Twenty-six Qatari Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have been shortlisted to tender for six business opportunities offered by Qatar Development Bank (QDB) and Qatar Shell to become part of the supply chain for Pearl GTL, the world’s largest gas-to-liquids plant.
Initially, 43 companies expressed interest to bid and submitted documents for qualifications. In addition, 18 companies submitted formal bids. The successful SMEs will be announced at an awarding ceremony on December 5th, 2016.
The shortlisted SMEs will tender for various business opportunities including compressor dry gas seals refurbishment and testing services; co and industrial gases – manufacturing; plastic and glass sample bottles – manufacturing; white metal bearing refurbishment – services; active and healthy lifestyle, CSR program delivery; and translation services.
The ‘Qatari SME Business Opportunities’ initiative is a strategic partnership between QDB and Qatar Shell, aiming to support the Qatar National Vision 2030 by providing local SMEs with access to specific business opportunities within Qatar Shell’s supply chain, and helping them raise their operating standards in order to fulfil global requirements.
More than 250 Qatari SMEs and entrepreneurs attended the fourth annual ‘Qatari SME Business Opportunities Workshop’ in May. At the workshop, they were presented with the upcoming tenders and pre-qualification process to compete for the business opportunities on offer.
Since the local SME programme began in 2013, Qatar Shell has contracted with 14 Qatari SMEs to become part of Qatar Shell’s supply chain. Last year, seven new business opportunities with an estimated total value of QR15mn ($4.12mn) were presented to more than 150 local SMEs and entrepreneurs, with six contracts successfully awarded to Qatari businesses.
