QBA urges greater SME access to major project financing

The Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) emphasized the importance of SMEs benefiting from financing for major development projects during a session at the ninth World Investment Forum (WIF 2026) in Doha. Represented by QBA member and Deutsche Bank Qatar CEO Salah Mohammed Al Jaidah, the association stressed the need for governments to ensure SMEs participate in project execution and access financing to support their growth.

Al Jaidah proposed that governments require main contractors on major projects to allocate a portion of eligible work to qualified local SMEs, recognizing that these companies provide critical specialized services, materials, and equipment. He highlighted that increasing local companies' involvement would enable them to gain experience, strengthen their capabilities, and expand their businesses, ensuring that economic benefits reach a broader segment of the private sector.

Al Jaidah also addressed the financing challenges faced by SMEs, particularly subcontractors, who often struggle with cash flow issues due to delayed payments. He called for commercial banks financing main contractors to develop mechanisms that cover approved subcontractors, including options like working capital financing against approved invoices and dedicated project accounts.

Al Jaidah stressed the importance of cooperation among governments, commercial banks, and development finance institutions to implement these proposals, aiming to distribute risks more efficiently and enable private financing to reach SMEs that struggle to access it. He concluded that supporting SMEs is essential to maximizing the impact of development investments, particularly in creating jobs, diversifying economic activity, and achieving sustainable growth.