DOHA: Doha Bank is continuing its endeavour to introduce and showcase 'Tatweer', the comprehensive Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Business package, with its third phase of customer interaction at an awareness meet held at Doha Bank's Main Branch recently.
'Tatweer' is Doha Bank's customer interface initiative that serves to specifically address the various financial and banking requirements for SMEs and developed in association with Q-tel.
"SMEs are important for the integral socio-economic development of Qatar and Doha Bank understands this requirement.Hence our initiative aims to assist as many SMEs to use Tatweer for all their banking and financial needs," said R Seetharaman, group CEO.
Reiterating this aspect and also the government's efforts to boost SMEs, Antoine Abboud, Acting Head of Corporate and Commercial Banking Division, outlined the bank's vision in promoting this product among the SMEs in Qatar.
"We have been financing this segment of the industry for a long time. As such, development of this interface was almost a natural evolution. This product is specifically meant for them, so it is our duty to ensure they all understand its various aspects and how it assists in boosting their business," said Abboud.
"The interface was also the result of the strategic tie-up of the bank with Q-tel whose ideals for developing and encouraging SMEs mirrored those of the bank. The entrepreneurial spirit and innovativeness of SME segment towards nation building was commendable but it required more financial support from the banking industry," he said.
Further elaborating on the effectiveness of the interface for SMEs at the event, Deepthie Yatiyawela, Head of SME Banking at Doha Bank, said that the bank offers loan products, trade finance products, service products and a deposit product to the SME players. "We now proudly cater to the financing needs of trading companies, large grocery, super-markets, supply contract companies, various service providers, restaurants, and transport companies who are registered and operational in Qatar."
"SMEs can use the 'Tatweer' interface right from the financing stage for the purchase of inventories (both imports and local purchases), to financing day-to-day working capital, needs for letter of guarantees facilities, term loans for medium and long-term expansions, electronic based service products, and specially designed insurance products etc, that have been pro-actively bundled by Doha Bank and offered to the SME segment players," said Deepthie.
Also speaking on the occasion, Faisal Al Kuwari from Q-tel showcased the 'Office in-a-Box' concept while Hasan Panjwani from Doha Sooq explained the benefits that can be derived from e-Business portal 'Doha Sooq'.
Doha Bank's "Tatweer" was launched in February 2009.This offering consists of an entire range of products and services to cater to the needs of the SME segment.
The bank is using the branch network channel for marketing this product. For the convenience of customers, dedicated SME units have been setup in Industrial Area, Al Khor, Mushareib, Salwa, Souq Waqef, Mirqab, Al Rayyan, Corporate, C Ring, Handsa and Najma branches of the bank. More units will be added to this list in the coming days.
© The Peninsula 2010
