Doha
28 May 2017

In its drive to promote local companies, from across diverse sectors, in regional and global markets, Qatar Development Bank (QDB) participated along with 9 Qatari design companies at the INDEX Design Series, held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 22 to 25 May 2017. INDEX Design Series is considered as the largest interior design exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa, and notably, this year it received an attendance of thousands of visitors, architects, designers, project managers and suppliers over a span of four days, in which over 800 participants from design industries around the world were involved.

This year, Tasdeer promoted 9 Qatari entities, involved in various aspects of design manufacturing and service provision, at the 27th edition of exhibition series: Al-bayan for Electronics and LED Technologies, Alida Interiors, Almuftah Carpentry, Al-Sada Plastic Profiles, Dar Al Naseej, Doha Linens, Specialized Qatar Windows & Doors Systems, Raha Poly Products, and Qatar Industrial Foam & Furnishing Company (Qatar Foam).

Notably, renowned Qatari artist, Jameela Al-Shraim, was invited to participate in the INDEX exhibition this year. Furthermore, QDB also gave opportunities to graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar to participate at the exhibition to gain experience of the private sector as well as benefit from networking experience.

Commenting on QDB’s participation in the latest INDEX exhibition, Executive Director of Export Development & Promotion, Hassan Khalifa Al-Mansoori said: "INDEX is the largest platform in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region for those involved in the commercial interior design industry. Naturally, then, the exhibition served as a great opportunity for Qatari companies to network with interested customers, enter into partnerships and sign deals that will bear significance for them in their respective futures.

"Our latest participation at INDEX is in line with both our organizational strategy as well as the national strategic development plan, Qatar National Vision 2030—through introducing Qatari design companies to foreign markets, we promote Brand Qatar by helping our companies achieve international commercial success, and thereby, offer our contribution to the diversification of our export economy.”

This year, the INDEX Design Series exhibition offered visitors 19 international pavilions and covered eight sectors: Furniture & Furnishings, Kitchen & Bathrooms, Lighting, Objets (décor), Sleep, Textiles, Middle East Covering, and Workspace at INDEX. The exhibition also hosted some of the world's most renowned designers at the Design Innovation Forum and the Index Design Talks as well as during two interactive educational programs held at the 4-day event.

Additionally, with more than 720 international brands and suppliers on exhibit from more than 50 countries, INDEX Design Series’ latest installment presented a unique opportunity for architects, creatives, designers, hoteliers, retailers, and wholesalers to network with one another as well as source products for their residential, commercial, hospitality, educational and medical industry-related projects.

The participation of Tasdeer, at INDEX Design Series, comes as the latest in a series of initiatives undertaken by QDB’s export arm to promote Qatari companies abroad. Other events in which Tasdeer has promoted local manufacturers regionally this year include ‘Middle East Electricity 2017’, ‘Gulfood 2017’, ‘Plast Expo 2017’, and the ‘Big 5’.

Since its launch in 2011, QDB’s export program, Tasdeer, has contributed greatly to promoting the presence of Qatari exports in foreign markets through a wide range of activities and events, such as participation at international exhibitions, bilateral trade cooperation programs and training workshops. Through its marketing and promotional efforts rendered to Qatari companies, QDB keeps itself at the forefront of the nation’s drive to reduce its level of dependence on imported products, and, instead, promote its own skilled local manufacturers across the globe, as envisioned in Qatar National Vision 2030.