25-9-2017
Qatar Development Bank (QDB) and Qatar Chamber (QC) announced the launch of ‘Made at Home’ exhibition, a first of its kind opportunity in the country, where local micro-enterprises will be showcasing a wide range of goods produced by home-based businesses. The five-day expo will kick-start on October 1 at Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC).
The press briefing, held at QDB headquarters, was attended by Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa, CEO of QDB; Saleh bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Director-General of QC; Najat Al Abdullah, Director of Department of Family Affairs in the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour & Social Affairs; and Yousef Abdullah Al Kubaisi, Chief Operating Officer of Ooredoo.
Saleh bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Director-General of QC said that the chamber is always ready to extend all its support to productive families, enhance their skills and assist them in marketing their products locally and internationally.
“The event aims at helping and encouraging Qatari home-entrepreneurs. It will enable the exhibitors to introduce their products and exploring new opportunities to expand the scale of their production to continue their businesses and grow contributing to the local economy,” said Al Sharqi
QC, the country’s largest and oldest private industry representative body, has already facilitated productive families to participate in a number of exhibitions such as Made in Qatar, Made in China and Expo Turkey.
The exhibition, which will be held across an area of more than 5,000 square metres at DECC, will contribute to the promotion of productive families, micro-enterprises producing various commodities using 100 percent local hands.
The upcoming exhibition is part of a broader small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) outreach programme – the Home-based Business National Program (HBBNP) – that was launched by the development bank in 2015 to stimulate the private sector through facilitating the entry of a greater variety of SMEs into the local economy. Importantly, the upcoming “Made at Home” expo shines a spotlight on homemade products and supports home-based entrepreneurs in their challenge to overcome traditional barriers to market entry, a feat that has traditionally been predominantly achievable by larger businesses. To be held under the patronage of H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, Doha Film Institute and Reach Out to Asia, the exhibitions is being organised by QDB and QC in collaboration with the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour & Social Affairs (as strategic partner) and Ooredoo (as telecommunication sponsor).
Commenting on behalf of QDB, Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa, said: “The ‘Made at Home’ exhibition is a first edition of such events where exhibitors are limited to home-based products. The event is in line with efforts in achieving self-sufficiency and economic independence by establishing a vibrant private sector as one of the important pillars of a well-diversified and sustainable economy.” Abdulaziz added: “As we know several home-based products, with very humble beginning, have grown to big companies and factories. We at QDB are committed to extend all the possible support to help them establish, grow and expand their scale of production.”
Some 144 exhibitors are expected to participate at the event who have been selected meticulously out of the over 250 requests. Products to be displayed include several types of food products, drinks, handicrafts and other items.
