Keep Your Business Moving: New Program by Microsoft for Small and Medium Businesses

Microsoft has announced a new program – Keep Your Business Moving – for Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) in the Middle East and Africa (MEA). The program is aimed at helping the businesses grow and encourage new ones. The program will borrow from features of longtime Microsoft SMB programs in the US, and will guide businesses in these locations on growth decisions. The website of the program will be available in English, Turkish, French and Arabic. “Studies indicate that SMBs in the Middle East and Africa are boosting regional GDP – in Sub-Saharan Africa, they contribute to over 50% of African employment and add 20% to the continent’s gross domestic product. With industry experts also forecasting rapid growth in IT spending in MEA in the next few years, we want to provide this innovative community with the tools and support they need to grow”, said Hennie Loubser, Microsoft’s General Manager for West, East, Central Africa and Indian-Ocean Islands on the program. He continued, “There’s no doubt that SMBs are increasingly competing in a global market, but they also come from diverse geographies and have very different needs, resources and goals. Cloud computing, mobility, big data and social technologies are key growth drivers in MEA, and Microsoft’s advice and solutions will help SMBs take advantage of these trends and become the industry leaders in their region.” “With this exclusive program, we reinforce our commitment to equip small and medium businesses with the best of intellectual capital, ICT solutions, tools, resources and best practices to maximize their return on ICT investments. We’ll use the program to share white papers, case studies, free tools and products, stay in touch with the SMB community and guide them to keep their business moving.”