QCB Governor H E Sheikh Abdulla bin Saoud Al Thani (left) presenting the “Best Partner Bank Award” to QIIB’s Chief Executive Officer Dr Abdulbasit Ahmed Al Shaibei at the event, yesterday. PIC: Baher Amin/The Peninsula
DOHA: Qatar Development Bank (QDB) yesterday announced the “Best Partner Bank Award” for the banks that are supporting the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through its ambitious Al Dhameen Program.
The programme is one of the most successful initiatives by QDB to assist SMEs of Qatar and offer them the much needed support to grow further in their endeavours.
Qatar Central Bank (QCB) Governor H E Sheikh Abdulla bin Saoud Al Thani, who is also the chairman of Qatar Development Bank (QDB), gave away the awards to the winning banks in the presence of QDB’s executive leadership and top management of participating banks.
Qatar International Islamic Bank (QIIB) has bagged the “Best Partner” award, while QNB received the “Best Credit Portfolio Management” award. Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) won the “Best Portfolio Growth” award, as Al Khalij Commercial Bank (al khaliji) received the “Best Customer Satisfaction” award.
Eight banks were nominated for the “Best Partner Bank” award which consisted of four different categories that were identified this year winners in terms of their performance in financing entrepreneurs. An independent consultant was appointed to visit partner banks, in order to audit and review the credit portfolio management performance of all the clients and their transactions, their expenses, and following the terms and conditions of the main loan guarantee agreement.
QDB’s aims from this award ceremony is to express appreciation to the partner banks that have made an huge efforts to develop Al Dhameen program, to highlight the overall growth of the Al Dameen program, and the positive impact it has had on its customers and the State of Qatar.
Commenting on the occasion, Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Development Bank, said:“We are extremely happy to have presented these awards to the winning Banks who have helped us in enhancing the growth and performance of SMEs of Qatar.
“We all know that these SMEs need nurturing to grow and that’s what our Al Dhameen Program intends to achieve. Together with partners like you the journey is and will be quite enriching to accomplish milestones year after year.”
“These awards only firm our belief on you as the trusted partners for achieving the unprecedented and is a testament of your exceptional support and unparalleled services.”
He added, “Through this program, we are making sure that we finance the core sectors that are crucial for the growth of the country’s diversification push, as emphasized in the Qatar National Vision 2030. These include the manufacturing, healthcare, education, tourism and value-added services sectors.”
The winning partner banks were selected this year in accordance with stringent criteria set by QDB, including a questionnaire that was completed by programme clients.
The Best Partner Bank Award ceremony this year comes as the latest in a series of initiatives, programmes and activities organised by QDB to contribute to the growth of SMEs, in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030, to diversify the sources of national income, stimulate the private sector and develop a knowledge-based economy.
Al Dhameen is a QDB initiative encouraging banks to offer financing to startups and SMEs that are unable to provide the necessary financing guarantees or collaterals.
