Qatar's SMEs to have own industrial zones

Qatar's small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) are to have their own industrial zones according to Minister of Energy and Industry, Abdulla bin Hamad Al Attiyah. The local Press quoted Al Attiyah as telling members of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) that a one million square meter zone had been set aside in the country's southern industrial city of Mesaieed and a second zone, four times larger, is being planned.

"The energy and industry ministry is laying ample emphasis on SMEs as they hold the key to making the country's strategic economic diversification plan a success," said Al Attiyah. Smart observation by the Qatari authorities and yes it is the SMEs which do form the back bone of economy. Global giants have a lot of inertia and can sometimes just vanish into thin air like Enron. Must be good place to keep eyes open for, incase any young entrepreneur is planning an industrial setup. I think what will make this SME zone from any of the other regional freezones is that it is being put together with SMEs in mind and thus would have relatively easy requirements in terms of capital and paper work.