QDB to Host 3rd Arab SME Summit (Rowad 2024)

Qatar Development Bank signed today a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in the latest bid to promote and support SMEs in Qatar and the Arab region. In line with the agreement, QDB will host the third Arab SME Summit within the framework of the 10th edition of Rowad Qatar Entrepreneurship Conference 2024 which will be held over three days from the Nov. 17 to Nov. 19 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) under the theme "Navigating Digital Horizons." QDB CEO Abdulrahman Hesham Al Sowaidi said the banks new partnership with ESCWA reflects its commitment to pioneering action and collaboration to bolster Qatars 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 Con ference 2024, which makes this years edition the largest of its kind to date. We believe such events are key to support Arab economies and empower 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," he added. For her part, Rola Dashti said the commission is pleased to partner with Qatar Development Bank, a leading Arab entity when it comes to supporting women entrepreneurs and SMEs. "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 said. "The Arab SME Summit is distinguished by the participation of an elite group of innovators, entrepreneurs, SMEs, policy makers 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," she added. The Arab SME Summit represents a leading interactive platform for entrepreneurs across the Arab region. The summits first and second editions attracted over 2,000 participants, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors and representatives of media entities as well as regional and international organizations with a focus on sustainable development. The summit familiarizes 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 summits upcoming edition is expected to attract more than 1,300 participants from various countries and industries, inspiring entrepreneurs across the region to excel. The summits agenda features various events that bring togeth er decision and policymakers to discuss empowering SMEs and fostering the Arab worlds 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. This year marks a new milestone in the Rowad Conference journey, which kicked off locally before expanding regionally to Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Last years 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. As is the case every year, the conference will bring together leading play ers from Qatars entrepreneurship ecosystem along with their regional peers for the opportunity to exchange knowledge and share valuable insights on investment prospects across the Arab world. Source: Qatar News Agency