Iraqi SMEs to get help

Bahrain is to play a crucial role to further help Iraq develop its small and medium enterprise (SME) sector by offering online interactive training for trainers and entrepreneurs, reports Daily News.

The UN Industrial Development Organisation's investment and technology promotion office in Bahrain has been working with the Arab Regional Centre for Entrepreneurship and Investment Training since 2007.

The programme uses what is known as the Bahrain model to help SMEs develop. Now with a further funding of $2.9 million from ICD, there are plans to extend and reinforce the programme.

AT&T has introduced a brand new communication system, aimed at helping small business owners get the most for their money, writes Gaebler.

In recent news for entrepreneurs, the 'All for less' bundle introduced by the telecommunications giant will specialise in making all forms of communication easier for small companies.

The bundle will feature 10 wired voice lines, mobile broadband, remote technical support, Web site hosting and online data backup.

A third of small and medium businesses surveyed by Panda Security have been hit by malware from social networks, states CNet.

Panda's 'Social media risk index for small to medium-sized businesses' also found that 35% of the companies hurt by social-media malware suffered financial losses, with more than a third losing in excess of $5 000.

Further, a quarter of the businesses said they lost sensitive data due to employees who violated company policy by revealing certain information via a social network.