2025-10-16
MCIT Selects Four Partners for Scale Now Programme for Digital Entrepreneurs
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) has roped in four partners - Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), Qatar Development Bank (QDB), Qatar Research, Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council and Invest Qatar - for its Scale Now programme for digital entrepreneurs.
"This strategic collaboration undoubtedly will contribute to promoting the achievement of Scale Now programme and harmonising efforts and direct these efforts that will contribute to the growth of start-ups to build a sustainable and large-scale economy in alignment with our digital agenda," Faraj Jassim Abdullah, Director of the Digital Economy Department at MCIT told media announcing the new partners.
The beneficiaries will receive support from MCIT to ensure their ability to penetrate markets, while QDB pledges to provide funding tools and ability for exportation, and Invest Qatar will link those investors with global markets.
He said Scale Now programme represents a significant step in empowering digital entrepreneurs in Qatar, equipping them with the tools and guidance needed to scale their businesses and expand into local and global markets.
Ali al-Mawlawi, Director of Business Development at MoCI, said the ministry would work with the partners to promote transparency and ensure that the SMEs (small and medium enterprises) have access to funding and opportunities as they are a key pillar to the national economy.
"Scale Now programme has a paramount importance as a national platform that accelerates the development and improvement of productivity of SMEs," he said, adding the role of MoCI is to transform the ability of these companies into a real growth by linking with the private sector firms.
Mohammed al-Emadi, Executive Director of Incubation and Venture Capital Investment at QDB, said the Scale Now programme complements its support through pre-acceleration and acceleration programmes.
“This partnership will enable companies to access investment as well as entrepreneurship talent, provide consultations and accessibility and penetration to markets," he said, adding QDB has incubated and accelerated more than 600 startups.
Nada al-Olaqi, Senior Director, Innovation, Development and Piloting Programmes, QRDI Council, said it works in accelerating technologies to contribute to the transition towards knowledge-based economy through financing, building national capacities and mentoring.
This partnership create a national platform for development that combine capital, knowledge, policies, as well as innovation to create a new generation of entrepreneurs and consolidate the position of Qatar in the area of innovation and utilising technologies, according to her.
"We, along with the other partners from all stakeholders, recognise the importance of the private sector, especially SMEs and startup companies, in realising the strategic vision through the contribution of the private sector," she said.
Dr Hamad al-Naimi, Strategy Manager of Invest Qatar, said its role starts with discovering opportunities and developing the businesses, and scaling up and providing accessibility through facilitating contacts with partners in the private and public sector.
"We will link those start-pp companies with international investments through our relations," he said, adding "we will enable those companies to expand into new horizons and new markets, and help them in establishing strategic relations and partnerships regionally and internationally."
Terming the partnership with MCIT as a 'practical example for the productive cooperation'; he said Invest Qatar would enable and empower entrepreneurship by helping new cohorts in receiving grants and financial support that will contribute to more innovation in the entrepreneurship landscape in Qatar.
"This strategic collaboration undoubtedly will contribute to promoting the achievement of Scale Now programme and harmonising efforts and direct these efforts that will contribute to the growth of start-ups to build a sustainable and large-scale economy in alignment with our digital agenda," Faraj Jassim Abdullah, Director of the Digital Economy Department at MCIT told media announcing the new partners.
The beneficiaries will receive support from MCIT to ensure their ability to penetrate markets, while QDB pledges to provide funding tools and ability for exportation, and Invest Qatar will link those investors with global markets.
He said Scale Now programme represents a significant step in empowering digital entrepreneurs in Qatar, equipping them with the tools and guidance needed to scale their businesses and expand into local and global markets.
Ali al-Mawlawi, Director of Business Development at MoCI, said the ministry would work with the partners to promote transparency and ensure that the SMEs (small and medium enterprises) have access to funding and opportunities as they are a key pillar to the national economy.
"Scale Now programme has a paramount importance as a national platform that accelerates the development and improvement of productivity of SMEs," he said, adding the role of MoCI is to transform the ability of these companies into a real growth by linking with the private sector firms.
Mohammed al-Emadi, Executive Director of Incubation and Venture Capital Investment at QDB, said the Scale Now programme complements its support through pre-acceleration and acceleration programmes.
“This partnership will enable companies to access investment as well as entrepreneurship talent, provide consultations and accessibility and penetration to markets," he said, adding QDB has incubated and accelerated more than 600 startups.
Nada al-Olaqi, Senior Director, Innovation, Development and Piloting Programmes, QRDI Council, said it works in accelerating technologies to contribute to the transition towards knowledge-based economy through financing, building national capacities and mentoring.
This partnership create a national platform for development that combine capital, knowledge, policies, as well as innovation to create a new generation of entrepreneurs and consolidate the position of Qatar in the area of innovation and utilising technologies, according to her.
"We, along with the other partners from all stakeholders, recognise the importance of the private sector, especially SMEs and startup companies, in realising the strategic vision through the contribution of the private sector," she said.
Dr Hamad al-Naimi, Strategy Manager of Invest Qatar, said its role starts with discovering opportunities and developing the businesses, and scaling up and providing accessibility through facilitating contacts with partners in the private and public sector.
"We will link those start-pp companies with international investments through our relations," he said, adding "we will enable those companies to expand into new horizons and new markets, and help them in establishing strategic relations and partnerships regionally and internationally."
Terming the partnership with MCIT as a 'practical example for the productive cooperation'; he said Invest Qatar would enable and empower entrepreneurship by helping new cohorts in receiving grants and financial support that will contribute to more innovation in the entrepreneurship landscape in Qatar.
Source: GULF TIMES