Middle Eastern and north African business owners couldn’t get certified in the US – but a new wave of entrepreneurs is changing that

Since the 1970s, many minority business owners have been able to certify their businesses through organizations like the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) or the Small Business Administration (SBA). Until last July, one group of business owners was noticeably absent from the sea of certification options – those of Mena (Middle East and north Africa) heritage.

Recognition as a minority business has its advantages. In the consumer goods sector, certified businesses let customers know who is making their simmer sauces or importing their coffee beans. But more crucially, especially for scrappy emerging brands, certifications can reduce the cost of doing business through diversity programs found in supermarkets and chains like Kroger or Target. Some Mena businesspeople say they feel the lack of recognition.