Qatar Development Bank (QDB) has concluded 2021 with numerous feats added to its record of achievements, and the marking of several milestones in its ongoing journey to empower private sector companies and contribute to the development of the SME ecosystem in Qatar across its three access-based pillars to private-enterprise support: Access to finance, access to capability, and access to local, regional, and international markets.
In 2021, QDB was able to continue its support for the private sector against the repercussions of the pandemic. In this endeavour, the number of beneficiaries of the National Guarantee Programme by the end of 2021 reached approximately 4,300 eligible companies across various sectors that were issued guarantees amounting to QR3.6bn, in addition to helping companies thrive in the new economy by harnessing digital and smart solutions, such as its newly launched NUMU digital platform for financing industrial SMEs and the Qatar Virtual Exhibition, which connects exporting Qatari SMEs with importers and buyers from all over the world.
In parallel, financing reached QR7.2bn, which was used to support over 800 SMEs, in addition to a boost in export financing by 22% with a cumulative total support of QR1.54bn. Moreover, capital deployed in SMEs reached QR66mn, marking an 11% growth over the previous year.
On the SME ecosystem development front, QDB achieved a number of remarkable feats, including its participation in the 24th St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), where nine Qatari companies secured potential investment agreements worth QR33mn, in addition to achievements at the national level such as the launch of the 7th Qatar Entrepreneurship Conference (ROWAD Qatar), in its second virtual edition, which witnessed wide participation and active engagement nationally and regionally with more than 2,500 participants taking part in 27 workshops delivered by 45 speakers from Qatar and beyond, as well as the organisation of the Qatar Entrepreneurship Awards 2021 (ROWAD Awards), where five SMEs were honoured for their achievements across various categories.
QDB also held the 4th Investment Forum, in an edition that witnessed the launch of the first digital investment platform of its kind in Qatar, as well as the attendance of 350 participants and the organisation of more than 30 matchmaking sessions between investors and entrepreneurs from the 10 participating startups, bringing the total potential deals of the forum to QR8mn. During the year, QDB also released Qatar’s first report of its kind on venture investment, along with 14 other reports and studies serving a wide spectrum of SME-focused objectives.
As one of its key pillars of support to the entrepreneurial ecosystem, QDB’s capacity-building efforts translated into a number of achievements in 2021 as the bank’s advisory and consultation services reached more than 650 SMEs and entrepreneurs, a 38% increase in the number of beneficiaries compared to about 470 in 2020, while training and workshops saw a 6% increase, reaching nearly 300 workshops and courses that served more than 8,000 beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, 467 SMEs were incubated and accelerated in 2021, marking a 46% increase over the previous year. Incubatees spanned various sectors and domains across QDB’s various business incubators and accelerators, including Qatar Business Incubation Centre (QBIC), Qatar FinTech Hub, Scale7 Fashion & Design Incubator, and Qatar SportsTech.
QDB also played a major role in supporting government projects while ensuring their optimal implementation in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and national partners. In 2021, the bank issued housing loans to more than 35,000 beneficiaries with a total amount of approximately QR25.8bn, achieving a growth rate of 2.3% year-on-year (y-o-y). Moreover, the number of Al Furjan and Al Ezzab markets’ shops increased by 15%.
Export financing and development had their share of achievements, as well with the volume of exports by registered export SMEs exceeding QR1bn and marking a 50% growth y-o-y. As part of promoting and supporting private enterprises, more than 200 Qatari companies participated in 10 international exhibitions and 220 exporting SMEs took part in 10 matchmaking events with a growth rate of 91% in the number of beneficiaries. In the e-commerce domain, 43 Qatari exporters joined the Alibaba e-platform, in addition to organising 21 workshops and 99 training sessions that benefited 636 participants.
The total value of contracts concluded in terms of localisation of opportunities amounted to approximately QR262mn, in co-operation with public and private institutions. In this context, the number of participants in local supply chain and procurement training workshops reached 1,000, and the number of local companies that benefited from the lean matchmaking programmes reached 21. QDB also launched the “Meet Your Manufacturer” digital platform.
