QDB’s support to small, medium firms grows 19 Jan 2021 - 7:59 File photo Sachin Kumar/ The Peninsula In the year when Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) faced tough challenges due to COVID-19 outbreak, the small and medium firms got timely support from the QDB. Whether it was regarding financial services, consultancy or guidance, QDB registered impressive growth in all segments of its services during 2020. The direct lending from QDB grew to QR7.31bn last year, registering a growth of 9 percent from 2019, said the bank on its social media account, highlighting its achievement in 2020. The bank had granted direct loans of about QR6.7bn during 2019. The state-owned development organisation is the main entity responsible for supporting and promoting local SMEs to establish a vibrant private sector in the country.