Doha: Qatar Development Bank, in collaboration with the International Trade Centre in Geneva (ITC) and the General Authority of Customs in Qatar, held a workshop to raise awareness of the Trade Facilitation Agreement by the World Trade Organization (WTO) among Qatari exportation companies.
The workshop, discussed the benefits of the agreement with representatives from the ITC and their role in facilitating two-way trade between Geneva and Qatar. In addition, Bakhit Salem Al-Abhaq, Head of Operations and Support at the General Authority of Customs explained their role in facilitating trade for local businesses. Al-Abhag provided details on Al Nadeeb, an automated system introduced to Qatar in 2013 to provide better communication and integration with the trade community.
CEO of Qatar Development Bank Abdulaziz Bin Nasser Al-Khalifa said, "Qatar Development Bank’s strategy is to stimulate SMEs to enter new markets and to encourage companies to export their products to the world. The bank has several initiatives that aim to educate and raise awareness amongst the local SME community, including our Tasdeer initiative which specializes in export support and is considered one of the most effective tools in raising the competitiveness of Qatar’s exporting companies."
"As part of our Tasdeer export program, Qatar Development Bank holds regular workshops to ensure local SME’s are kept informed of important changes in export regulations and bilateral agreements. We also undertake market studies to identify export opportunities and assist Qatari companies to take part in international fairs and events under the name of Qatar Pavilion. This provides logistical and promotional support, supplying information about the importers in those markets, and arranging and holding bilateral meetings between exporters and importers. Today, we are spreading awareness about the most important advantages of the WTO Agreement to facilitate trade, in order to support SMEs in Qatar capitalize on export markets", Al-Khalifa added.
Representatives from the public and private sectors participated in the workshop, discussing the expected benefits and ways to empower the SME sector to increase the competitiveness of these companies on an international level.
"Tasdeer", the export services arm of Qatar Development Bank, supports the Qatar National Vision 2030 and has helped the non-oil exports sector grew exponentially. The private sector's export market was nearly 500 million Qatari riyals in 2011 and reached 2.4 billion riyals at the end of 2014.
Qatar Development Bank (QDB) was established in 1997 as the Qatar Industrial Development Bank, a 100% government-owned developmental organization. Its primary aim was to develop investments within local industries, thereby accelerating growth and economic diversification in Qatar through support for private sector.
QNA