In 2021, QDB was able to continue its support for the private sector against the repercussions of the pandemic. In this endeavour, the number of beneficiaries of the National Guarantee Programme by the end of 2021 reached approximately 4,300 eligible companies across various sectors that were issued guarantees amounting to QR3.6bn, in addition to helping companies thrive in the new economy by harnessing digital and smart solutions, such as its newly launched NUMU digital platform for financing industrial SMEs and the Qatar Virtual Exhibition, which connects exporting Qatari SMEs with importers and buyers from all over the world.
In parallel, financing reached QR7.2bn, which was used to support over 800 SMEs, in addition to a boost in export financing by 22% with a cumulative total support of QR1.54bn. Moreover, capital deployed in SMEs reached QR66mn, marking an 11% growth over the previous year.
On the SME ecosystem development front, QDB achieved a number of remarkable feats, including its participation in the 24th St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), where nine Qatari companies secured potential investment agreements worth QR33mn, in addition to achievements at the national level such as the launch of the 7th Qatar Entrepreneurship Conference (ROWAD Qatar), in its second virtual edition, which witnessed wide participation and active engagement nationally and regionally with more than 2,500 participants taking part in 27 workshops delivered by 45 speakers from Qatar and beyond, as well as the organisation of the Qatar Entrepreneurship Awards 2021 (ROWAD Awards), where five SMEs were honoured for their achievements across various categories.
QDB also held the 4th Investment Forum, in an edition that witnessed the launch of the first digital investment platform of its kind in Qatar, as well as the attendance of 350 participants and the organisation of more than 30 matchmaking sessions between investors and entrepreneurs from the 10 participating startups, bringing the total potential deals of the forum to QR8mn. During the year, QDB also released Qatar’s first report of its kind on venture investment, along with 14 other reports and studies serving a wide spectrum of SME-focused objectives.
As one of its key pillars of support to the entrepreneurial ecosystem, QDB’s capacity-building efforts translated into a number of achievements in 2021 as the bank’s advisory and consultation services reached more than 650 SMEs and entrepreneurs, a 38% increase in the number of beneficiaries compared to about 470 in 2020, while training and workshops saw a 6% increase, reaching nearly 300 workshops and courses that served more than 8,000 beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, 467 SMEs were incubated and accelerated in 2021, marking a 46% increase over the previous year. Incubatees spanned various sectors and domains across QDB’s various business incubators and accelerators, including Qatar Business Incubation Centre (QBIC), Qatar FinTech Hub, Scale7 Fashion & Design Incubator, and Qatar SportsTech.
QDB also played a major role in supporting government projects while ensuring their optimal implementation in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and national partners. In 2021, the bank issued housing loans to more than 35,000 beneficiaries with a total amount of approximately QR25.8bn, achieving a growth rate of 2.3% year-on-year (y-o-y). Moreover, the number of Al Furjan and Al Ezzab markets’ shops increased by 15%.
Export financing and development had their share of achievements, as well with the volume of exports by registered export SMEs exceeding QR1bn and marking a 50% growth y-o-y. As part of promoting and supporting private enterprises, more than 200 Qatari companies participated in 10 international exhibitions and 220 exporting SMEs took part in 10 matchmaking events with a growth rate of 91% in the number of beneficiaries. In the e-commerce domain, 43 Qatari exporters joined the Alibaba e-platform, in addition to organising 21 workshops and 99 training sessions that benefited 636 participants.
The total value of contracts concluded in terms of localisation of opportunities amounted to approximately QR262mn, in co-operation with public and private institutions. In this context, the number of participants in local supply chain and procurement training workshops reached 1,000, and the number of local companies that benefited from the lean matchmaking programmes reached 21. QDB also launched the “Meet Your Manufacturer” digital platform.