News | Ministry of Transport

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Minister Meets with Eswatini, Ukrainian Ambassadors

Doha – QatarHE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti held separate meetings here today with Their Excellencies the Ambassadors Mr. Felizwe Dlamini of Eswatini and Mr. Yevhen Mykytenko of Ukraine.The two meetings discussed cooperation relations between Qatar and the two friendly countries in the fields of transport and communications and means of further enhancing them.

Sunday, March 31, 2019

Ministry Participates in "2019 Procurement"

Doha - QatarThe Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) is participating in the 4th Government Procurement & Contracting Conference & Exhibition (Moushtarayat 2019), which opened yesterday and closes tomorrow, at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC).At its booth, MOTC displays contracting opportunities for the upcoming period particularly those relating to the Smart Qatar Program TASMU through on-site meetings with interested companies to provide them with all information required about tendering and contracting.“Moushtarayat 2019 reflects the amount of support from the government to help SMEs reach the tenders that government entities issue. The event offers a unique opportunity for direct meeting between interested companies and ministries and government entities and this helps pave the way for SMEs’ participation in government tendering and contracting. This also reflects the real meaning of a public-private sector partnership,” said MOTC’s Finance and Administration Dept. Director, Ms. Mai Ahmed Al-Buainain.“Through Moushtarayat 2019, MOTC showcases 20 smart solution projects in TASMU’s five key sectors; transportation, logistics, environment, health and sports, out of which eight target micro- and small-scale enterprises because MOTC believes those enterprises can make a big difference in modern technology landscape in Qatar and also because MOTC wants to qualify and enable them to contribute to achieving TASMU’s strategic objectives,” she added.“MOTC is collaborating with Qatar Development Bank to boost micro- and small-scale enterprises’ involvement and provide the necessary facilitations in accordance with laws and controls in place,” Al-Buainain noted.MOTC’s operation plan for this year includes the initiation of several projects in land and maritime transport sector as well as in ICT.Observing fairness and transparency, MOTC announces its tenders via multiple channels such as the Moushtarayat portal, MOTC website, MOTC’s tendering portal and local newspapers.

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Ministry Holds Second QGDTP Annual Event

Doha-QatarThe Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) held its second annual event of the Qatar Digital Government Training Program (QDGTP) at Mondrian Doha Hotel today, under the patronage of HE Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani.Attended by several government officials, the event highlighted training accomplishments and unveiled its new partnerships and training plans for 2019.HE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti, who addressed the event, honored 24 graduates of the first class of the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Training Program and 23 graduates of the second class of the IT Talent Program. Both programs function under the wider QDGTP.“At a time while Qatar has come a long way on transforming into smart government, we should emphasize our commitment to qualifying our Qatari youth to enhance our country’s progress by enabling them to apply innovative digital solutions and manage change,” he added.“Our country’s advanced deployment and use of technology in government compared to other developed countries is reflected in Qatar’s ranking on global indicators. However, technology innovations are dynamic and we must continue to keep pace with such innovations if we really want to remain among the leaders in this domain,” said HE the Minister in his speech at the event.By providing support and training to those talented in the ICT domain, including fresh graduates and CTOs, “we help sharpen their experience for now and well into the future, thus enabling the government of Qatar to achieve more growth and progress.”“We can make profound changes through investing in ICT professionals and giving them the support and training they need. Undoubtedly, programs like QDGTP help further enable ICT government sector professionals.”“Digital government is the future of government services in Qatar and we will go on with transformation thanks to the support and contribution from the bodies concerned and all government entities, as well as our commitment to qualifying the government sector’s ICT professionals to a higher level of quality.”QDGTP has surpassed its targets set out for the last three years by successfully providing 4800 training opportunities, including 1800 training seats in 2018 through 312 training courses for more than 70 government and semi-government entities of which 134 courses were conducted in 2018, said MOTC’s Assistant Undersecretary, Digital Society Development Affairs, Ms. Reem Al-Mansoori, as she showcased QDGTP’s milestones to the audience.She said the program also provided the necessary facilitations that helped trainees obtain nearly 380 international certifications, including 118 certifications in 2018.“Thanks to such remarkable results, QDGTP has received considerable attention from government entities seeking to fulfill their training needs such as MOI, the State Audit Bureau and Planning and Statistics Authority. They have all hosted special training sessions for their staff throughout 2018” she said.She stressed they “will continue the program driven by the passion and enthusiasm from program applicants, commitment from government and semi-government entities and the support from program partners and we look forward to broadening the scope of the program to cover more entities and businesses.”Qatar launched its Qatar Digital Government 2020 Strategy in May 2014. It includes an integrated system for digital transformation with key strategic objectives. The system includes technology infrastructure, shared government applications, policies and standards that regulate the functioning of the system.

