What problems might you face when starting a new business?
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Are there any particular problems a new business might have in Palestine?
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In Palestine, why might an Internet-based company be easier to start than, for example, a company that makes things?
Reading
Business start-ups: Graphic design
2 Read the article. Then complete the tasks on page 79.
Information and Communications Technology businesses could be the best hope for the economic future of Palestine, according to experts inside and outside the country. A recent report said that the ICT sector makes up over 5% of the Palestinian economy.
Why ICT? For Mustafa Jawad, the 23-year-old head of an online graphic design company, the answer is simple: ‘For an ICT start-up, all you need is a computer and a connection. You can distribute your final product by exporting it to the Internet cloud.’ There are still problems, though. The main one is a lack of 3G networks in Palestine, because access to the necessary wavebands is not available yet.
Mustafa was always good at art and languages, and when he finished school everyone advised him to study English at university. Instead, he taught himself how to programme and started making his own software programmes. His first attempt was a game, which was so popular with his fellow students that he decided starting his own company might be a real possibility.
His big breakthrough came when he attended a ‘start-up weekend’ in Ramallah. He managed to get a small amount of financial support, which gave him the time to develop more ideas. Perhaps more importantly, he met other business people, both Palestinian and from other countries. He learnt a lot about the practical side of running a business and about how to get his products noticed.
Mustafa is currently working on a programme that makes the teaching of chemistry in schools more fun. He has already had interest from within Palestine and from other countries in the Arab world. Like a lot of other young Palestinian business people, he wants to do something positive to help his country, but he stresses that his company isn’t a humanitarian operation. ‘It’s a business,’ he says, ‘and the aim is to get good returns on the investment.’
One way he believes he can help is to pass on what he’s learnt to others even younger than he is. ‘I learnt a lot from that start-up weekend. When I go to the next one, I hope I’ll learn more, but I’ll also be able to advise others.’