Doha, July 07 (QNA) - The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) and Qatar Development Bank (QDB), supported by Ooredoo Qatar and Qatar Postal Services Company (Qatar Post) organized the SMEs Go Digital Program Forum on Tuesday.

The move was intended to bolster the digital readiness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for the adoption of digital solutions and strengthen their contribution to the national digital economy, into line with the Digital Agenda 2030 and Qatar National Vision 2030.

The event convened over 195 SMEs, alongside over 20 approved digital solution providers, on a unified platform designed to streamline direct engagement between businesses and accredited digital solution providers.

The forum focused on key sectors, including retail and wholesale trade, transportation and storage, tourism, education, and healthcare.

It showcased sundry digital solutions aimed at enhancing companies' digital presence, expanding e-commerce capabilities, and promoting the adoption of cloud services, thereby boosting SMEs' readiness to embrace digital technologies and bolster their competitiveness.

The event also featured direct matchmaking sessions between SMEs and digital solution providers, in addition to networking opportunities that enabled participants to exchange expertise and best practices.

Director of the Digital Economy Department at MCIT Faraj Jassim Abdullah, said that in collaboration with its government partners, business support institutions, and digital solution providers, the Ministry continues to work to empower SMEs to capitalize on digital technologies.

This, he added, would constitute a cornerstone of fostering competitiveness and sustainable economic growth, highlighting that these efforts help advance SMEs' digital readiness, raise productivity, and strengthen the business sector's ability to square with the evolving requirements of the digital economy.

  Abdullah remarked that, by connecting businesses with digital solution providers and national expertise, MCIT is setting the project in motion toward a knowledge-based economy, in keeping with the objectives of the Digital Agenda 2030.

For its part, MOCI stressed that supporting SMEs constitutes one of the core pillars of strengthening the competitiveness of the national economy through fostering a business environment conducive to growth and innovation, improving government services, and streamlining the procedures governing commercial activities.

The Ministry outlined that its participation in the forum stems from its commitment to promoting awareness among SME owners and entrepreneurs about the services it provides, particularly those related to the protection of intellectual property rights, including copyrights, trademarks, and patents.

This is addition to commercial registration and licensing services, guidance on the laws and regulations governing commercial activities, and the electronic services it offers to facilitate transactions and improve service efficiency, it noted.

In addition, MOCI further noted that these efforts enable businesses to operate within the approved regulatory framework, set the record straight on the importance of innovation and intellectual property protection, and reinforce a culture of innovation, thereby supporting the sustainability of the business environment and enhancing its competitiveness in the State of Qatar.

Meanwhile, Executive Director of SME Development at QDB, Dr. Hamad Salem Mejegheer, said the event reflects the importance of integrating national efforts aimed at accelerating digital transformation across the country's business ecosystem.

He added that what matters more is to provide interactive networking platforms that connect SMEs with service providers in this field, stressing that QDB prioritizes enabling SMEs to adopt digital transformation in ways that enhance their efficiency and competitive edge through an integrated support ecosystem.

This ecosystem, he remarked, begins with Digital Readiness Assessments and extends to strengthening companies' ability to acquire and deploy technological solutions tailored to their needs through specialized pathways that include grants, financing services, and advisory services.

The SMEs Go Digital Program is a national initiative spearheaded by MCIT to support SMEs in advancing their digital capabilities through specialized assessments, connecting them with approved digital solution providers, delivering training programs and awareness sessions on emerging technologies, and facilitating access to potential financial support in collaboration with QDB. (QNA)