The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) has confirmed its participation in BIBAN 2024, the largest startup event in the Middle East, scheduled for November 5 to 9, 2024, at the Front Exhibition and Conference Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This year, MSS will support 24 promising K-startups targeting the Middle Eastern market, in collaboration with the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development (KISED), the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency, and the Jeonbuk Business Agency.

BIBAN, which translates to “door” in Arabic, is hosted by the Small and Medium Enterprises Authority of Saudi Arabia (Monsha’at). Since its inception in 2017, the event has grown into an international affair beginning in 2023. BIBAN 2024 is themed “Global Destination for Opportunities” and will feature nine thematic ‘Doors’ forums. The event is expected to draw around 1,350 exhibitors and over 160,000 attendees globally.

During BIBAN 2024’s opening ceremony, Minister OH underscored MSS’s commitment to bolster K-startups in the Middle East, stating, “MSS is dedicated to enabling our startups to fully exhibit their capabilities and make a significant impact in this land of opportunities. We are confident they will exceed expectations.”

Moreover, BIBAN 2024 will host the global finals of the Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) 2024, a prestigious international startup competition. Organized by Monsha’at and the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), this year’s EWC will showcase the top startup teams from 151 countries, competing for a share of the $1 million prize pool, along with invaluable investment and market-entry support in Saudi Arabia.

As part of this international collaboration, MSS and KISED will manage the EWC Korea preliminaries, selecting six outstanding Korean startups to represent the country in the global finals (EWC100).