Qatar will be the host country for the 2020 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Forum, an event owned by the International Council for Small Business (ICSB).
The Forum, considered a key platform for addressing how MSME can be empowered as the global workplace transforms, is expected to attract over 700 delegates to Qatar. The bid to host the Forum had been led by the Faculty of Business at Qatar University (QU), in collaboration with Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC).
The announcement of Qatar as host country of the 2020 MSME Forum was made in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations MSME Day celebrations. Representatives from QU, QNTC and Qatar Development Bank (QDB) were in attendance during the announcement. The organisations, particularly QDB, helped demonstrate Qatar’s commitment to providing a fertile ground for small businesses to thrive.
Speaking during the MSME Day celebrations, QDB CEO Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa said that growing a vibrant, prosperous and competitive private sector in Qatar begins with the success of young entrepreneurs and SME.
At QDB, we strive to achieve Qatar’s National Vision by seeding and nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit within the Qatari community. Supporting young entrepreneurs, startups and established SME is at the heart of our endeavours to create a vibrant and sustainable economy that promotes social development.’
Hassan Al Ibrahim, Assistant Secretary General of QNTC, said they believe that entrepreneurs are integral to building any sector.
In tourism, we incorporate MSME into tourism products and events. It is how we ensure that visitors enjoy an experience that is both innovative and authentic, embodying the spirit of Qatar.
As ICSB has witnessed over the past few months, that is not the only reason why Qatar is the right place for the 2020 MSME Forum. As our tourism and business events continue to develop, our leisure and business visitors are guaranteed a seamless and hospitable experience even before they travel, during their stay and until they complete their journey home.’
Professor Adam Fadlalla, Acting Dean of College of Business and Economics (CBE), said that at CBE, they pay special attention to developing the skills of the new generation of entrepreneurs from QU and the broader community.
CBE also plays a key role in the implementation of QU’s innovation and entrepreneurship strategy 2018-2022, which focuses on promoting a culture of entrepreneurship, introducing new entrepreneurship courses, and supporting innovation through various commercialisation and incubation activities. Hosting the MSME Forum aligns well with our strategy and is going to strengthen our ongoing collaboration with ICSB and promote Qatar’s research in entrepreneurship and innovation worldwide.’
The bid to host the 2020 MSME Forum was supported by QNTC as part of the organisation’s efforts to attract and deliver global business events in Qatar, to increase visitor arrivals to the country and boost related sectors such as aviation, hospitality and event organisation.
Ayman Al Tarabishy, ICSB Executive Director, remarked that Qatar is experiencing an extremely vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.
With all this energy and global drive, ICSB is delighted to be heading to Qatar in 2020 for the World SME Forum.’
ICSB was founded in 1955 and is the oldest and largest organisation in the world promoting entrepreneurship and SME development. The UN resolution establishing 27 June as MSME Day, recognising the importance of MSME in international, regional and local markets, was an initiative driven by ICSB.
For updates and more information about the 2020 MSME Forum in Qatar, visit icsb.org.
