As part of its commitment to support the development of the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector, Qatar Chamber and the British Embassy are jointly hosting the ‘3rd SMEs Conference’ from March 2 and 3 at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel.
The event will be held under the patronage of HE the Minister of Commerce and Industry Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari.
Qatar Chamber chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani said, “As part of Qatar Chamber’s interest to support SMEs, we are holding the third edition of the conference to promote entrepreneurship and stimulate SME development with a view to boosting the economic diversification and create new businesses opportunities in the local market.”
Sheikh Khalifa also noted that the conference aims to enhance the Qatari private sector’s role in the economic development of Qatar. On the sidelines of the conference, there will be a B2B opportunity, allowing Qatari businessmen to meet with their British counterparts.
The conference will focus on SMEs from the UK, which has the sixth largest national economy in the world, wherein SMEs account for over 90% of all UK companies, and are among the most innovative in the world.
The objective of the event is to further increase trade between Qatar and the UK by working together through SMEs. It will offer a unique platform for UK SMEs to understand the opportunities available in Qatar and to meet buyers and investors, whilst serving as a forum for both Qatar and the UK to share good practice and lessons learned.
Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for the Middle East, Simon Penney, who will be joining the event, said: “The UK and Qatar share a strong economic relationship with sustained ambition from both governments to increase bilateral trade and investment, further strengthening economic ties.”
Penney also noted: “Qatar is an exciting market with great potential for UK companies, especially with the 2022 FIFA World Cup and its ambitious National Vision 2030. This event will enable UK SMEs to see for themselves the diverse range of opportunities that Qatar offers.”
