250 entrepreneurs and business people from across the Deauville Partnership.”

Strong economic development and job creation will be essential to achieving a successful transition. The UK’s Presidency of the G8 Deauville Partnership will therefore support economic reforms in transition countries to help deliver practical assistance that can make a real difference to people’s lives .

Ambassador Peter Millett said:

“Our aim is to encourage an increased role for the private sector – the key to long lasting growth - and increase the opportunities available to youth and women. This will help economic growth in Jordan.”

The Forsa SME mentoring initiative is designed to help catalyse economic development throughout the region. Forsa will match entrepreneurs from transition countries with mentors from leading companies from across the Deauville Partnership countries. Participants will share expertise to help entrepreneurs expand their businesses and new jobs.

The G8 Deauville Partnership was established at the G8 summit in Deauville in 2011. The purpose of the partnership is to channel political and practical support to Arab Countries in Transition – Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, Egypt, Jordan and Yemen. Membership of the partnership includes G8 countries, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar and Turkey and International Financial Institutions.

Forsa, is a consortium comprising of Adam Smith International, Mowgli Foundation and Upper Quartile. It will establish and support mentoring partnerships that foster innovation and growth in Arab countries in transition. Forsa will how mentoring can make a positive impact, using a model pioneered successfully by the Mowgli Foundation in Jordan, Lebanon and Algeria. Forsa will work with Deauville Partnership governments, international institutions, and development organisations to help ensure that entrepreneurs receive the practical support they need to grow and succeed in business.