National project aims to help small businesses grow during pandemic
Initiative comes after Rivlin calls upon business leaders to come up with creative solutions for overcoming social-economic challenges.
By TOBIAS SIEGALSmall business owners of Jerusalem Boulevard in Jaffa, on April 30, 2019.(photo credit: TOMER NEUBERG/FLASH90)
A new national project to support small businesses in building their digital presence and growing during the coronavirus pandemic was announced on Monday.The project is a collaboration among Facebook Israel; the Social-Economic Forum, established by Israel’s business-sector presidency; and 2B Friendly, an organization that promotes business and social integration, while helping business owners reach a larger audience.The initiative comes a few months after President Reuven Rivlin called upon Israel’s business leaders to come up with creative solutions for overcoming the socioeconomic challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.The project is meant to help small businesses, only 14% of which operate digitally today, enter the world of digital transformation, creating a digital presence and reaching potential consumers faster. The purpose is to give small business owners the opportunity to get back on their feet and even grow during and after the coronavirus pandemic, helping them in the long term to adapt and remain relevant in our changing world.The project will include leading experts from Israel’s biggest start-ups and businesses. Training will focus on tools and capabilities required for building a digital infrastructure for business purposes from beginning to end, including operation, logistics, marketing, sales and customer service on digital platforms.Dominant companies that have already joined the initiative and will contribute their knowledge and personnel for the cause include Israel Aerospace Industry (IAI,) Fiverr, Wix, AppsVillage, HoneyBook, ZigZag, Lightricks and monday.com.The first pilot projects will be in the Galilee and the Negev, encompassing 21 local authorities and some 500 small businesses.Rivlin congratulated the initiative and the involved companies for their leadership and contribution to Israel’s society and economy in these challenging times.“Small and medium businesses are us, all of us – they’re our business,” Rivlin said. “This is the time to strengthen them, to purchase local produce and to equip them with tools that won’t only allow them to survive the crisis, but will make them stronger in light of our changing consuming habits, with a stronger base for long-term growth.”“Our solidarity is the key to our resilience,” he added. “Now and forever.”
Related Tagsisrael businessdigital
if(catID != 151){
var cont = `Take Israel home with the new Jerusalem Post Store
