News | Ministry of Transport

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Minister Meets with Greek Foreign Minister

Doha – QatarHE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti met here today with Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Mr. Georgios Katrougalos.The two officials discussed bilateral relations between the two friendly countries and means of further enhancing them, in addition to several topics of common interest.The meeting was attended by HE Ambassador of Greece to Qatar Mr. Constantinos Orphanides.

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Ministry Launches AI Hackfest

Doha – QatarThe Ministry of Transport and Communications announces its Artificial Intelligence Hackfest is now open for government and semi-government entities from April 30 to May 2 as part of its endeavors to empowering digital transformation with AI.MOTC aims to contribute to boosting sustainable economic diversification and improving quality of life and public services.This came during the Qatar Artificial Intelligence Event held under the theme: “Empowering Digital Transformation with AI” at Marsa Malaz Kempinski. It was attended by more than 300 decision makers and interested companies.During the AI Hackfest, the Qatar Digital Government Training Program (QDGTP) will train work teams from government and semi-government entities over 3 days to develop solutions for 10 pilot projects that are hoped to help address some of the challenges those entities encounter.Work on these solutions is to continue for at least three more months to transform them into actual applicable business models.he event hosted several AI experts who exchanged viewpoints and insight on how to use AI to accelerate business development, increase customer interaction and engagement and improve products and services quality, particularly in the five priority sectors of Smart Qatar Program TASMU, namely transportation, logistics, environment, healthcare and sports.MOTC’s Assistant Undersecretary, Digital Society Development Affairs, Ms. Reem Al-Mansoori said that technology plays a key role in the Qatari leadership’s vision and “we, at MOTC, aim to keep up with all technological advancements to achieve Qatar National Vision 2030 goals toward a knowledge-based economy.”Country Manager of Microsoft Qatar Lana Khalaf said that Microsoft is committed to empowering organizations by providing them with AI tools and solutions and this helps boost their business, empower their workforce and increase productivity.She said that they are looking forward to continuing their support to MOTC on its initiatives to raise awareness of AI and its positive impacts on all industries across the country.

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Minister Meets with MSC Chief Operating Officer

Doha – QatarHE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti met here today with Chief Operating Officer of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) Dr. Benedikt Franke.The meeting discussed means of boosting cooperation relations between the State of Qatar and the MSC in the field of cybersecurity and regional security.The meeting also reviewed the joint coordination between the two parties on the MSC Cyber Security Summit that Doha will host this October.

Friday, April 26, 2019

Ministers of Transport, Commerce Attend China’s 2nd Belt & Road Forum

Beijing – ChinaTheir Excellencies Ministers Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti of Transport and Communications and Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari of Commerce and Industry are representing the State of Qatar at the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which HE Chinese President Xi Jinping inaugurated today.“Qatar is among the very first countries to have supported the Belt and Road Initiative that aims for wider links between Asia, Africa and Europe. Qatar signed several agreements and MoUs that support that initiative. This returns positively on Qatar’s economy and supports its plan to becoming a key strategic and economic hub in the region and the world,” said HE Minister Al-Sulaiti.In Qatar, he said, “we look at the Belt and Road Initiative or the “Silk Road” from a strategic standpoint to link it with all our infrastructure such as ports and airports. This helps reduce time and cost for transporting goods. At the same time, it will be the road for the passage of such goods from China to all countries around the world.” He said that Qatar has an advanced world-class infrastructure in seaports, air transport and airports, in addition to its development operations in the logistics sector to fulfil the increased demand on transportation, handling and storage needs, let alone Qatar’s economic ties with several countries.“The Belt and Road Initiative, best known as Silk Road, which China launched in 2013, will contribute to creating new industrial cities and communities in a way that supports growth and common benefits for countries on its path,” said HE Minister Al Kuwari.The Silk Road, he said, would make Qatar a key economic and strategic hub in the region and the world and allow for new significant economic alliances and partnerships, making it a pivotal and active player in world trade.He also noted that Silk Road would complete the role modern infrastructure plays in Qatar in transportation industry such as ports and airports and maximize the benefit in a manner that achieves the desired economic development.Minister Al-Sulaiti participated in a working session on the connectivity between infrastructure and transportation that was attended by several ministers and senior officials at the Forum. Minister Al Kuwari also participated in a subforum on the interdependence of trade, covering some topics about the deepening of trade connection in light of the Belt and Road cooperation through openness, inclusion and innovation. The subforum was inaugurated by a number of Chinese ministers and senior government officials.In a meeting they held with HE Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Jorge Marcelo, Ministers Al-Sulaiti and Al Kuwari exchanged viewpoints on the Belt and Road Initiative and discussed a number of topics of common interest.Heads and leaders of 37 countries or governments are attending the Forum.It also attracts nearly 5000 participants from more than 150 countries and 80 international organizations, covering regions from five continents and multiple players such as governments, civil societies, business communities and academia.The theme of the 2nd Belt and Road Forum is "Belt and Road Cooperation, Shaping a Brighter Shared Future." The main purpose is to promote the high-quality development of Belt and Road cooperation, which is the common aspiration of countries participating in the initiative.Qatar and China signed an MoU on promoting their cooperation in the building of the Silk Road during HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s visit to China in 2014. This has since opened the door for fast-paced and comprehensive development in Qatari-Chinese relations.Last Jan., the two countries also signed a MoU on promoting their cooperation and partnership with regards to the Belt and Road Initiative. This made the two countries ready more than ever to strengthen their cooperation and work for shared interests.Qatar is also a founding member of the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)- a new international financial institution that aims to meet infrastructure needs in Asia within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Minister Meets with Chinese Counterpart

