Sasol, the international integrated energy and chemical company and the non-profit Bedaya Center for Entrepreneurship and Career Guidance, have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on providing technical business support to Small and Medium Enterprise development in the chemical, energy and related sectors in Qatar.
Saleh Al Khualifi, Head of Bedaya Centre said, "The entrepreneurial spirit is making a comeback with the next generation in Qatar and the region. We welcome Sasol's collaboration with Bedaya Center to support SMEs in Qatar with their technical know-how and experience in the chemical and energy sectors. This is a great example of giving back to the community and supporting the diversification of the local economy."
"Sasol is pleased to support entrepreneurship in Qatar through this partnership with Bedaya Center. Small firms are the backbone of a flourishing and diverse economy. It is in our company's heritage to support the communities in which we operate, from our native South Africa to here in Qatar. Through our JV venture with Qatar Petroleum, ORYX GTL, and community partnerships, we are proud to be making a positive mark here in Qatar today and in the future," said Marjo Louw, President, Sasol Qatar.
"I am happy to have this opportunity and privilege to work and be guided by Bedaya Center and receive technical support from Sasol. The support for me and my partner Nora Al Thani, started right from the feasibility studies phase of our project" Added Fatima Al Mohannadi, a young entrepreneur benefitting from the partnership.
The Bedaya Center MOU builds on Sasol's support for Enterprise Qatar's Al Fikra initiative last month. Sasol lent its support as the technology partner for the 2013 National Business Plan Competition.
Per the MOU, Bedaya will identify and refer entrepreneurs and SMEs that it believes will benefit from technical business support to be offered by Sasol. These selected projects will be in the chemical, energy and related sectors. Sasol will impart its SME development experience, knowledge, best practices to the SMEs. In turn, Bedaya will provide business support to the entrepreneurs, including business plans, feasibility studies, market analysis, marketing strategy and operational plans.
Bedaya is a non-governmental organization with a mission to connect young people, ages 18-30, with enterprise and financing opportunities. Its approach is to mobilize interest, investments, knowledge, resources and action to drive large-scale, comprehensive youth training, accreditation, entrepreneurship, access to finance, and development initiatives.
About Sasol:
Committed to excellence in all we do, Sasol is an international integrated energy and chemical company that leverages the talent and expertise of our more than 34 000 people working in 38 countries. We develop and commercialise technologies, and build and operate world-scale facilities, to produce a range of product streams, including liquid fuels, chemicals and electricity.
While continuing to support our home-base of South Africa, Sasol is expanding internationally based on a unique value proposition, which links our diverse businesses into an integrated value chain supported by top-class functions.
Sasol is a joint venture partner in ORYX GTL, the world's first commercial-scale GTL plant based in Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar; ORYX GTL is owned by Qatar Petroleum (51%) and Sasol (49%), it uses Sasol proprietary gas to liquids technology for converting natural gas into liquid fuel products.
© Press Release 2013
