•Held on March 2 and 3 Under the patronage of the Minister of Economy and Commerce

Doha, Qatar; 21st February 2015: Ahlibank will be the platinum sponsor of the Entrepreneurship in Economic Development Forum, which will be held on March 2 -3 at the Sheraton hotel  under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Jassim Al Thani, Minister of Economy and Commerce in Qatar and is organized by Qatar University in collaboration with Interactive Business Network (IBN).

The two-day event will be a platform for experts from business and academia from across the GCC and internationally to discuss future plans and strategies for supporting entrepreneurship.

Mr. Salah Murad , Chief Executive Officer of Ahli Bank commented: "Entrepreneurship is considered a key driver of growth and diversification in any economy. By supporting entrepreneurship, we help create fresh opportunities and enhance the role of the private sector, which is a corner stone of economies globally. Qatar has shown impressive progress in this field along with other GCC countries, as the private sector continous to witness sustainable and steady growth."

"The forum will be an interactive platform to discuss deep insights about entrepreneurship and will evaluate the current situation in Qatar. We are delighted to be a part of and support this event for the second year." He added.

 On his behalf ,Raed Chehaib, Chief Executive of IBN, said: "The Forum will bring together young, prospective business owners with established business leaders to encourage and support the spirit of entrepreneurship in Qatar and the Gulf through practical advice. The forum will be attended by both the public and private sector, in addition to academics ,professionals, and students from Qatar and the Region."

"We thank Ahlibank for supporting this event , as this reflects the bank's direction in supporting the entrepreneurship sector in Qatar. The forum is getting the support of key organization in Qatar, and this proves the importance of such events at this stage" . He added.

-Ends-

Ahli Bank:
Ahlibank is a Qatari-owned financial institution that serves individual consumers, small businesses and corporate customers with a range of Corporate Banking, Retail Banking Treasury & Investments, Private Banking and Brokerage Services. Ahlibank aims to deliver unmatched convenience and personal, simple banking experiences that highlight its tagline, "With You".

Founded in 1983, Ahlibank has grown its client base rapidly, and boasts an integrated network of 16 branches in Qatar.

The Bank received a credit rating of 'A' by Fitch Ratings and Capital Intelligence and is listed on the Qatar Exchange (ABQK). More information can be found on the bank's website, www.ahlibank.com.qa/.

© Press Release 2015