{
  "id": 12351468,
  "title": "UAE-led entrepreneurship network takes shape across five countries",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/uae-led-entrepreneurship-network-takes-shape-across-five-countries",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-06T09:18:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/friday/uae-led-entrepreneurship-network-takes-shape-across-five-countries-1.500700142"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dubai: A cross-border entrepreneurship network is taking shape, connecting the UAE, India, Kenya, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka. WOI.eco spearheads the initiative, aiming to bridge entrepreneurs, investors, businesses, and talent across these markets. The network will identify gaps, industry requirements, and locally available resources to generate new business opportunities.\n\nEntrepreneurs will develop solutions addressing identified challenges, backed by venture studios, while corporate partners can act as early customers. Instead of a standardized approach, the network will leverage the unique strengths and requirements of each market. India contributes its entrepreneurial ecosystem and technology talent, while Kenya offers opportunities in financial services, agriculture, climate solutions, and logistics. Malaysia's industrial capabilities and regional links are valuable, and Sri Lanka's skilled workforce and strategic position also play a role.\n\nThe UAE acts as a catalyst, linking entrepreneurs with investors, family offices, corporate partners, and global business networks. It also aims to assist UAE-based companies in exploring new markets, technologies, and commercial partnerships. Founder and Chairman of WOI.eco, Shafi Shoukath, believes that entrepreneurs within individual markets understand local challenges well and can create commercially viable solutions.\n\nThe network will focus on creating entrepreneurship-led employment opportunities, acknowledging that not everyone may choose business ownership. WOI.eco highlights adaptability, creativity, and execution as crucial skills as artificial intelligence expands access to information and knowledge. These capabilities, referred to as \"Human Being 2.0,\" will be central to the network's development.\n\nAs the network grows, WOI.eco plans to monitor outcomes, including new businesses created, capital mobilized, commercial partnerships established, and employment opportunities generated across the participating markets.",
  "summary": "Dubai: A cross-border entrepreneurship network spanning the UAE, India, Kenya, Malaysia and Sri Lanka is being developed by WOI.eco, with a focus on connecting entrepreneurs, investors, businesses and talent across the five markets. The initiative will seek to identify market gaps, industry requirements and locally available resources that could translate into new business opportunities. Under…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}