Qatar Development Bank is sponsoring small business forum

The Qatar Development Bank is sponsoring a forum March 8-10 at its headquarters in Doha it hopes will open opportunities for the county's small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs).

The Government Procurement and Contracting Conference & Exhibition, also called Moushtarayat, will create opportunities for SMEs to interact with investors, large private procurement firms, government officials and other stakeholders who might be able to provide resources to help their businesses grow and localize supply chains.

"One of the most important initiatives we commit ourselves to at Qatar Development is supporting and helping SMEs," Qatar Development Bank CEO Abdulaziz Bin Nasser Al-Khalifa said. "As we open local and global markets to SMEs through 'Tasdeer,' and with the help of the Ministry of Finance, we provide greater accessibility to government procurement by linking local SMEs to procurement of major buyers, through match-making activities and B2B meetings and exploring key efforts to minimize barriers to success, along with having a friendly business environment that leads to the positive growth of local SMEs."

Strengthening the role of SMEs is part of the Qatar National Vision 2030. Beyond events like Moushtarayat, the government is also implementing SME-friendly policies like tax exemptions and new rules requiring foreign companies to use at least 30 percent local resources in their projects.