QDB, Qatar Shell offer seven new business opportunities to SMEs

17/04/2014 05:56 AST

Qatar Development Bank (QDB) and Qatar Shell have revealed seven new “business opportunities” for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) during the second instalment of the annual “SME Business Opportunity Workshop” held yesterday at the Sharq Village & Spa in Doha.

QDB chief executive officer Abdulaziz al-Khalifa said participants of the event were representatives of shortlisted SMEs that were offered business opportunities in the fields of manufacturing; maintenance, repair, and recertification; services and onsite technical support.

Al-Khalifa said the specialised business opportunities aim to encourage Qatari enterprises to tender and become potential suppliers for the Pearl Gas to Liquids (GTL) plant.

According to al-Khalifa, SMEs can choose from the following business opportunities: manufacturing of large open head steel drums, manufacturing of low voltage cables, manufacturing of electrical cable trays, maintenance, repair and recertification of ATEX two-way radios, maintenance and servicing of offshore diesel generator sets, servicing of custody flow meters, and supply of welding inspectors for onsite technical support.

Al-Khalifa also said the new business opportunities “demonstrate the high regard we uphold in the capabilities and operating standards” of local enterprises to handle contracts for the Pearl GTL plant.

Qatar Shell managing director and chairman Wael Sawan described SMEs “as the cornerstone for achieving a sustainable economy in Qatar and a key to facilitating a thriving private sector and diversified economy.”

“We are very happy to continue to join hands with QDB in awarding local businesses with new contracts that will enable them to develop world-class standards and compete on a level playing field globally,” Sawan said.

He added: “At Qatar Shell, we have confidence in the quality and capabilities of local suppliers and trust in their ability to add value to our operations in Qatar. The new business opportunities we are offering to Qatari SMEs allow them to become the supplier of choice for the Pearl GTL plant.”

At the first workshop held last year, Sawan said the contract for the manufacturing of personal protective equipment was awarded to Qatari Industrial Equipment while GEA Batignolles Technologies Thermiques Qatar received the heat exchanger re-tubing contract.

The third contract for translation services, Sawan added, was awarded to Snow Comms Conceptual Communications and Events.

Qatar Shell media relations manager Ali Reyad al-Ansari gave Gulf Times an update of the status of the three contracts awarded last year: “There’s been great development and the companies have done well. They came in with a clear vision of wanting to support both the industry and Qatar Shell.”

Al-Ansari said the translation services awarded to Snow Comms Conceptual Communications and Events “have been ongoing as early as last year” while the first batch of orders of personal protective equipment from Qatari Industrial Equipment will be arriving this month.

“The heat exchanger re-tubing contract received Qatar Shell’s full support to build their capacity to handle the contract, and starting June 1 of this year, they will start catering to our assignments. The company is doing well and is ahead of schedule,” al-Ansari said.

Al-Ansari said interested companies who attended the workshop will be invited to register from April 17 to 24. Once shortlisted, they will be invited again to bid for tender by May 10.

An awarding ceremony will be held by the end of the year to announce the winning contracts, al-Ansari added.

Gulf Times