The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) organized, in collaboration with the UNESCO Office in Beirut, the American University of Beirut (AUB), and the Lebanese National Commission for Education, Science and Technology, a forum on “Supporting Startups and Innovative Businesses: Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Natural Products Industry”, held on July 28–29, 2025, at AUB’s campus in Beirut.
The Forum is part of ALECSO’s ongoing efforts to promote the culture of entrepreneurship and innovation among Arab youth. It is also aligned with the provisions of the Arab Strategy for Scientific Research, Technology, and Innovation, especially as regards supporting business incubators and accelerators across the Arab world.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Mohamed Sanad Abu Darwish, Director of Science and Scientific Research at ALECSO, started by conveying the greetings of Director-General, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, to all participants. He reaffirmed ALECSO’s commitment to fostering the role of Arab youth in fields related to innovation and development of sustainable natural products.
Dr. Ramza Jaber Saad, Deputy Secretary-General of the Lebanese National Commission, welcomed the fruitful collaboration among the organizing parties, and commended the collective efforts that serve Arab youth and enhance their entrepreneurial opportunities.
Dr. Maysoun Chehab, representing the UNESCO Beirut Office, commended ALECSO’s efforts in organizing this Forum, highlighting its contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
Dr. Yusuf Sidani, Dean of Suliman S. Olayan School of Business at AUB, commended the significant collaboration with ALECSO and UNESCO, describing the Forum as a first step toward strategic future partnerships that will benefit entrepreneurs in the region.
The Forum was targeted at young entrepreneurs and startup founders in the natural products industry, seeking to strengthen their capacities in sustainable entrepreneurship, digital marketing, access to funding, and the integration of sustainability principles into their businesses.
The event featured the participation of prominent Arab experts, academics, entrepreneurs, as well as representatives from civil society, business incubators, and relevant Lebanese ministries. It involved the presentation of successful case studies and practical recommendations to develop the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem in the Arab world, and concluded with the distribution of certificates to participants.
