‘Rowad’ Qatar Entrepreneurship Conference 2024 hosts 3rd Arab SME Summit

Qatar Development Bank (QDB) signed a memorandum of understanding with the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) to promote and support SMEs in Qatar and the Arab region.

In line with the agreement, QDB will host the 3rd Arab SME Summit within the framework of the 10th edition of ‘Rowad’ Qatar Entrepreneurship Conference 2024, which will be held from November 17-19 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC) under the theme ‘Navigating Digital Horizons’.

The Arab SME Summit represents a leading interactive platform for entrepreneurs across the Arab region. The summit’s first and second editions attracted over 2,000 participants, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors and representatives of media entities as well as regional and international organisations with a focus on sustainable development.

The summit familiarises participants with leading business models in Arab markets, sheds light on inspiring success stories, and facilitates collaboration and joint action to promote investment opportunities and collaboration among Arab policymakers and experts.

The summit’s upcoming edition is expected to attract more than 1,300 participants from various countries and industries, inspiring entrepreneurs across the region to excel. The summit’s agenda features various events that bring together decision-makers and policymakers to discuss empowering SMEs and fostering the Arab world’s entrepreneurship environment to advance sustainable development.

Discussions will focus on the opportunities and challenges presented by the digital era, including digital business transformation, technological innovation, and regional cooperation to strengthen the digital economy.

QDB CEO Abdulrahman Hesham al-Sowaidi said the bank’s new partnership with ESCWA reflects its commitment to pioneering action and collaboration to bolster Qatar’s economy and support the development of the local entrepreneurship ecosystem.

“We are proud that Doha is hosting the third Arab SME Summit after Amman and Marrakesh hosted the previous two editions. We are pleased that the event will take place within the framework of the 10th edition of ‘Rowad’ Qatar Entrepreneurship Conference 2024, which makes this year’s edition the largest of its kind to date.

“We believe such events are key to supporting Arab economies and empowering leading entrepreneurs across the region. At Qatar Development Bank, we remain committed to spearheading leading initiatives to support SMEs and foster their contribution to sustainable economic growth.”

ESCWA executive secretary Rola Dashti said: “We are confident that this partnership will open new horizons to promote entrepreneurship across the region. We look forward to working together to promote innovation, create jobs, and stimulate inclusive economic growth.”

She added: “The Arab SME Summit is distinguished by the participation of an elite group of innovators, entrepreneurs, SMEs, policymakers and leaders from various industries and Arab countries.

“Holding the summit within the framework of the Rowad Conference is considered an exceptional opportunity to organize an unprecedented edition in terms of participants, partners and investors in the Arab entrepreneurship ecosystem.”

QDB’s collaboration with ESCWA aims to support SMEs through knowledge exchange and capacity building, with a focus on innovation and sustainability.

This year marks a new milestone in the Rowad Conference journey, which kicked off locally before expanding regionally to Gulf Co-operation Council countries. Last year’s event hosted the third edition of the GCC Entrepreneurship Forum and the Rowad GCC Hackathon, the first of its kind in the region, along with the fourth edition of the Rowad Awards that celebrate Qatari firms with outstanding performance.

The ‘Rowad’ Qatar Entrepreneurship Conference aims to celebrate the achievements of entrepreneurs in Qatar, empower startups and SMEs and bolster their growth opportunities.

Annually, the conference will bring together leading players from Qatar’s entrepreneurship ecosystem along with their regional peers for the opportunity to exchange knowledge and share valuable insights on investment prospects across the Arab world.