FROM LEFT: Qatar Chamber’s Director-General, Saleh bin Hamad Al Sharqi; QDB CEO, Abdul Aziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa, and Lulwah Al Nuaimi of Social Development Center NAMA, at a press conference.
DOHA: The number of home-based businesses has increased sharply in the country showing that Qatar is progressing fast in the field of self-sufficiency. A total of 250 home-based businesses are expected to participate in this years’ “Made at Home” exhibition, which is around 74 percent more than the last years. In the last year’s edition of the exhibition, 144 home-based businesses had participated.
Rising number of home-based businesses demonstrate that the culture of entrepreneurship is gaining momentum in Qatar as a result of various measures taken by the different government agencies.
Qatar Development Bank (QDB) announced yesterday that the 2nd ‘Made at Home’ exhibition will be held from October 14 to 20, 2018 at Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC). Qatari entrepreneurs will be showcasing a wide range of home-made products from various sectors including fashion, jewellery, arts & crafts, food & beverages.
Abdul Aziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa, CEO, Qatar Development Bank (QDB), said at a press conference yesterday that the exhibition, which is a week long event, will be organised by QDB in collaboration with Qatar Chamber, NAMA Center and the Ministry of Administrative Development Labour and Social Affairs.
“The 2nd edition, is being launched after the remarkable success of its first edition, which witnessed the participation of 144 local home-based businesses with a total sales over QR2.5m. The exhibition was attended by more than 15,000 visitors across several nationalities,” said Al Khalifa.
He said that as part of the national initiative for developing home-based businesses, the “Made at Home” exhibition was launched by QDB in 2015 to support this sector, which “in return will contribute effectively to the local economy”. Such exhibitions give a big boost to government’s on going drive to raise self sufficiency in the country by increasing local production.
“The exhibition aims at encouraging and supporting Qatari home-based entrepreneurs to develop their abilities & capabilities by offering them a unique opportunity to display their products & services to the local market by creating new marketing windows, which will contribute to the diversification of the national economy,” said Al Khalifa adding that the approach would support the SME industry, encouraging new entrepreneurial pursuits and empower micro businesses.
He added that QDB was committed towards the continuous support to home-based businesses that play a key role in accelerating local economic growth and contribute effectively to the sustainable development of Qatar.
“Qatar Chamber is strategic partner of this expo for the second year in a row,” said Qatar Chamber’s Director-General, Saleh bin Hamad Al Sharqi, addling that QC is committed to enabling micro businesses participate in a number of exhibitions being organised by the chamber, such as the “Made in Qatar”, in which more than 140 productive families showcased their products last year.
“I hope that the second edition of ‘Made at Home’ will achieve its objectives and further contribute to developing skills and capabilities of home-based entrepreneurs.”
Saleh Majid Al Khulaifi, Head of the Business Development at QDB said on the sidelines of the event that QDB provided necessary support to expand home businesses as about 66 shops were allotted to small businessmen to open their own shops in Al Furjan market.
“We provided loan on very marginal interest to help micro businesses develop and various platforms to market their products in Qatar and abroad were also provided to these businesses,” said Al Khulaifi.
