To further highlight the importance of entrepreneurship as a vital element in economic development and an engine for private sector growth and diversity, organisers of the ‘Entrepreneurship in Economic Development Forum’ have announced that the Forum’s third edition will take place on the 7th and 8th of March 2016 at the Sheraton Doha Resort and Convention Hotel in Qatar.

Organised by Qatar University and Qatar Development Bank (QDB) in collaboration with Interactive Business Network (IBN), this year’s Forum will be held under the patronage and presence of HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Prime Minister of the State of Qatar.

After having successfully established itself as a first-of-its-kind platform in the region for defining issues, assessing prevailing entrepreneurial culture in Qatar and the wider Gulf, and discussing the importance of fostering and promoting entrepreneurship during its two previous editions, more high ranking officials from the public and private sectors, as well as leading academicians are expected to participate and attend as guests and resource speakers, and regional decision makers, influential keynote speakers.

“Entrepreneurship plays a major role in shaping and developing a diversified economy in conjunction with the growing role of SME’s in the country in line with Qatar National Vision 2030,” said Abdul Aziz Al Khalifa, CEO of Qatar Development Bank (QDB). “With Qatar and the rest of the countries in the Gulf region focusing their attention on increasing the role of private sector businesses and enterprises, comes the importance of entrepreneurship.

“From here, there is an urgent need to foster a generation of young entrepreneurs and equip them with the knowledge and business culture to take advantage of the wealth of opportunities in the future,” he added. “QDB works within a clear plan to develop and increase the contribution of SME’s in the economy. Within the country’s economic diversification efforts, we aim to assist in the creation of an entrepreneurial system that attracts potentials and value-added projects."

“Accordingly, we need to propose a specific plan of action that will make Qatar University, as well as other Gulf universities and educational institutions, as incubators of young entrepreneurs,” said Dr. Nitham Hindi, Dean of the College of Business and Economics at Qatar University. “This can be done by devising and implementing degree programs that aim specifically at developing the right skills in business, decision making and risk management.”

Among the topics that are expected to be discussed in the Forum include ‘Government Intervention with SME’s and Entrepreneurs’; ‘Realizing Potential – Developing the Traits of a Good Entrepreneur’; ‘Entrepreneurship Within and Through Education: Educating the New Generation of Entrepreneurs (How can education channel students into Entrepreneurial path)’; ‘Financing Entrepreneurs & Entrepreneurial Ventures: Institutional Financing, Angel Investors, Crowd - funding, and other sources’; ‘Obtaining Funds for Your Venture - Options, Conditions and Requirements’; ‘Brand identity and the means of social communication: Traditional VS Conventional methods’; ‘Effective Methods of Using Social Media to Ensure the Success of Entrepreneurial Ventures. (Social Media)’; and ‘Building an Effective Entrepreneurship Ecosystem - Do we have what it takes?’.

Among the key sponsors and partners of this year’s event include Qatar Shell as Diamond Sponsor; Commercial Bank as Platinum Sponsor; Manateq as Economic Zones Partner, Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) as Gold Sponsor; Ahli Bank as Gold Sponsor; Mannai Corporation as Bronze Sponsors.

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