Doha, October 27 (QNA) - In cooperation with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Qatar Chamber has launched an integrated Qatari model for entrepreneurship and innovation. The model is based on leveraging the strategic cooperation between the Chamber and UNIDO to empower entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on women and youth.

This was revealed during a meeting held at Qatar Chamber's headquarters between Qatar Chamber Board Member and Chairperson of the Qatari Businesswomen Forum, Ibtihaj Al Ahmadani, and UNIDO Deputy Director General, Fatou Haidara.

The meeting was attended by Acting General Manager of Qatar Chamber, Ali Bu Sherbak Al Mansoori; Head of UNIDO's Investment and Technology Promotion Office (ITPO), Dr. Hashem Suleiman Hussein; and Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Chambers, Dr. Khaled Hanafy.

By refining the model locally, Qatar Chamber and UNIDO aim to transfer this experience and expand its application at regional and international levels.

The discussions touched upon the importance of fostering cooperation in women's entrepreneurship, leveraging the pivotal role of the Qatari Businesswomen Forum in promoting women's active participation in economic and investment activities, and building strategic partnerships with women entrepreneurs globally.

In her remarks, Al Ahmadani commended the strategic partnership between Qatar Chamber and UNIDO, particularly in the fields of entrepreneurship and innovation, through direct collaboration between Qatar Chamber's Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center and UNIDO's Investment and Technology Promotion Office.

Al Ahmadani also highlighted the 'Training of Trainers Programme in Entrepreneurship and Innovation', organised by Qatar Chamber in partnership with UNIDO's Investment and Technology Promotion Office. The programme brought together 30 experts and representatives from various entities involved in Qatar's

entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem, encompassing public- and private-sector organisations as well as institutions supporting startups and innovation.

Acting General Manager of Qatar Chamber, Ali Bu Sherbak Al Mansouri, said the Chamber is committed to promoting entrepreneurship and innovation as key drivers of economic diversification and private-sector growth. He highlighted cooperation with UNIDO in developing the Chamber's Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center and supporting startups through training, incubation, business acceleration, and access to financing and markets.

For her part, UNIDO Deputy Director General Fatou Haidara commended the fruitful cooperation between the organisation and Qatar Chamber, emphasizing the crucial role of the private sector in supporting sustainable industrial development and driving innovation.

Haidara expressed her keenness to expand cooperation with Qatar Chamber in the coming period to enhance investment opportunities in Qatar, regionally, and internationally. She also highlighted the importance of leveraging the shared capabilities of both sides to support entrepreneurs and startups while developing joint initiatives in innovation and industrial development.

Head of UNIDO's Investment and Technology Promotion Office, Dr. Hashem Suleiman Hussein, noted that cooperation with Qatar Chamber opens broad prospects for establishing an integrated and enabling environment for entrepreneurship and innovation.

He explained that the shared vision is based on applying and adapting UNIDO's Entrepreneurship Development and Investment Promotion (EDIP) methodology, which is currently implemented across 56 countries worldwide. The objective is to create a pioneering Qatari model that fosters a culture of entrepreneurship, provides a supportive ecosystem for promising businesses to scale, and attracts high-quality investment.

He added that this initiative is intended not only to serve the national economy but also to position Qatar as a regional and international platform for sharing expertise and successful practices. This will pave the way for exporting the Qatari entrepreneurship and innovation model globally, reinforcing Qatar's standing as an international hub for innovation and sustainable economic development. (QNA)