Doha: Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa, CEO of Qatar Development Bank (QDB), will give the next talk in Texas A&M University at Qatar’s next Al Maerifa Public Seminar Series on November 12 via Zoom.
While entrepreneurs and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are regarded as the backbone of a thriving, diversified economy, the impact of these businesses extends far beyond that. From introducing future-defining products and services that shape consumer experiences to creating communities of like-minded innovators and contributing to the improvement of their communities, the influence of SMEs on Qatar’s socio-economic development is unmistakable.
In his talk, “Qatar Development Bank: Empowering SMEs Towards Business Growth and National Development,” Al Khalifa will highlight the role of the Bank and its affiliate institutions in advancing entrepreneurship and pushing forward the small and medium-sized enterprise ecosystem in Qatar. Al Khalifa will also talk about how the Bank integrates within the country’s innovation ecosystem to empower business owners and private enterprises as Qatar continues its march towards building a knowledge-based economy and realizing its national vision for 2030 and beyond.
In addition to his role as the CEO of QDB, Al Khalifa is the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Elan, and Chairman of Qatar Business Incubation Center and the Bedaya Center for Entrepreneurship and Career Development. With more than 15 years of experience, Al-Khalifa has a large and diversified exposure in the SME, private and entrepreneurship sectors. He played the leading role in the launch of several flagship development initiatives, including Al Dhameen Partial Guarantee Program, Tasdeer Qatar Export Development Agency and the Housing Loan Program for Qatari citizens, Moushtarayat Exhibition and Congress and Al Fikra National Competition. Al Khalifa holds an MBA from Qatar University, a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from California State University, Long Beach, and has received several specialised diplomas from Harvard University and Insead University.
