Who are eligible to join the MEBG?

Who are eligible to join the MEBG?

We welcome any Singapore or Singapore based companies who are interested to venture to the exciting and emerging Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to join the MEBG. This also extends to those who are already doing business in the MENA region to join the MEBG as their expertise and knowledge of this region would be most valuable to the MEBG as a whole.

Singapore Business Federation (SBF) members are eligible to join the MEBG for free. To encourage more companies to join, we have currently waived the joining- fee of S$100 for a limited time period.

What are the benefits I can expect by joining the MEBG?

There are numerous benefits of joining the MEBG:

1. Members will be given priority to participate in MEBG activities such as business forums, seminars, business matching sessions, networking events, dialogue sessions, hosting company visits and overseas missions, to further strengthen your interests in the Middle East.

2. Members will have a platform where you could turn to on a regular basis for advice from other successful businessmen when you plan for their venture in this region.

3. Members can tap into our growing database of companies in the Middle East pertaining to your area of interests, current business activities and even explore future opportunities!

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is a vast geographical entity located where three (3) continents: Africa, Asia and Europe meet. It spans from Morocco in the west all the way to Iran in the east. The countries constituting the MENA region are:

Middle East :
Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE, Yemen

North Africa :
Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia

How does the MEBG come about?

The Middle East Business Group, abbreviated MEBG in short, has its origins in the Middle East Business Club, an initiative of Mr Teng Theng Dar when he was still with Intraco before joining SBF as its Chief Executive Officer. This Middle East Business Club was formed by a group of businessmen with keen interest in the Middle East after their successful business mission to Iran in April 2004. Within a short span of time, the membership of this business club grew tremendously, from the original 12 members to 40 members.

Furthermore, with Singapore’s growing business interests and economic presence in the Middle East and North Africa region, a more sustainable business body than this business club was needed. This proposed business body will be supported by a permanent secretariat that will coordinate and implement all Middle East and North Africa related activities such as networking sessions, business opportunities seminars, overseas business missions and business forums. Therefore, with the above in mind, the Middle East Business Group (MEBG), under the auspices of the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) was formed. It constitutes the first step in the setting up of a full-fledged International Forum by the SBF.

The MEBG provides a platform where companies could turn to on a regular basis for advice from other successful businessmen when they plan for their venture to the Middle East and North Africa region. It will also be a platform to facilitate business opportunities between businesses in the Middle East and North Africa region and Singaporean companies under the MEBG banner.

Numerous activities/events are planned for to add value to MEBG members. These activities include:

For more information, please check <Upcoming Activities>.

Who are the key personnel of the MEBG?

The following are the key personnel of the MEBG:

Advisor

Chairman:

Vice-Chairman:

Why is the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region such a “Hot-spot” for businessmen and investors nowadays?

Consider these pertinent facts on the MENA region:

With the above facts in mind, it is not difficult to see why the MENA region is such a “Hot-Spot” among investors and businessmen these days.

Does MEBG members have priority over non-members in participating/attending MENA related events?

Of course, MEBG members will have priority over non-members in participating and attending MENA related events organized by the MEBG. Please see the answers to Q6 for the list of MENA related events.  

The MEBG is an initiative of the SBF, formed as an initial first step to setting up a full-fledged International Forum, for which all markets under the Global Business Division of SBF will be covered eventually. As of now, the MEBG is very much part of the SBF.