Doha, December 17 (QNA) - Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Development Bank (QDB), Abdulrahman bin Hesham Al Sowaidi, affirmed that the State of Qatar has become a model in its ability to manage challenges and transform them into promising opportunities, as well as a beacon in balancing the preservation of national identity with openness to the world.

In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA) on Qatar National Day, Al Sowaidi said that Qatar National Day represents a glorious chapter in the history of the State of Qatar, written by Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani. It is a moment to recall the founding of the State and the values of independence built on faith, determination, sovereignty, and unity. Each year, this cherished occasion offers an opportunity to reflect on the progress witnessed today, resulting from sustained effort and dedication that have shaped the features of the modern State.

He added that Qatar continues to move forward with steady steps, consolidating its regional and international standing, while transitioning to a new phase focused on deepening investment in people and in a knowledge-based economy, under the wise leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

Al Sowaidi noted that this year's National Day slogan, ''With You It Rises, From You It Awaits," embodies Qatar's vision that investing in youth is the most reliable path to consolidating national progress and ensuring sustainable development. He stressed that Qatar's enduring commitment has always been to the capabilities, dedication, and sincerity of its people.

He said that, in line with this vision, QDB affirms its deep conviction that the future of the State is shaped by the hands of its sons and daughters, and that all state policies and development programs are founded on a firm belief that human development is the cornerstone of nation-building.

Al Sowaidi emphasized that QDB continues to play its national role by empowering entrepreneurs, supporting the private sector, contributing to the diversification of the national economy, and fostering a culture of innovation, as an extension of the founding vision and a reflection of the value placed on reliance on national capabilities.

Regarding the key achievements of QDB during the current year, Al Sowaidi said that the Bank has continued to implement its strategy as an enabling institution supporting the business ecosystem and serving as a catalyst for private sector development. He noted that this strategy was launched in alignment with Qatar's Third National Development Strategy and in pursuit of its objectives related to sustainable economic development and strengthening the role of the private sector in the national economy.

He added that the Support and development of the national business ecosystem have continued, with projects yielding a range of positive indicators. For the fifth consecutive year, the Local Entrepreneurship Environment Index issued by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor recorded levels exceeding the global average, with Qatar achieving 11th place globally last year.

In the same context, he noted that non-hydrocarbon business activities continue to grow, recording a growth rate of 3.4 percent in the second quarter of 2025. He said this reflects the success of national initiatives aimed at economic diversification, which are supported and enabled by QDB in cooperation with various government entities within the business ecosystem, particularly initiatives focused on supporting innovation, developing local enterprises, and activating the export system.

Regarding supporting export activity, QDB has activated internationalization financing programs, financing for international contractor projects, buyer credit guarantees, and other dedicated programs. These initiatives aim to enable companies to implement major contracts and projects outside the country, expand their regional and international presence, enhance their ability to enter new markets, and increase the share of Qatari products within global supply chains.

The CEO of QDB also pointed to efforts to open new regional and international offices through the Bank's export arm, Qatar Exports, to facilitate companies' on-the-ground operations in target markets and to provide all necessary support to strengthen their presence and enhance competitiveness.

He said that this effort began earlier this year with the opening of the first such office in the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh.

On facilitating access to finance and improving the experience of entrepreneurs across different segments, he said that work has been carried out with partner banks in the country to launch the National Funding Gateway "Tamkeen", which represents a significant step toward unifying financing application processes and linking private sector enterprises with the national financing and development ecosystem through a single access point operating with efficiency and ease.

He added that an integrated credit guarantee program was also launched through the National Financing Gateway, with an allocation of approximately QAR 3 billion. The program represents a continuation of the Credit Guarantee Program "formerly Al-Dhameen" initiative, through which credit guarantees exceeding QAR 1.5 billion were provided to partner Qatari banks to encourage financing of private sector projects.

Regarding the investment landscape, the CEO of QDB noted that foreign direct investment continued to post strong positive indicators, with Qatar ranking 12th globally in 2024, an advance of 21 places worldwide. He explained that Qatar Development Bank has been keen to strengthen its enabling role as a key player in the regional venture investment landscape, with the Bank's investment arm ranking fourth among the most active investors in the Middle East and North Africa region. Total direct and indirect investments by the Bank to date have exceeded QAR 350 million.

He added that QDB recently announced a threefold increase in the value of a single co-investment deal, raising it to QAR 11 million. The move aims to enhance investment partnerships with local and international investment funds, as well as investors seeking to invest in companies headquartered in Qatar, thereby strengthening private sector investment in startups and the venture capital sector.

He also noted that the "Start from Qatar" investment program was further developed this year in terms of the financing solutions provided by QDB. Funding limits were increased to QAR 4 million for the seed stage and QAR 20 million for the growth stage, enhancing the program's ability to attract ambitious projects and technology-focused companies.

He said that these combined efforts have been reflected in improved institutional performance as a development-enabling entity within the national ecosystem, as well as in enhanced service quality for entrepreneurs, through the provision of a more seamless and integrated journey between financing and technical support. He added that ongoing efforts are focused on automating and simplifying procedures to accelerate decision-making, strengthen the role of the private sector, and open broader horizons for citizens in innovation, entrepreneurship, and participation in building a diversified and sustainable national economy.

On efforts to increase reliance on advanced technologies to develop services and facilitate access to them, Al Sowaidi said that, over the past period, QDB has expanded the use of artificial intelligence solutions across several customer service use cases. This enables entrepreneurs to access relevant information and services more quickly and with less effort. He noted that work is underway to further develop the digital assistant "Sanad" using advanced artificial intelligence, enabling it to operate as a proactive assistant capable of analyzing data and delivering optimal solutions to clients, significantly reducing waiting times and accelerating service delivery.

He added that artificial intelligence is also being integrated into banking operations to further advance the digitalization of the various banking services provided, accelerate assessment processes, enhance transaction efficiency, and ensure highly accurate and rapid data verification.

He affirmed that QDB continues to work toward accelerating the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises, while providing the necessary advisory and technical support to help them achieve this transformation and keep pace with the requirements of Industry 4.0. This is being pursued through the Advanced Manufacturing Platform and the Digital Transformation Program, under which the Bank supports companies through comprehensive assessments, including the Smart Industry Readiness Index (SIRI) assessment and digital readiness evaluations for service-sector companies. These efforts also include developing business plans and preparing companies to adopt appropriate digital solutions through grants and tailored financing.

He noted that the National Funding Gate "Tamkeen" represents one of QDB's most prominent achievements in the field of digitalization. Following its launch, the Bank has been working on developing upgraded versions of the gateway by adding new services and features, including advanced AI-powered analytics tools to guide users toward the most suitable financing solutions, track application progress, and provide a more seamless and transparent experience from submission through to service delivery.

He further revealed that the Bank is in the final stages of preparations to launch the digital "Reyada" Gateway, which includes Reyada Advisory Platform and Reyada Academy. He expressed confidence that this initiative will represent a qualitative leap in supporting the entrepreneurial journey by facilitating access to Bank-accredited service providers and offering rich knowledge resources and training programs aligned with the demands of the modern era. Beneficiaries will be able to access and use the Academy at any time.

Abdulrahman bin Hesham Al Sowaidi noted that Qatar Development Bank will continue, in the next phase, to build on the achievements realized in line with its approved strategy, particularly in empowering entrepreneurs, supporting innovation, and strengthening the role of the private sector in the national economy. (QNA)