By Sachin Kumar
DOHA: Procurement and contracts of government agencies in Qatar offers opportunities worth over QR3bn for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The firms explored these opportunities at the first Government Procurement and Contracting Conference & Exhibition (Moushtarayat), which was inaugurated by Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani yesterday.
In his inaugural speech, the Prime Minister said that SME sector enjoys the support of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The government is implementing a number of programs to stimulate the role of the sector and increase its contribution to economic diversification to create a supportive environment for SMEs.
The three-day conference and exhibition is being organised by the Ministry of Finance and Qatar Development Bank (QDB) at Qatar National Convention Centre. Around 25 governmental and quasi-governmental entities are participating in the event.
The Prime Minister said that Qatar is at an important stage in its development and growth, in light of regional and global economic challenges that makes it imperative for everyone to work together.
The Prime Minister added that Emir has shown landmarks of the contribution and activating of the role of the private sector to overcome the challenges and move forward towards achieving Qatar’s National Vision 2030 to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable development at various levels. The most important requirements of this stage are providing ideas and creative solutions and not to compete with the private sector, but to strengthen its role and increase its contribution to the development wheel.
The premier also said the government provides and facilitates all means of support for this sector through its various institutions by amending the necessary legislation, enacting supporting laws and providing necessary information and services, or establishing economic zones and finding financing solutions.
Qatar Central Bank Governor
H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud Al Thani, who is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of QDB, said that the SME sector tops the priorities and interests of Qatar and QDB.
The Prime Minister said around 25 governmental and quasi-governmental entities are participating in the exhibition that will provide more than 450 real opportunities for SME sector with a total value exceeding QR3bn. QDB has launched a range of initiatives and services to support the small and medium enterprises sector to enable it to play its assigned role in order to achieve the desired objectives.
The Prime Minister added the bank has launched the single window to serve those companies and provide all the procedures and requirements under one roof. This service achieved a great success contributed to placing the bank in the top ten of development banks in the world according to the classification of the World Trade Organisation 2015. He said the bank has developed and diversify its products and services and upgrade them to the best levels. The direct financing provided by the bank exceeded QR4.3bn, ‘Al Dhameen’ programme more than QR800m, and ‘Tasdeer’ program more than QR600m. All these has facilitated the access of small and medium enterprises to the funds they need.
