SANTHOSH CHANDRAN

DOHA THE Heir Apparent His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani opened the Qatar International Trade Exhibition for Partners and Franchise (ITE Qatar) on Sunday and patronised the opening of the two-day International Trade conference at the Qatar National Convention Center.

HH the Heir Apparent also toured the exhibition and was briefed on the plan for meeting the exhibition’s aim, which in turn will help Qatari youth to set up business projects.

HH the Heir Apparent appreciated the show and wished the organisers all success in achieving their goals. The opening was attended by Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al Thani.

The organisers expressed thanks to HH the Heir Apparent for his continued encouragement and support to Qatari youth and their projects.

ITE Qatar, being organised jointly by a number of ministries, semi-government bodies and private sector firms, is the largest exhibition and business forum of its kind in the region. It is an international hub and marketplace where investors can identify and interface with top franchise systems as well as new companies from over 50 industrial sectors looking for partners or distributors to expand their businesses.

The conference will discuss the role of politics in helping entrepreneurship among Arab youth. Arab integration and its role in providing the required economic environment for setting up small and medium enterprises (SMEs), ensuring the movement of people, products and services among Arab countries would also be discussed.

The trade conference is being held to encourage and help Arab youth set up SMEs. It also aims at creating a mechanism of cooperation and coordination for the establishment of partnerships among youth.

The conference will also discuss diversification of investment opportunities for Arab youth keeping in mind the nature of each country’s economy.

The event will support and encourage public-private collaboration, expansion of International Business Network, local investor’s development and localisation of international products and services.

The conference being organised by Qatar Promotional Board is supported by Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Federation of GCC Chambers, Arab Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture and many other global trade chambers concerned with franchise.