Qatar Shell, QDB Offer New Business Opportunities at Pearl GTL for Local SMEs

Doha, April 16 (QNA) - Qatar Shell through its partnership with Qatar Petroleum in Pearl GTL, and in collaboration with Qatar Development Bank (QDB), has revealed seven new supply chain opportunities at the SME Business Opportunity Workshop, which launched Wednesday amid participation of more than 100 firms and business pioneers of the country. The initiative is a part of a nationwide strategy to support local SMEs to allow Qatari enterprises to tender to become the supplier of choice for Pearl GTL, the world's largest gas to liquids plant. "We believe that SMEs are the cornerstone of Qatar's economy as part of Qatar National Vision 2030. At QDB, we remain committed to accelerating the growth of a thriving private sector to diversify the national economy. Therefore, through our support of these new SME business opportunities, offered by Qatar Shell to the local market, we continue to develop domestic enterprise in-line with our mandate to elevate the Qatari private sector to a world-class standard," QDB Chief Executive Officer Abdulaziz Al Khalifa said. "Through these opportunities, we provide the Qatari private sector with access to funding and advisory support, while achieving multiple win-win objectives: SMEs will win new business and achieve high performance levels, and Qatar Shell, through localizing its supply chain, will directly oversee the quality and performance of the awarded SMEs." Last year, the first such workshop saw three contracts awarded to local suppliers for the manufacture of personal protective equipment, heat exchanger re-tubing and translation services. In turn, Wael Sawan, Qatar Shell Companies Managing Director and Chairman, said: "As a partner of Qatar Petroleum in helping monetize Qatar's gas resources, we, at Qatar Shell share QP 's passionate commitment to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and local content development. Additionally in partnership with QDB , it is our mission to award local businesses with new contracts that enable them to develop world-class standards and compete on a level playing field globally." "Last year, we proudly welcomed several new local companies into the Qatar Shell family as we believe that Qatari SMEs are essential to the development of a sustainable economy. We therefore remain dedicated to providing more business opportunities to the local market in the future," he added. Sawan added that companies interested in such enterprises must be at least 51 percent Qatari-owned and must be physically present in Qatar with an income of no more than QR 100 million. The business opportunities to be revealed at the workshop include the manufacture of large open-head steel drums; the manufacture of low voltage cables; the manufacture of electrical cable trays; the maintenance, repair and recertification of ATEX two-way radios; the maintenance and servicing of offshore diesel generator sets; the servicing of custody flow meters; and the supply of welding inspectors for onsite technical support. Companies that are awarded the new business contracts will subsequently receive access from QDB to funding, business advisory support, and links to potential strategic partners and access to local regulatory and support institutions. (END)