Muslim Entrepreneurship in Ireland conference

6 Oct 2010

A conference to identify ways in which greater entrepreneurial activity can be generated within the Muslim community in Ireland takes place in DIT today.

The conference has been sponsored by the US Embassy in Ireland as part of the wider US President Barack Obama ‘Muslim entrepreneurship initiative’ which aims to build ties with Muslim communities around the world, according to Dr Thomas Cooney, academic director of the Institute for Minority Entrepreneurship, based at DIT.

Speakers from the US, England and Ireland will participate in the conference, including Tayyibah Taylor, founder, Azizah magazine, based in Atlanta, Georgia, who will talk about understanding the Muslim culture from an entrepreneurship perspective.

In addition, Cooney will give a profile of Muslim entrepreneurship in Ireland, while Michael Johnson, CEO, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Enterprise Board, will cover the types of supports out there to help people start a business.

Growing companies

Zahed Amanullah, managing director, Halalfire, which was founded in Silicon Valley in 1998 and creates online content for Muslim communities, will cover the challenges to growing a business, while Richard Murphy of the High-Potential Prospect Development at Enterprise Ireland will evaluate how start-ups can grow internationally.

Dr Mazhar Bari, CEO, SolarPrint, will also speak about how companies need energy to succeed.

Social entrepreneurship

Prof Gary Palin, executive director of the Doherty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at Elon University, will explain all about social entrepreneurship, while Sean Coughlan, CEO, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland, will cover the challenges to social entrepreneurship.

Meanwhile, Djamila Bouacid, CEO, Nour, will talk about successful Muslim entrepreneurship.

Carmel Doyle was a long-time reporter with Silicon Republic

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