Arab Planning Institute (API) organized a Training Program on "Skills
of developing small and medium enterprise development strategy and investment
maps", from 16/2/2020 to 18/2/2020 for the benefit of Qatar University.
The objective of the program was to familiarize participants with topics
and issues related to a strategy of developing small and medium enterprises. In
particular, the aim was to study stages
of preparing a strategy for small and medium-sized enterprises, and to explain
concepts, importance, divisions, characteristics, development constraints, and
success of small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the role of financial
institutions in the financing and development of SMEs. It also aimed at
evaluating the the financing needs of small and medium enterprises and the
skills needed to deal with them. The program also analyzed the role of
commercial banks and non-banking institutions in financing small and medium
enterprises.
The program also presented the
mechanisms of building investment maps for different economic sectors and how
they are used by decision makers in achieving sustainable economic development,
especially in developing of small and medium enterprises. It also aimed to
demonstrate and present concept, types, methodology and different stages of preparing
investment maps from the assessment of current realities and exploring
strengths that can be based on the development of promising investment opportunities and the
determinants of their success. It also aimed to showcase the concept of competitiveness,
industrial clusters, value chains and their constituents as the most important
topics related to the methodology for identifying investment opportunities. Another
aim of the program was to provide trainees with the skills of preparing
investment maps and determining the factors of its success. The program
provided some practical applications that consolidate the knowledge and skills
acquired.