The Development of the Venture Capital Industry in Emerging Markets

Venture capital represents an important alternative to emerging businesses in developing countries by increasing the strength of the entire financial system and its key players, from traditional banking institutions and investment funds, to stock market capital. The main goal is to identify key actors, investment targets, and experiences as well as aiming at analyzing critical factors and conceptualizing related actions pertinent to becoming more competitive in attracting venture capital investors, developing know-how, overcoming barriers, and maximizing the impact venture capital industry may have on industrial growth. The Research is focused on the Arab-Mediterranean region seeking to foster partnership and facilitate investment among European and Arab-Mediterranean countries. The findings are the result of observations made at the end of country-level empirical analyses where time has been spent in contact with entrepreneurs, investors, and local officials. Country Empirical Analyses on Venture Capital industry development are being carried out in Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Tunis and Israel.