Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) today announced that it has partnered with Companies Creating Change (C3), a UAE-based social enterprise empowering impact-driven entrepreneurs across the Middle East, Africa and Turkey, to launch the Impact Scale-Up Programme.

The programme will support 20 businesses contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, enabling them to establish a presence in the UAE and leverage the local ecosystem as a launchpad to successfully expand across the MEA region. The comprehensive training and networking programme will provide a proven blueprint to successfully enter the UAE market, as well as connections with local and regional investors and blue chip companies.

Applications are now open and will close on April 30.

DMCC is the first freezone in the UAE to support companies with a social purpose in this way. In August 2017, DMCC became the first freezone in the GCC to commit to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), encouraging responsible business practice throughout the entire value chain. As part of its commitment to the UNGC, DMCC also publishes an annual sustainability report that highlights its progress on sustainability targets.

Feryal Ahmadi, COO of DMCC said: “Creating a positive social and environmental impact is essential for businesses to provide true value to shareholders in today’s world. This is a philosophy that DMCC lives by, and one that we encourage across our community of over 20,000 member companies. In doing so, we broaden and extend our ESG reach and support the UAE’s sustainability agenda. Partnering with C3 is the latest step in this journey, as we look to enable businesses that are having a substantial positive impact across the world.”

DMCC currently dedicates 0.5 per cent of its annual profits to social impact initiatives.

Medea Nocentini, Founder of C3, added: “Our programmes provide innovative and ambitious founders with the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of business growth and impact measurement, while connecting them with relevant experts, potential clients and strategic investors. In the local markets, there is a significant opportunity for companies that have impact at the core of their strategy, so we are looking forward to kick-starting their expansion journeys and enabling them to create a positive impact across the region.”