Enterprise Qatar (EQ), which is in the forefront of developing entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country, will soon activate a subcontracting and partnership exchange portal (SPX Qatar), a move that will make matchmaking easier for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
“EQ will activate the portal that will perform the function of an online matchmaking tool between buyers and SME suppliers and allow SMEs to connect virtually,” EQ chief operating officer Nasser al-Mohannadi said.
The portal is an offshoot of subcontracting and partnership exchange programme (EQ–SPX), which is basically a database for large, small and medium industries to strengthen their supply chain and promote utilisation of their subcontracting platform for matchmaking between buyers and industries.
It will also undertake promotion, offer technical information, contractors’ enquiry processing, detailed data on suppliers and buyers and enhance large, medium and small businesses’ productivity as well as capacity building. The first phase of SPX Qatar consisted of creating company profiles of 233 SMEs from plastic, rubber, electric, electronic and metal works sectors. It also had profiles of major buyers in Qatar.
The EQ-SPX is a technical co-operation programme that links domestic enterprises in developing countries to the supply chains of large domestic or international companies.
It aims at facilitating SMEs access to business opportunities through buyers outsourcing and partnerships by operating as a matchmaking mechanism between buyers and suppliers/contractors.
The programme has been initiated by the United Nation for Industrial Development Organisation with the aim of developing the capacities of local SMEs to meet buyer needs and to identify profitable business/investment opportunities for them.
The EQ-SPX operates as a technical information centre for business contacts and promotion of inquiries and opportunities, mainly through the SPX portal.
