Official of QDB and Qatar Shell along with representatives of SMEs at the event.
Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) sector in Qatar got a boost yesterday with Qatar Development Bank (QDB) and Qatar Shell announcing they have finalised firms for business opportunities. A total of 26 Qatari SMEs have been shortlisted to tender for six business opportunities offered by QDB and Qatar Shell.
Initially, 43 companies had expressed interest to bid and submitted documents for qualifications. In addition, 18 companies submitted formal bids. The successful SMEs will become part of the supply chain for Pearl GTL, the world’s largest gas-to-liquids plant developed in partnership between Qatar Petroleum and Qatar Shell.
The successful SMEs will be announced at an awarding ceremony on December 5, 2016.
“We are proud to partner with Qatar Shell to promote the growth and diversification of the national economy through the support of local entrepreneurs and SMEs,” said Bader Shaheen Al Kuwari, Business Localization Support Manager at Qatar Development Bank. “QDB is fully committed to providing those SMEs and entrepreneurs with all the management, advisory and financial support that they need as they bid for contracts that will help raise their operating standards to meet global requirements,” added Al Kuwari.
“We are proud and encouraged to see so many Qatari SMEs and entrepreneurs showing interest in joining Qatar Shell’s supply chain. By supporting their development, we are seeking to promote and accelerate the development of the private sector in Qatar, in line with the economic pillar of the Qatar National Vision 2030,” said Amro Ahmed, Qatar Local Content and SME Manager at Qatar Shell.
The shortlisted SMEs will tender for the following business opportunities: Compressor Dry Gas Seals Refurbishment and Testing Services; CO and Industrial Gases – Manufacturing; Plastic and Glass Sample Bottles – Manufacturing; White Metal Bearing Refurbishment – Services; Active and Healthy Lifestyle, CSR Program Delivery; and Translation Services.
More than 250 Qatari SMEs and entrepreneurs attended the fourth annual ‘Qatari SME Business Opportunities Workshop’ in May. At the workshop, they were presented with the upcoming tenders and pre-qualification process to compete for the business opportunities on offer. Since 2013, Qatar Shell has contracted with 14 Qatari SMEs to become part of Qatar Shell’s supply chain.
Last year, seven new business opportunities with an estimated total value of QR15m were presented to more than 150 local SMEs and entrepreneurs, with six contracts successfully awarded to Qatari businesses.
The ‘Qatari SME Business Opportunities’ initiative is a strategic partnership between QDB and Qatar Shell, aiming to support the Qatar National Vision 2030 by providing local SMEs with access to specific business opportunities within Qatar Shell’s supply chain, and helping them raise their operating standards in order to fulfil global requirements.
