Enterprise Qatar launches portal to promote SMEs

In partnership with Thomson-Reuters, Enterprise Qatar yesterday launched ‘BusinessPulse.qa’ at the third QITCOM 2014, with the aim to address major challenges facing SMEs in Qatar.

On the launch of the new portal, Omran Hamad al-Kuwari, chief executive officer, Enterprise Qatar, said: “BusinessPulse.qa is the culmination of our efforts and dedication in building a culture of entrepreneurship in Qatar. It provides a comprehensive set of databases containing valuable information and knowledge to assist SMEs, in addition to helping various governmental administrations, businessmen and entrepreneurs in making the right decisions.

“The launch of this portal reflects Qatar’s commitment to develop the private sector, as it strongly believes that SMEs constitute the very foundation of a diversified and sustainable economy. This is, therefore, an important move towards building a knowledge-based economy, the main objective of the National Development Strategy, which also aims to develop the private sector as the driving engine for sustainable economic development.”

Qatar currently ranks 54th out of 144 nations on the Knowledge Economy Index, and EQ is striving to improve the country’s ranking in the coming years.

Dr Rasha Awad, executive director, EQ, said: “The portal provides a useful electronic and interactive forum, whereby SMEs can exchange expertise and share successes. The site showcases many stories about successful enterprises and business leaders, as well as provides information, ideas and access to a comprehensive set database of the small and medium enterprises in the region, all of which will help entrepreneurs and SMEs develop and be even more successful.

“EQ in partnership with Thomson-Reuters, is seeking to become Qatar’s main business portal, through providing a well-integrated business environment to serve and support entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises. Therefore, we invite all the major companies in Qatar to register in the portal to directly communicate with SMEs, and share ideas and suggestions on how to further develop the business pulse portal.”

The portal includes five major sections, which help to provide a network of interactive communication between entrepreneurs, policymakers, companies and governmental institutions.

The ‘Business Tools’ section provides different applications and tools to help entrepreneurs find and develop different business ideas. It also provides information about using technology, available funding, insurance, promotion, sales, import and export, human resources, legal services, in addition to providing access to a database of ideas and projects.

The ‘Business Support’ section provides a comprehensive set of services, which help SMEs and entrepreneurs communicate with experts, in addition to EQ services such as its feasibility studies ‘Jadwa’; its legal services ‘Oqood’; its auditing services ‘Tadqeeq’; and ‘Eyada’, which helps companies facing problems.

The ‘Success Stories’ section allows SME owners to share their success stories whilst also reviewing others.

The ‘Knowledge Centre’ contains a rich database with all relevant knowledge to investors, entrepreneurs and SMEs. The information includes the pillars and guidelines of national development, economic and business laws and regulations, and different periodicals.

Finally, the ‘Newsroom’ contains all the local, regional and international news stories that interest entrepreneurs, as well as important events and conferences that will be held in Qatar. It also has archives of press releases, presentations and videos.

BusinessPulse.qa is the first portal of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa, and it can be downloaded in both languages (English and Arabic) on mobile devices.

As the first official sponsor of the business pulse portal, QNB will provide through the portal, entrepreneurs and SMEs with access to financial support.

The new BusinessPulse.qa portal can be accessed at http://businesspulse.qa