The reality of small business entrepreneurship in the region of Najran and Opportunities to Develop them in light of the Kingdom's 2030 vision

Abstract

This study aimed to know the reality of small entrepreneurship projects in the region of Najran, and the opportunities to develop them in light of the Kingdom's 2030 vision. The study used a descriptive analysis approach based on published reports on the reality of small entrepreneurship projects for the period from 2011-2018. In addition, a questionnaire was employed to find out the size of the challenges facing entrepreneurship projects in the region. The study found that the growth rate of economic establishments in Najran region is continuously increasing at an annual average of 12.2%, and that the ratio of the number of economic establishments in Najran region to the population of the region reached 2.66%, Compared to the neighboring Jizan (0.8%) and Asir (1.6%) regions. The overall challenges facing entrepreneurship projects in Najran region achieved an overall average of 3.51 out of 5, indicating a “high” challenge degree at the level of all axes. Nevertheless, the relative importance of the degree of challenge varies from one axis to another. Therefore, the procedural and organizational challenges got the highest average, followed by the financing challenges, and then the marketing challenges, all of which are of a high degree of challenge, and finally the production challenges with a medium challenge degree. The role of government agencies, institutions and business incubators, that support entrepreneurship projects in the region, got an average of 3.50 with a positive rating in the field of finance, and with an average of 3.3 in the field of consulting. In the field of training, however, they got an average of 2.9, indicating a lower rate. The Kingdom's Vision 2030 provided a package of measures and activities necessary to address the challenges that impede the growth and development of entrepreneurial projects, the most important of which are: establishing a larger share for small enterprises from government procurement and competition, establishing more business incubators and specialized training institutions, establishing government competing capital funds, and raising the capital of “Kafalah” Program. Based on the results of the study, the researcher recommended the establishment of a training center at Najran University specialized in the manufacture of entrepreneurs. Moreover, the Chamber of Commerce should coordinate between entrepreneurship projects and government institutions in the region in order to implement what was mentioned in the vision regarding allocating a quota for small enterprises from government purchases and competitions.