Purpose

The Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Development Project aims to help create the appropriate business environment for a sustainable development of SMEs in Qatar. The long term goals of the project are to:

• support the Qatar National Vision's strategic objective for economic diversification in the country;
• enhance the role of the private sector in the economic development; and
• create employment opportunities for the national labor force.

Economic diversification and support for private sector development are two central elements of the Economics Pillar of the Qatar National Vision 2030. Employment creation is critical for the shared prosperity the Vision looks forward to.

Project Design and Implementation

The project design emerged following extensive consultations with stakeholders across private and public sectors. The project will seek to provide clear answers to the following questions:

• What is the status of SME development in Qatar today and what is the policy and regulatory framework that affects it?
• What are the constraints that start-ups and existing SMEs face? Which are unique to SMEs and which affect the business community, in general? What are the most important constraints?
• What is the potential of SMEs in Qatar and where are the opportunities? What can government do to help in terms of funding? What governance and operational frameworks are relevant and likely to be effective?
• What capabilities must Qatar develop to support a vibrant SME sector?

Answers to these questions will help lay the groundwork for ensuring the proper integration of SME development ambitions within Qatar’s National Development Strategy (NDS).

The General Secretariat for Development Planning (GSDP) will manage, finance and execute the project, with technical support from the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Office in Abu Dhabi. The project will also draw on expertise from various government and private sector organizations and academic institutions in Qatar. Overall guidance to the project will be provided by a high level Steering Committee. This committee will be chaired by HE Sheik Hamad bin Jabor Al-Thani and its formation and composition will be approved by the H.H. Shaikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Heir Apparent.

The expected timeline of the SME Development Project is from October 2008 to March 2009.

Key Related Documents

• Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Qatar: An Assessment of Constraints and Opportunities, July 2008.

Contact Persons
Dr. Saad M. Khalil, Project Manager
Phone: 974-4495-8647
Email: skhalil@gsdp.gov.qa

Mr. Ali Suleiman, Deputy Manager
Phone: 974-4495-8659
Email: asuleiman@gsdp.gov.qa