16 June 2014
DOHA: Qatar National Bank (QNB) has signed a two-year partnership agreement with 'Enterprise Qatar' (EQ), an SME-dedicated company, as a conventional 'Funding Partner' for its new online portal 'businesspulse.qa', said a press statement yesterday.
This initiative is in partnership with Thomson-Reuters and operated by Zawya Internet Content Provider LLC.
The agreement, which was signed at QNB's head office by Hamad Al Jamali, Acting Assistant General Manager SME at QNB Group, follows QNB's participation as the Official Bank at the recently concluded 'QITCOM 2014 exhibition' - Qatar's largest Information and Communications Technology (ICT) event.
Businesspulse.qa, a national portal and semi-government entity established in support of entrepreneurs and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Qatar, provides a comprehensive set of databases containing valuable information and knowledge. Its purpose is to facilitate a well-integrated business environment to serve and support entrepreneurs and business owners seeking to develop their operations, while assisting various governmental administrations, businessmen and entrepreneurs to make informed decisions.
QNB's objective is to enable Qatari entrepreneurs and SME owners, the driving force of tomorrow's economy, to make important decisions by providing credible, reliable, timely, accessible and relevant data through a coherent eco-system that supports budding SMEs within the Qatari market.
This agreement further emphasises the significance of the new online portal as QNB will now offer a comprehensive range of financial products and services including a 'Financial Health Check' tool to help SMEs and entrepreneurs manage their money better. Other services include the 'Apply Online for QNB Funding' assistant, an 'Ask the Expert' and 'Live Chat' tools.
Additionally, all QNB events will also be communicated online through BusinessPulse.qa, while SME customers can now find financial and enterprise market 'Thought Leadership' articles provided by QNB.
Hamad Al Jamali, Acting Assistant General Manager SME at QNB Group, said: "QNB is proud to support SMEs through this innovation and will continue to provide leadership in the banking sector through our partnerships with EQ, government bodies and leading private sector organisations such as Thomson-Reuters. Our support for businesspulse.qa further enhances QNB's strategic offerings to the SME market".
Ali Al Khulaifi, Executive Director of Business Support Services at EQ, said: "As the preferred destination for local business, EQ promotes and supports the prosperity of Qatari SMEs, start-ups and entrepreneurs."
Nadim Najjar, Thomson Reuters' Managing Director for the Middle East, Africa, Russia and the CIS countries, said: "We are pleased to collaborate with EQ for the launch of businesspulse.qa, in partnership with QNB.
Jean Marc Paufique, COO and Head of Product Management at Zawya - Thomson Reuters, said: "We are pleased to collaborate with EQ to launch businesspulse.qa. This supports our role as a key contributor to the growth of local markets across the Mena region."
DOHA: Qatar National Bank (QNB) has signed a two-year partnership agreement with 'Enterprise Qatar' (EQ), an SME-dedicated company, as a conventional 'Funding Partner' for its new online portal 'businesspulse.qa', said a press statement yesterday.
This initiative is in partnership with Thomson-Reuters and operated by Zawya Internet Content Provider LLC.
The agreement, which was signed at QNB's head office by Hamad Al Jamali, Acting Assistant General Manager SME at QNB Group, follows QNB's participation as the Official Bank at the recently concluded 'QITCOM 2014 exhibition' - Qatar's largest Information and Communications Technology (ICT) event.
Businesspulse.qa, a national portal and semi-government entity established in support of entrepreneurs and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Qatar, provides a comprehensive set of databases containing valuable information and knowledge. Its purpose is to facilitate a well-integrated business environment to serve and support entrepreneurs and business owners seeking to develop their operations, while assisting various governmental administrations, businessmen and entrepreneurs to make informed decisions.
QNB's objective is to enable Qatari entrepreneurs and SME owners, the driving force of tomorrow's economy, to make important decisions by providing credible, reliable, timely, accessible and relevant data through a coherent eco-system that supports budding SMEs within the Qatari market.
This agreement further emphasises the significance of the new online portal as QNB will now offer a comprehensive range of financial products and services including a 'Financial Health Check' tool to help SMEs and entrepreneurs manage their money better. Other services include the 'Apply Online for QNB Funding' assistant, an 'Ask the Expert' and 'Live Chat' tools.
Additionally, all QNB events will also be communicated online through BusinessPulse.qa, while SME customers can now find financial and enterprise market 'Thought Leadership' articles provided by QNB.
Hamad Al Jamali, Acting Assistant General Manager SME at QNB Group, said: "QNB is proud to support SMEs through this innovation and will continue to provide leadership in the banking sector through our partnerships with EQ, government bodies and leading private sector organisations such as Thomson-Reuters. Our support for businesspulse.qa further enhances QNB's strategic offerings to the SME market".
Ali Al Khulaifi, Executive Director of Business Support Services at EQ, said: "As the preferred destination for local business, EQ promotes and supports the prosperity of Qatari SMEs, start-ups and entrepreneurs."
Nadim Najjar, Thomson Reuters' Managing Director for the Middle East, Africa, Russia and the CIS countries, said: "We are pleased to collaborate with EQ for the launch of businesspulse.qa, in partnership with QNB.
Jean Marc Paufique, COO and Head of Product Management at Zawya - Thomson Reuters, said: "We are pleased to collaborate with EQ to launch businesspulse.qa. This supports our role as a key contributor to the growth of local markets across the Mena region."
© The Peninsula 2014
