More than 2,000 business opportunities valued at QR6.5bn await Qatar' small and medium enterprises (SMEs) this year, a reflection of the growing diversification of the economy on a sustainable basis.

These opportunities as well as public tenders extended by 40 big buyers – such as larger private sector companies, semi-governmental and governmental bodies – were disclosed by Qatar Development Bank (QDB) chief executive Abdulaziz bin Nasser al-Khalifa at the third edition of ‘Moushtrayat’ – the Government Procurement and Contracting Conference and Exhibition, which got off in Doha on Monday.
The expo was inaugurated by HE the Energy and Industry Minister Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada, in the presence of Qatar Central Bank Governor HE Sheikh Abdulla bin Saoud al-Thani and other dignitaries.
"Following the unjust blockade imposed on us in Qatar, and through smaller exhibitions such as Buy National Product 1, 2 and 3, QDB has been connecting the local buyers to the local market through SMEs," al-Khalifa said, adding, to promote the private sector, QDB locally extends wide-ranging financial and non-financial support to entrepreneurs across myriad industries so that SMEs may achieve higher scales of competitiveness in Qatar.
The government has taken several initiatives to provide congenial environment for expanding SMEs' contribution to infrastructure, services and public utilities to encourage and enhance the private sector participation in the country’s economic development plan at all levels, industry sources said.
The conference saw National Procurement Awards, where names of the five winning Qatari organisations were announced in recognition of their commitment to facilitating the entry of new participants into the Qatari marketplace. The winners are the Ministry of Municipalities and Environment, Occidental Petroleum Qatar, Ministry of Public Health, Public Works Authority (Ashghal) and Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
The exhibition, which will conclude tomorrow, is expected to bring significant achievements to all parties, where SMEs will be able to identify the existing opportunities and open new markets through their presence.
Local buyers will also benefit from gaining more knowledge and establishing better dialogue with prominent buyers and suppliers. QDB’s efforts will help enhance SMEs market positions both technically and financially by assisting to localise supply chains.