Latest news with #BassamHajhamad
Zawya
06-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
PwC Middle East in Qatar accelerates SME momentum in support of NDS-3 priorities
Doha, Qatar – As Qatar redefines growth under its third National Development Strategy (NDS-3), PwC Middle East brought together local CEOs and SME leaders to unlock new opportunities for SME innovation, resilience and long-term impact. The session underscored the critical role SMEs play in driving economic growth, and the importance of robust public-private partnerships (PPPs) in enabling the advancement of local businesses. Held at PwC's Doha office, the exclusive gathering served as a platform for aligning private sector ambitions with national priorities, reinforcing the essential role of SMEs in achieving economic transformation. The event marked another milestone in PwC Middle East's long-term strategy to act as a catalyst for public-private collaboration and to drive value creation across key sectors. PwC leaders shared forward-thinking insights, from market dynamics to digital reinvention, emphasising the critical role of data, AI, and strategic funding in unlocking SME potential. The discussion highlighted how resilient business models and bold digital shifts can help SMEs adapt and lead in a rapidly evolving economic landscape. 'SMEs are at the heart of Qatar's transformation', said Bassam Hajhamad, Qatar Country Senior Partner and Consulting Lead at PwC Middle East. 'We're here to fuel that momentum, bringing leaders together to spark bold ideas, share practical insights, and accelerate progress. By creating a space and platform for real dialogue and collaboration, we're helping business leaders turn ambition into impact, aligned with the goals of NDS-3.' Rami Nazer, PwC Middle East's EMEA Government & Public Sector Leader, led a high-impact panel that tackled key growth levers, regulatory enablement, access to funding, digital transformation, and competitiveness, all core pillars of NDS-3. The discussion brought together influential voices from local private companies, global SME funds, and public sector representatives. They each offered perspectives on what it will take for Qatar's SMEs to lead the next wave of economic growth. As a strategic partner of both public and private sectors in Qatar, PwC Middle East in Qatar is committed to helping SMEs adapt and lead. Through strong collaboration and deep expertise, we aim to accelerate progress so businesses can continue shaping the future with confidence. About PwC At PwC, we help clients build trust and reinvent so they can turn complexity into competitive advantage. We're a tech-forward, people-empowered network with more than 370,000 people in 149 countries. Across audit and assurance, tax and legal, deals and consulting we help build, accelerate and sustain momentum. Established in the Middle East for over 40 years, PwC Middle East has 30 offices across 12 countries in the region with 12,000 people. PwC refers to the PwC network and/or one or more of its member firms, each of which is a separate legal entity.
Zawya
07-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
‘Public-private partnerships play integral role to enable Qatar's transformation'
Doha, Qatar: Qatar is looking ahead to an era of transformation and growth, guided by Third National Development Strategy ( NDS-3). The journey has been remarkable, from being a predominantly hydrocarbon-based economy to now standing on the cusp of a diversified and knowledge-based one, said an official. In an interview with The Peninsula, Bassam Hajhamad, Qatar Country Senior Partner and Consulting Lead, PwC Middle East highlighted Qatar's diversification efforts and the recently held National Development Forum. The National Development Forum is a catalyst for strategic alignment between the public and private sectors. As Qatar enters a new chapter under its Third National Development Strategy, the forum has helped shift private sector engagement to becoming more proactive, with clear pathways to co-create national outcomes, Hajhamad said. As part of NDS-3, public-private partnerships (PPPs) play an integral role in enabling the country's transformation. Therefore, Qatar's National Development Forum comes at a strategic time in the country's transformation journey, acting as a valuable platform that strengthens PPPs to support Qatar's strategic objectives under NDS-3. By bringing together key stakeholders, including government institutions, local enterprises, and international partners, the forum creates an enabling environment for increased private sector participation in national development. This collaboration is essential for leveraging private sector expertise, resources, and innovation to achieve NDS-3 targets, he added. This engagement has also enabled the private sector to advance its strategies and further align its operations more closely with national goals, with practical discussions around policy reforms, commercial licensing, and investment opportunities translating concrete outcomes on the ground. Additionally, the forum's impact is seen through its support for sector-specific initiatives, ranging from healthcare and education to tourism and LNG production, which contributes to the country's economic diversification and job creation efforts, while also facilitating innovation and investment led-growth. These initiatives facilitate innovation and investment-led growth, ensuring that the private sector plays a transformative role in Qatar's economic development. Hajhamad further noted that the National Development Forum plays a central role in enabling organisations to contribute to the realisation of Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030) through structured community dialogue and collaborative policy design. By providing space for inclusive discussions on development priorities, the forum ensures alignment between public aspirations and institutional planning. © Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( The Peninsula Newspaper
Zawya
28-01-2025
- Business
- Zawya
90% of GCC including Qatar CEOs confident of revenue growth in 2025
Doha, Qatar: CEOs in the Middle East and Qatar are among the most confident globally about revenue growth in 2025, as revealed in PwC's 28th Annual CEO Survey. Yet the survey also finds that regional chief executives are aware of the huge wave of disruptive change, primarily driven by AI, climate challenges and an intensifying competition over new domains of growth as industry lines blur. In summary, the survey reveals that our region's CEOs are striking a difficult balance - capturing the significant market opportunities today while also reinventing their businesses for tomorrow. PwC's annual survey of CEOs globally and across the Middle East and Qatar reflects the collective voice of business leaders - offering valuable insights into the opportunities they see, the challenges they face and the path forward. This year the survey captured more Middle East and Qatar responses than ever before, with almost 300 chief executives sharing their views. The regional and local findings reveal strong confidence amongst CEOs in their companies' revenue growth, with those in the GCC particularly optimistic about revenue growth in 2025 (at 90%). 61% of GCC CEOs also expect to increase headcount this year, compared to just 42% of their global peers, and up from 55% in 2024. However, one third (34%) cited skills shortages as a major concern. Commenting on the findings, Hani Ashkar, PwC Middle East Senior Partner, said: 'The Middle East's optimism reflects a remarkable ability to adapt and innovate in the face of global challenges. CEOs in the region are adopting bold strategies to drive growth and competitiveness, advance sustainability and integrate AI into their businesses." "These efforts are reinforcing the region's role as a dynamic hub for business and investment, ensuring long-term value creation for stakeholders and communities alike.' Bassam Hajhamad, Qatar Country Senior Partner and Consulting Lead, PwC Middle East commented: 'Qatar is transitioning to a knowledge-based economy, where businesses are embracing AI, innovation, and sustainability to drive long-term growth. NDS-3 has been pivotal in guiding the way forward for CEOs and enabling businesses to align with national priorities and make a larger impact on the economy.' © Dar Al Sharq Press, Printing and Distribution. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
