QDB unveils Manarat hub to drive high-tech manufacturing

Qatar Development Bank (QDB) has unveiled the Advanced Manufacturing Hub, also known as Manarat, marking the first of its kind in Qatar. This industrial complex, unveiled alongside the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, aims to promote advanced technology adoption by next-generation factories in the country.

The hub, named 'Manarat' (Lighthouses), symbolizes its commitment to making the factories it houses role models in advanced manufacturing and operational excellence.

Through this partnership, QDB seeks to attract Qatar-based manufacturers, companies utilizing advanced technology, and international investors. Manarat's factories will benefit from integrated advisory services, financing, and export solutions. QDB Executive Director of SME Development, Dr Hamad Salem Mejegheer, highlighted the significance of Manarat in QDB's strategy for developing a more competitive industrial sector.

He emphasized the role of Manarat in empowering companies to expand their production capabilities, attract global expertise, and enhance specialized knowledge locally.

Dr Abdulaziz Khalid Al Ali from the C4IR at the Ministry of Finance emphasized the hub's role in stimulating innovation and enhancing the competitiveness of Qatar's industrial sector. He praised the collaboration with partners to develop pioneering policies and state-of-the-art facilities. Abdulla Ghanim Al Maadeed, Director of the Industrial Development Department at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, commended Qatar Development Bank's role in implementing the initiative and the collaboration among stakeholders to support the industrial sector and private enterprises.

Manarat targets technology-driven sectors such as medical devices, pharmaceuticals, electronics, telecommunications, robotics, and chemicals. The application process is assessed in two stages: eligibility and technical readiness, followed by the evaluation of the technical and commercial viability of proposed projects.