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QNB Group recently hosted the second edition of its ‘SME Local Business Boost’ series, bringing together energy sector executives, suppliers, and small businesses to address operational challenges and expanding opportunities in Qatar’s energy market.The forum focused on practical steps to improve supply-chain efficiency and bolster financial preparedness, giving local firms the tools to navigate shifts in the operating environment while capturing growth generated by the nation’s expanding energy industry.It also forms part of QNB Group’s ongoing commitment to supporting Qatar’s private sector through targeted initiatives that promote collaboration and knowledge sharing across the local business ecosystem.Building on the success of the forum’s first edition held in June, the latest event focused on the important role played by local suppliers, service providers, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in supporting the energy sector across its value chain and strengthening its long-term competitiveness.The event reflects QNB Group’s commitment to strengthening the readiness and capabilities of the energy businesses, helping sustain the sector’s continued development and contributing to Qatar’s long-term economic growth.It also stresses the bank’s role as a strategic partner to businesses across Qatar by providing stakeholders with a platform to exchange expertise, strengthen collaboration, and develop practical solutions to emerging challenges. QNB also supports local businesses through innovative financing solutions that ultimately aim to help build a stronger and more competitive private sector in line with the Economic Development pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030.Discussions also underlined the value of closer coordination across the energy ecosystem in helping companies manage challenges and capture the opportunities created by sustainable sector growth.The forum featured a panel discussion with Nicolas Dean Stothard, general manager at Doha Petroleum Construction; Muhammad Farrukh, Treasury and Corporate Finance senior expert, Nebras Energy; Karthik Ramaiah, chief operating officer, PETRO-Q; and Jad Chahine, senior vice president, QNB SME.Networking sessions also enabled participants to explore emerging industry trends, exchange perspectives on key business challenges, and engage directly with QNB relationship managers and industry specialists, providing a valuable platform to strengthen connections, share expertise, and foster collaboration across the energy sector.

As part of its commitment to fostering a dynamic digital business ecosystem and supporting the growth of startups in their journey towards market readiness, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), signed co-operation agreements with six leading organisations to support the third cohort of TASMU Accelerator.The Cohort Champions include QNB, Deloitte, and Ooredoo, who will each award QR200,000 to three top-performing startups during the Demo Day, in recognition of their innovative solutions and their contribution to advancing Qatar's digital transformation.The Strategic Partners include Commercial Bank, Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) and Qatar Development Bank (QDB). Commercial Bank will provide free accounts to start-ups without a minimum deposit requirement, QFC will provide technical and business advisory services, support with licensing procedures, and offer incentives to companies nominated by the TASMU Accelerator, provided their activities fall within the scope of those authorised by or through QFC.QDB will ensure startups qualify for the Talent Community programme, in addition to offering up to six months of free housing and creating opportunities for co-investment through its investment arm.Speaking at the ceremony, Eman al-Kuwari, Director of the Digital Innovation Department at MCIT, said, "The signing of these agreements reflects our shared commitment to start-ups, and the importance of empowering them to generate tangible impact and succeed in building a business environment that fosters innovation."She emphasised the importance of institutional integration, knowledge exchange and collaboration with digital innovation leaders to support startups in expanding their operations and accelerating their entry into the local market through building a strong network of strategic partnerships with local and global institutions, reinforcing Qatar's position as a regional hub for digital innovation.These collaborations will further reinforce the progress of the TASMU Accelerator and consolidate its role as a leading national platform for supporting digital entrepreneurs. The programme has already gained broad international recognition, with its third cohort attracting more than 1,000 applications from 77 countries. This strong response underscores the accelerator's ability to attract top talent and innovative ideas from diverse markets, and to position itself as a gateway connecting global innovators with Qatar's entrepreneurial ecosystem.These agreements aim to strengthen the capacity of the third cohort of start-ups to enter the Qatari market, expand their operations and develop innovative solutions aligned with the Digital Agenda 2030 and the Qatar National Vision 2030, supporting the country's transition towards the digital economy.