Doha: Qatar Development Bank (QDB) and the General Retirement and Social Security Authority announced the opening of registration for the sixth edition of the “Khatwa” qualification programme to build and develop the capabilities and skills of retirees and help them take the first step in the journey of establishing their businesses and small and medium enterprises.
The registration for the programme will start today. The programme will be held from October 24 to November 10 and its activities will start via videoconferencing, as it includes special advisory sessions for the participants to determine their project ideas and the type of support provided to them to provide the best possible tools that invest their expertise practically and scientifically.
Participants will learn about many aspects of knowledge in entrepreneurship, including getting to know the concept of entrepreneurship, establishing small companies, choosing an appropriate project idea, and acquiring basic skills for managing small and medium enterprises, including strategic planning, marketing, management, and financial control, business planning, and feasibility study. Including the preparation of a small feasibility study for the project, which is an approach applied in many other similar training programmes of the bank.
The “Khatwa” programme aims to train, develop and qualify retirees as a vital and effective part of the entrepreneurship system in the State of Qatar, in coordination between the Qatar Development Bank, which handles the training and counselling aspect, and the General Authority for Retirement and Social Security and its societal responsibilities that seek to promote social, economic and human development initiatives, and strengthening institutional communication in line with the country's development policies and Qatar Vision 2030.
In this regard, Executive Director of the Advisory Services Department at Qatar Development Bank Ibrahim Al Mannai stressed the importance of this programme as part of the Qatar Development Bank's strategy to support entrepreneurs and enhance the entrepreneurial work environment in the State of Qatar, pointing to the bank's interest in all segments of society from entrepreneurs “just as the bank cares for the youth and stimulates the spirit of creativity and innovation in them, it also focuses on the experienced and distinguished retirees.”
In turn, Director of Public Relations and Communication at the General Retirement and Social Security Authority Mohammed Abdullah Al Malki praised the partnership and cooperation with Qatar Development Bank to launch the sixth version of the “Khatwa” initiative, which seeks to provide the necessary training and qualification to enable retirees from the world of entrepreneurship, noting that this step is a qualitative addition in the Authority’s efforts to enhance the capabilities of retirees and motivate them to enter the world of entrepreneurship, by supporting their small and medium enterprises.
He pointed out that the interest of retirees to establish small and medium enterprises contributes to supporting economic and social development, which enhances efforts to achieve Qatar National Vision 2030.
Although the “Khatwa” programme is a qualifying educational program and not a financing programme, Qatar Development Bank offers incentive financial grants based on merit and excellence criteria that are presented to the best three feasibility studies for projects at the end of the course, and the value of the grants is estimated at QR100,000.
QR50,000 of them are provided in cash, and QR50,000 in the form of various consulting services, to help the trainees establish their projects and prepare the feasibility study in a more integrated manner.
