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Enterprise Qatar Launches The First 'SME Evolution Program' in Qatar

Doha-Qatar: 28 February, 2011 - Enterprise Qatar, the newly established authority to develop and promote the small and medium enterprise entities in Qatar, has announced the launch of the 'SME Evolution Program', a free web-based training program for small and medium enterprises (SME's).

This launch was announced in a press conference that was held at the Al Sharq Village and attended by the program's local sponsors, Qtel, QSTP ,HSBC bank and QInvest along with Potential the designers of the program and EQ partner in the SME evolution program as well as The General Secretariat for Development Planning (GSDP) as strategic partner, and the regional sponsors: AllWorld, Aramex, Google, Intel, Zawya, as well as senior delegates from EQ and the above companies.

"Supported by the wise vision and the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifah Al-Thani, The Emir of Qatar, and His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, The Heir Apparent, and His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al-Thani, The Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and driven by the continuous and active support of His Excellency Sheikh Jassim bin Abdul Aziz Al-Thani, Minister of Business and Trade, Enterprise Qatar is leading a new phase of development for the small and medium business entities to help in creating a more diversified knowledge based economy." said Ms. Noora Al Mannai, Enterprise Qatar Deputy Project Director.

She added, "We aim to create a comprehensive infrastructure to support entrepreneurial ventures, champion innovation, and foster the growth of business culture. Complementing the Qatar National Vision 2030, Enterprise Qatar will leverage its status as the key partner for the 'SME Evolution Program' and offer its continuous support for the SME sector. We will work together with Potential to enhance small businesses capabilities and serve the country in building a stronger and more dynamic production sector. The aim of this program is to support thousands of SME's in Qatar to improve their capabilities in various areas such as management, business development, human resources, and online marketing.

Dr. Saleh Al Nabit - Director for Department of Institutional Development of General Secretariat for Development Planning (GSDP) said during the press conference, "in line with its mission to help chart a sustainable development path for Qatar, and the focus of the National Development Strategy on empowering the private sector and encouraging entrepreneurship as a means to create jobs and diversify the country's economy, the General Secretariat for Development Planning (GSDP) firmly supports Enterprise Qatar's role to support the creation and expansion of SMEs."

Over a period of six months, the 'SME Evolution Program' will go through two phases. In the first phase, the program will provide four live full-day workshops, as well as more than 48 webinars. The workshops consist of a comprehensive program that delivers key relevant business subjects by industry experts via webinars in both languages Arabic and English. The program is free of charge for all SME's in Qatar. The workshops and webinars will be delivered by industry leading experts and top professors from international universities like Harvard University, Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, American University of Beirut and other professionals from the industry. The web-based training program will help SME's network with their peers throughout the Middle East and gain support from each other as well as from other mentors.

Towards the end of the workshops, there will be a closing ceremony in which the best 25 SME's will be recognized for their active participation and implementation of the best business practices learned through the program. These 25 SME's will be qualified to get to the second phase of the program, in which they will receive further individual coaching and mentoring from best industry experts.

Commenting on this, Mr. Shadi Banna, the Managing Partner for Potential, said: "this program is specifically designed to support SMEs in Qatar and the region and to help them enhance their capabilities. We are proud to launch the program in Qatar with Enterprise Qatar, our local partner, and other regional organisations."

Eng. Khalid Abdulla Al-Mansouri, Executive Director, Business Solutions, Qtel, said: "Small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of the Qatari economy, and Qtel looks to provide full support for their development, through the provision of a world-class network and support for training programmes like the 'SME Evolution Program.' Qtel has always supported Enterprise Qatar to help achieve its development goals, and is an active participant in helping share global best practices within Qatar. Qtel is a long-term partner for small and medium enterprises in Qatar, having made a major contribution to the Social Development Centre's effort to kick-start entrepreneurialism in Qatar. As the company that introduced BlackBerry to Qatar, and which continues to launch new solutions like Office in a Box and "Business Group," we continue to introduce new solutions to make business more productive in Qatar."

"Qatar Science & Technology Park is the national agency charged with executing applied research and delivering commercialised technologies in four themed areas, Energy, Environment, Health Sciences and Information & Communication Technologies. QSTP fosters technology-based innovation and entrepreneurship through the development of ventures and the creation of an innovation infrastructure in which knowledge-based businesses can flourish. We have been a partner with Enterprise Qatar from its inception and look forward to continue our collaboration to support SME development in general, and technology SMEs in particular", said Mr. Bowmen Heiden.

"As the leading emerging markets bank, HSBC is perfectly positioned to support the growth in the SME sector in Qatar. By working closely with local authorities we can help ensure continued development of the local SME market especially in the area of sharing global best practices. HSBC is fully committed to the SME market and ready to support cross border banking with its international connectivity and its on-the-ground expertise," said Fadi Fattal, Head of Commercial Banking at HSBC Bank Middle East Limited in Qatar.

Mr. Anuj Khanna, Head of Investment Management for QInvest said during the press conference, " QInvest Islamic Investment Bank is delighted to be partnering with Enterprise Qatar on this important initiative. We believe the SME sector is ripe for development over the next few years and we hope to help provide the essential risk capital and financial discipline for entrepreneurs to be able to scale their businesses into local and regional champions".

Khanna added, "we look forward to working closely with the various constituents within Qatar to ensure the success of this important initiative which is being launched during a very exciting time of the country's development"

SMEs interested in enrolling for the free web-based training program are invited to register on www.potential.com/sme-registration

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© Press Release 2011