Jeddah: The Business Initiative Group (BIG), which works to promote practical learning and networking among Malayali entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia, will organize BIG Conclave 2.0 in Jeddah on November 29. The event will take place at Voco Hotel, Jeddah, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., the organizers announced at a press conference.
The conclave is primarily aimed at members of the BIG community and Malayali SME owners in Saudi Arabia.
A special session on “E-Commerce Growth in the Age of AI” will be led by Umar Abdussalam, CEO of EDAPT, Kerala, and an expert in the field of artificial intelligence. He will discuss Saudi Arabia’s rapid digital transformation, the expansion of the e-commerce sector, and how Malayali entrepreneurs can confidently participate in this evolving business ecosystem. The session will also cover how to enter the e-commerce space, the impact of online business growth, and ways to overcome the fear of adopting new technologies.
Another key session on “Funding and Scaling Options for SMEs” will be handled by Sajid Parakkal, Head of Credit & Financial Institutions at AlJazira Bank. He will address topics such as SME financing avenues, bank facilities, venture capital, revenue-based financing, government support schemes, and working capital management.
Highlighting Saudi Arabia’s rapid progress, the organizers said that this is the right time for Malayali entrepreneurs in the Kingdom to align their businesses with new systems and innovations. They emphasized that entrepreneurs must adapt their strategies to stay in tune with the evolving business landscape.
The press conference was attended by Engineer Mohammed Kunhi, Chairman of CIGI; Engineer Mohammed Baiju, Vice Chairman of CIGI Jeddah Chapter; K.M. Riyas, Head of BIG; Ashraf Kunnath, Program Convener; and Ashfaq Melekkandy, Deputy Head.