Qatari SME 'Fouj Cafe' opens its doors at Qatar Shell
Date
8/25/2016 1:07:49 AM
(MENAFN- The Peninsula) From Left: Ibrahim Mohammed Al Emadi, CEO Fouj Café; Michael Kool, Managing Director and Chairman, Qatar Shell Companies; and Bader Al Kuwari, Business Localisation Support Manager, QDB, at the soft launch yesterday.
DOHA: Qatari Entrepreneur-owned cafeteria Fouj will open a new branch next week, in the Qatar Shell offices. The venture is a result of Qatar Development Bank (QDB) and Qatar Shell";s ‘SME Business Opportunity"; initiative.
As part of a nationwide strategy to support local small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Fouj Café won Doha office catering tender and signed a contract with Qatar Shell, in partnership with QDB, to provide food and beverage services for more than 700 employees. Fouj Café is owned by a Qatari brother and sister partnership and creates international food with a Qatari twist. The original Fouj Café is located on Grand Hamad Street.
Qatar Shell";s ‘SME Business Opportunity"; initiative offers local SMEs the opportunity to participate in Qatar Shell";s tendering process. Last year, six new Qatari SMEs were awarded contracts with Shell, adding to the 14 contracts awarded between 2013 and 2015.
Ibrahim Mohammed Al Emadi, CEO of Fouj Café, said: 'The new café meets Shell";s international standards, and we will apply those standards to our other locations in Doha in the future.”
In addition to Fouj Café, Inspection Technology (I-Tech) is successfully providing onsite welding inspection services and Social Media Solutions is managing Qatar Shell";s social media platforms, both as part of the SME initiative. The three other SMEs awarded contracts last year are also progressing: Cooper & Turner W.L.L for the manufacturing of stud bolts; Digital Print Centre for the manufacturing of safety boards and electric labels; and Chubb Fire, International Gulf Trading for the manufacturing and maintenance of fire extinguishers.
Bader Al Kuwari, Business Localisation Support Manager at QDB, said: 'The success of these six companies shows that local SMEs are capable of applying the international standards. This should encourage other big international companies in Qatar to give similar opportunities to local SMEs.”
In May 2016, more than 250 SMEs attended the fourth annual ‘Qatari SME Business Opportunities Workshop” to compete for further six contracts on offer, worth QR70m. Contracts will be awarded in December. With a mandate to support Qatari SMEs, QDB works with its wide network of local partner banks to attract local SMEs to participate in this initiative.
Mohamed AbuJbara, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Qatar Shell, said: 'Qatar Shell trusts local SMEs to deliver to the highest standard and we remain committed to supporting them to help bolster the private sector in the country.”
The Peninsula