The Qatar Business Incubation Centre (QBIC) continues to invest heavily in advancing female entrepreneurship, providing support to grow and expand their businesses, a senior official said.
“Nothing makes us happier than seeing innovative ideas and creations getting turned into sustainable businesses,” QBIC’s CEO Aysha al-Mudahka said in a statement.
She was citing the role of Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition in providing various opportunities for female entrepreneurs to promote and boost their businesses.
Armed with the right tools, support, funding and mentorship, she expressed optimism that the next successful fashion brand could come from Qatar, with Heya as the “perfect launchpad”.
According to al-Mudahka, QBIC will continue to extend its support to female entrepreneurs from the fashion industry as the company looks forward to taking part in the exhibition on multiple fronts.
QBIC’s business development manager Aysha al-Romaihi echoed al-Mudahka’s statement saying they have seen many female Qatari entrepreneurs establishing their own businesses.
“We have ladies working in different sectors, especially in the fashion industry, who have products promoted locally, regionally and internationally,” she told reporters at the Heya press conference in Doha on Tuesday.
Apart from QBIC, al-Romaihi also reiterated the efforts exerted by His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, in fully supporting Qatari entrepreneurs.
“Transforming an idea into an exhibition and into a product is not an easy task. That is why we are here to support every endeavour in this field and Heya is an exhibition that will serve as a platform for the launch of new companies,” she noted.
This year’s event, 90 Qatari brands, an increase of 25% in local designers compared to the previous Heya edition, will showcase their products at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre from November 3 to 7.
QBIC will set up a pavilion at the event, which will highlight the success of local entrepreneurs, as well as welcome new and creative ideas from exhibitors and visitors.
Qatar Tourism Authority’s festival and tourism events director Mashal Shahbik said they worked to support local entrepreneurs through exhibitions such as Heya by providing networking opportunities that offer experience and insights from leading brands.
“Heya is an important cultural event, highly-anticipated by its wide following of Arabian and traditional fashion enthusiasts from Qatar and across the region,” she added.
As QTA currently works to implement a new chapter of the National Tourism Sector Strategy, Shahbik pointed out that a key feature of this plan is to create synergies between various sectors involved in tourism, while growing the participation of the private sector.
“Our focus is also to ensure every visitor can experience Qatari culture and heritage at every touch point of their journey - both as a means for promoting and perpetuating our customs and traditions, and providing a platform for showcasing local talent,” she added.
