Delegates from Qatari and regional small and medium sized businesses taking part in a training and development conference sponsored by Enterprise Qatar

Effective leadership, management and the importance of customer service topped the agenda this weekend when Enterprise Qatar (EQ), the organisation that is mandated with supporting and promoting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), hosted its second live event as part of its breakthrough, comprehensive and free of charge SME Evolution Programme designed to help companies double in size within 36 months.
Organised in conjunction with Potential, Enterprise Qatar’s partner and the designer of the programme, the event was attended by representatives of scores of Qatar-based and regional companies who all voiced their acclaim of Enterprise Qatar’s highly significant initiative.
The event was comprised of a series of workshops and interactive sessions with academics, industry experts and local business people. The key topics included a session on Entrepreneurship and Leadership, a workshop on the needs of SMEs in Qatar, a session on the importance of customers for any business, and an introduction to the Arabic programme. 
Enterprise Qatar Deputy Project Director, Noora al-Mannai, said: “After the considerable success of our first workshop earlier this month, Saturday’s session helped expand on some of the themes introduced in that session in addition to highlighting a range of other topics that are critical to the success of any business.”
The SME Evolution Program is one of EQ’s first major initiatives aimed at improving the country’s innovation ecosystem.
One of their projects is a free, web-based training programme for SMEs. Al-Mannai also said that Enterprise Qatar is holding a business plan competition, where potential entrepreneurs can have their idea compete against others in order to win significant backing for their project by EQ’s sponsors. 130 candidates have proposed ideas and winners will be announced soon.
EQ is also launching a business advisory service, as well as creating centres to assist fledgling businesses.
Enterprise Qatar will officially launch with a revamped website in October-November this year.