Beijing – ChinaHE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti, who is currently on a working visit to China, held talks with his Chinese counterpart Minister of Transport HE Mr. Li Xiaopeng.The two officials discussed several topics of common interest relating to transportation and mobility and means of further enhancing them. They also discussed means of increasing cooperation in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and seizing new potential investment opportunities in both countries.The meeting was attended by HE Ambassador of Qatar to China Mr. Sultan bin Salmeen Al-Mansouri.

Sunday, April 21, 2019

Minister Launches Qatar Open Data Portal

Doha – QatarHE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti today launched the Qatar Open Data Portal at an MOTC event attended by the Planning and Statistics Authority Chairman HE Dr. Saleh bin Mohammed Al Nabet and the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority Chairman HE Mr. Hamad bin Nasser bin Rashid Al Misned Al Mohannadi.In his opening speech, Minister Al-Sulaiti said that as the Government of Qatar realizes the importance of open data, “the Ministry of Transport and Communications launched the Open Data Policy in 2014 to achieve the objectives of national development and Qatar National Vision 2030. The aim is to provide public services efficiently and transparently, build the knowledge-based economy and boost innovation and creativity through an open and transparent culture where knowledge is available and accessible.”“In light of our work toward building a smart nation and our commitment to raising the name of Qatar in all global rankings where government transparency is a key factor, I am pleased to launch the Qatar Open Data Portal today, which will be a gateway to government data, making information easy to access, share and reuse. This will help transform these data and information into tools and applications that help in areas of research, innovation and creative and smart solutions,” he said.He said it was important to release data and make it open given the social and business value of doing so, “because data is a fundamental resource for the knowledge society that we aspire to and one of the powerful catalysts for trade progress and economic growth.”He hailed the MOI initiative in the field of open data, and efforts of the Ministry of Finance and Planning and Statistics Authority, which took the lead and began sharing their data via the new portal.He said he was confident all government entities would join the portal soon to contribute to building a government that is more efficient, more open and more transparent for the good of all.MOTC Assistant Undersecretary for Information Technology Affairs Mr. Hassan Jassim Al-Sayed said that MOTC launched this portal to publish government data online via a single national platform to streamline public access to data while guaranteeing its quality by making it available in the right format in line with best world practices.The success of this new portal, he said, “requires government entities’ cooperation as MOTC will be responsible for managing the portal with a specialized team that will focus on supporting all government bodies to raise awareness and encourage them to upload their open data to the portal.”“MOTC will also continue to organize workshops for open data ambassadors in each government entity, who have already been identified, to train them further in how to share their future executive plans as required at their entities,” he added.The event wrapped up with a panel discussion that included representatives from MOI, Ministry of Culture and Sport, the Planning and Statistics Authority and the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority for insights and exchange of expertise.Director of e-Government Programs & Standards at MOTC Ms. Mashael Ali Al-Hammadi said that in the future countries would not be ranked as rich or poor but based on scales that focus on knowledge and information and to what extent they apply knowledge, research, development and technology.