Doha :  A new report produced by the global research and advisory firm Oxford Business Group (OBG), in partnership with Qatar Development Bank, maps out the country’s efforts to put entrepreneurial activity and innovation at the heart of its long-term growth strategy.

The Business Journey Report shines a spotlight on Qatar’s start-up and SME ecosystem, combining detailed analysis, key data and infographics relating to the socio-economic landscape in an easy-to-navigate and accessible format.

The country’s ongoing economic diversification and private sector development agenda, which sit at the heart of the Qatar Vision 2030 roadmap, are a key focus.

Here, the report charts the measures being implemented to nurture new growth engines, boost FDI and strengthen Qatar’s competitiveness, which will help to provide a buffer against future shocks to global energy markets, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. It also pinpoints several segments of the economy that have been earmarked as ripe for development, with smart manufacturing, ICT, financial services, tourism, logistics, professional services and science-related industries, among those identified.

Subscribers will find extensive coverage of the digital transformation process under way in Qatar, which gathered pace during the coronavirus arrived and is set to accelerate further as more firms move to harness the potential of tech-led solutions.

In addition, the report contains an in-depth analysis of the country’s export trajectory, noting that rising demand in Asia meant international sales had returned to pre-pandemic levels by early 2021. With energy-related shipments accounting for the bulk of sales, it also considers what Qatar can do to tap new overseas growth opportunities by developing a more diverse export basket and encouraging SMEs to sell products and services beyond the country’s borders.

The report explores the key role that development partners, including QDB, have played in supporting Qatar’s SMEs through the pandemic in an increasingly digitalised economy, with initiatives that range from funding options for expansion to accelerator programmes for emerging industries.

Licence holders will find an in-depth interview with Abdulrahman Hesham Al Sowaidi, Acting CEO, QDB, in which he shares his thoughts on the need for new ideas to achieve sustainable development and economic stability locally and globally, in the aftermath of the pandemic. 

“This is why QDB is focusing on a number of key areas to help the SME ecosystem and the private sector adapt to changes and thrive in the new economy, including digital transformation, achieving self-sufficiency in target industries, enhancing localisation opportunities, and promoting healthy competition, all while nurturing innovation and helping introduce forward-looking solutions to new economic challenges,” he told OBG.

Jana Treeck, OBG’s Managing Director for the Middle East, said that a combination of strong economic fundamentals and hydrocarbon wealth had enabled Qatar to weather the economic challenges of the pandemic relatively well, with the World Bank forecasting a robust near-term recovery.

“Qatar’s diversification efforts are already delivering results, with non-hydrocarbon growth projected to outstrip the oil and gas sector next year,” Treeck said. “While the country’s role as host of the FIFA World Cup 2022 will provide an abundance of opportunities for start-ups and SMEs in the services sector, the stage is also set for high-potential segments like fashion and design, smart manufacturing and fintech, to become new avenues of growth in a more innovation-led economy.”

The Business Journey Report forms part of a series of tailored reports that OBG is currently producing with its partners, alongside other highly relevant, go-to research tools, including a range of country-specific Growth and Recovery Outlook articles and interviews.

The Business Journey Report is available to view and download at https://oxfordbusinessgroup.com/news/report-what-are-post-pandemic-prospects-qatar-start-ups-and-smes 

-Ends-

About Oxford Business Group 

Oxford Business Group (OBG) is a global research and advisory company with a presence in over 30 countries, spanning Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas. It is recognised internationally as a distinctive and respected provider of on-the-ground intelligence on world’s fastest-growing markets, termed The Yellow Slice, in reference to OBG’s corporate colour. 

Through its range of products - Economic News and Views; OBG CEO Surveys; OBG Events and Conferences; Global Platform, which hosts exclusive video interviews; and The Report publications – as well as its Advisory division, OBG offers comprehensive and accurate analysis of macroeconomic and sector-level developments for sound investment opportunities and business decisions. 

OBG provides business intelligence to its subscribers through multiple platforms, including its direct subscribers, Dow Jones Factiva subscribers, the Bloomberg Professional Services subscribers, Refinitiv’s (previously Thomson Reuters) Eikon subscribers, and more.

For more information, please contact:
Marc-André de Blois
Director of PR and Video Content, Oxford Business Group
E-mail: mdeblois@oxfordbusinessgroup.com
802 Publishing Pavilion, Production City
PO Box 502 659 Me’aisem First Dubai UAE
T +971 4 426 4642
F +971 4 426 4641
6th Floor 105 Victoria Street
London SW1E 6DT
T +44 203 457 2825
F +44 17 3026 0274 
Register to receive our Economic Updates: www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/register     

Send us your press releases to pressrelease.zawya@refinitiv.com

© Press Release 2021

Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release.

The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk.

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.