Khalifa bin Jassim: We are keen to address the challenges facing factories and companies
Abdul Rahman Al Suwaidi: 1.1 billion riyals in financing for the private sector, an increase of 160%
In the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Chamber, the Chamber hosted its regular meeting with the Qatar Development Bank, in the presence of a number of Qatari industrialists and exporters, to discuss the challenges facing the industrial sector and exporting companies, appropriate solutions for them, and ways to enhance the competitiveness of national products and support industrialists and exporters.
The meeting was chaired by Qatar Development Bank, Mr. Abdul Rahman bin Hisham Al Suwaidi, CEO of the bank, along with a group of executives in various sectors.
The meeting was attended by His Excellency Mr. Rashid bin Hamad Al-Athba, Second Vice President of the Qatar Chamber, Mr. Abdul Rahman Abdullah Al-Ansari, member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors and Chairman of the Industry Committee, and a number of Board of Directors members, along with a number of industrialists, exporters and representatives of Qatari industrial companies.
Supporting innovation and entrepreneurs
During his speech at the opening of the meeting, His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani said that the meeting comes under delicate circumstances that require more coordination and cooperation between various parties, appreciating the vital role played by Qatar Development Bank in supporting the Qatari economy, by providing financing, supporting innovation and entrepreneurs, developing the local business environment, and enabling national factories and institutions to develop their businesses and raise their competitiveness in foreign markets.
His Excellency stressed the Qatar Chamber’s keenness to work to address the challenges facing factories, industrial companies and exporters, by finding practical, quick and sustainable solutions, pointing out the importance of cooperation with the bank to transform these challenges into opportunities for growth and expansion, raise the efficiency of national companies, encourage value-added industries, support the industrial sector, expand the base of industrial exports, and reach regional and global markets, in addition to finding ways that allow the establishment of new projects.
For his part, Mr. Abdul Rahman bin Hisham Al Suwaidi, CEO of Qatar Development Bank, said that the meeting comes as a continuation of the efforts made by the bank to identify the needs of companies operating in the private sector, and to collect and survey the views of the private sector in light of the existing challenges, to design thoughtful and proactive interventions that help address any potential difficulties that some companies may face, and to benefit from the opportunities that have arisen in the market as a result of this at the same time.
Al Suwaidi added: “At Qatar Development Bank, in partnership with all national companies, including the Qatar Chamber, we are keen to identify the challenges facing the private sector and work to find appropriate solutions to them. During the year, we launched an integrated package of services in response to the current conditions under the dedicated operations room, aiming to support supply chains and finance the stock of raw materials for factories, in addition to providing a financial grant to support import operations for products and the logistical needs of national factories, and working capital support programs for all industrial and service sectors, in addition to specialized advisory services, and scheduling credit facilities granted to companies proactively, to provide the necessary liquidity to grow businesses and enable productivity.”
Opening new markets
Al Suwaidi pointed out that the value of the support provided since the beginning of regional tensions exceeded 1.1 billion Qatari riyals, an increase of 160% compared to the same period in 2025, nearly half of which came through the programs of the Qatar Development Bank’s operations room. He also pointed out that the bank conducted an in-depth analysis of the export sectors, through which the positive performance of exporters working with “Qatar Exports”, affiliated with the Qatar Development Bank was revealed, pointing out that despite the challenges, exporters were able to open new markets and redraw their export paths with remarkable speed. Al Suwaidi also explained the importance of the private sector’s awareness of the services provided by Qatar Development Bank, such as financing and export insurance services, and promoting them through participation in international exhibitions, trade missions, and developing capabilities through the export accelerator and workshops to enable factories and national companies to access the targeted markets.
Abdul Rahman bin Abdullah Al Ansari, member of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Chamber and Chairman of the Industry Committee, said that the Chamber appreciates the magnitude of the challenges facing the private sector, and has played a notable role in addressing the obstacles facing companies and factories, stressing the importance of supporting exports, especially in light of the quality and high competitiveness of the Qatari product.
During the meeting, exporters and participants reviewed a number of challenges facing them, while putting forward appropriate solutions and proposals for discussion between the Chamber, Qatar Development Bank and concerned parties, the most prominent of which are the high prices of raw materials and logistical costs, and the need to develop legislation and laws regulating the business environment, in addition to a number of other challenges related to the industrial sector and export operations.