Pearl Initiative hosts panel discussion shedding light on the importance of governance for SMEs Filed on May 2, 2021 The Pearl Initiative (PI), held a virtual panel to discuss the significance of establishing governance frameworks in the early stages of a business' growth and why this is advantageous in attracting investment. Moderated by Ned Jaroudi, start-ups and venture capital lead at Amazon Web Services (AWS), the panel discussion convened experienced investors and corporate governance experts; namely, Sheikh Fahim Al Qasimi, partner at AQ&P and Rabih I Khoury, managing partner and chief exit officer at Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP). Setting the context for the discussion, Jaroudi highlighted the importance of strong governance and how it is noticed by shareholders, stakeholders, employees, and customers alike, and has a strong bearing on a company's reputation. This in turn could lead to either a higher or a lower valuation of a company and thereby playing a critical role in attracting investors and capital to the company.