SDC presents first Reyada Awards to entrepreneurs

Social Development Centre (SDC), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development, presented the first Reyada Awards for Qatari entrepreneurs on Tuesday at ceremony at the Qatar National Convention Centre. SDC chairperson Munira bint Nasser al-Misnad presented the awards accompanied by executive director Amal al-Mannai and a number of dignitaries from the Qatari community.In the New Venture Challenge category Lulwa al-Mansouri won the golden award and Mohamed Mansour al-Sharshani, the silver. Saleh Alaidh was awarded first place for Entrepreneur Achiever Award while Shams al-Qasab ranked second. In the Outstanding Entrepreneurial Support Award 0category, Vodafone earned the golden award for its corporate social responsibility efforts, and College of the North Atlantic –Qatar won the silver.Al-Mannai explained that the Arabic word ‘reyada’ means leadership. The Reyada Awards were conceptualised with the intention of cultivating fresh ideas and unleashing the entrepreneurial spirit in those individuals who actively strive to make a difference in Qatar. “Today, I congratulate those who have transformed Reyada Awards from a mere concept into reality, and have begun fostering a spirit of innovation and healthy competition in our country, which will in effect lead to not only a more prosperous economy, but an enhanced, stable society,” she said.During the ceremony, SDC also thanked its official partner for the Reyada Awards – Al Ijarah Holding, in addition to gold sponsors, Qatar Islamic Bank and Occidental Petroleum. Launched by SDC in 2011, Reyada Awards is the leading entrepreneurship awards programme to honour Qatari entrepreneurs, as well as individuals and organisations that support entrepreneurial ventures. The Reyada Awards programme received 102 applications, out of which 21 were selected as finalists for the awards, following a thorough review.The panel of judges included Abdulaziz al-Khalifa (executive director – Strategic Planning & Control, Qatar Development Bank), Bart Cahir (president and general manager, ExxonMobil Qatar), Suleiman al-Khateeb (executive director – corporate development, Salam International), Roger Griffiths (director of entrepreneurship, Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar), Haya al-Ghanim (entrepreneurship manager, Qatar Science & Technology Park) and Ghanim al-Hamadi (executive director, Al Asmakh Group). SDC’s commitment to entrepreneurship goes back to 2003, when it first launched the Rasameel fund for entrepreneurial ventures. In 2007, SDC launched Tanmia, a programme designed to promote self-employment by providing support services to existing national small and medium enterprises and potential entrepreneurs to start viable small businesses. SDC also supports home-based entrepreneurs with its Badr – Wa Inta Kadr programme.