Thursday, March 21, 2019

MOTC Minister Meets with Iraqi Communications Minister

Doha - QatarHE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti met here today with the Iraqi Minister of Communications, Naeem Thjeel al-Rubaie.The two officials discussed cooperation in the fields of communications and information technology and means of further enhancing them, and also tackled a number of other matters of common interest between the two countries.The meeting was attended by the President of Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) HE Mr. Mohammed Ali Al-Mannai, HEthe Iraqi Chargé d'Affaires at the Embassy of Iraq in Qatar, Abdulsattar Hadi Al Janabi and a number of officials from the two countries.

Sunday, March 17, 2019

Ministry launches National Authentication System 1.1

Doha - QatarThe Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) has launched a National Authentication System “Tawtheeq” that targets the management and governance of the digital identity of individuals and businesses that use websites and online applications to access government e-services.The new system provides multiple methods for unified access to these e-services smoothly, safely and quickly.The new system offers numerous advantages to both digital service providers and users. These include user online-registration, user verification, unified access using the same username and password to all government e-services and multilayered verification.The system also provides various means of access by either using a username and password with multi factor authentication or a smart ID card, in addition to the digital-signature service, which enables users to sign their government transactions.A unique feature is that the system simplifies the process of connecting government entities with the service via standard protocols.“We are glad to launch this National Authentication System that will offer faster user access to all government services and boost user information security in line with the Qatar Digital Government 2020 Strategy, which, as its first strategic objective, aims to better serve individuals and business by emphasizing the customer focus through serving the people who live and work in Qatar, and businesses that fuel the nation’s economic growth,” said HE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti.He added that several government entities are keeping up with latest technologies and updating their digital services which makes it so important to enhance the electronic authentication and verification tools.“With this new system,” he added, “all users will be able to access to government e-services using the same username and password, thus saving time and effort and delivering the services faster.”Tawtheeq is a digital identity verification function. It provides safe authentication consistent with world best practices in information security. It also offers appropriate solutions to constraints that government entities face while developing their digital services such as the difficulty of verifying user credibility online during the electronic transactions and the vulnerability of digital identities to theft or hacking.

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Ministry Unveils its Integrated Automated Fare Collection, Ticketing System

Doha – QatarThe Ministry of Transport and Communications unveiled its Integrated Automated Fare Collection and Ticketing System for public transportation by signing the project contract today with Gulf Business Machines Qatar (GBM) in partnership with MSI Global of Singapore.Planned to complete and begin operation in 2020, the new system provides a unified ticketing mechanism for public transport within Qatar’s internal transportation network, latest credit card payment technologies in addition to payment via smartphones and smartwatches.The project aims to improve Qatar’s transportation system functionality, achieve integration and encourage people to use public transport more frequently by providing a more flexible and seamless system.It also aims to achieve a set of environmental goals by helping in reducing emissions that result from high use of private vehicles. Additionally, it aims to apply the country’s transportation systems integration plans through deploying world’s latest technologies and best standards.Moreover, the new system is hoped to lower traffic-related problems by easing pressure on road networks. It would also help increase traffic safety, achieve the economic goals associated with the efficiency of mobility, transportation and logistics services.The contract was signed by MOTC’s Assistant Undersecretary of Land Transport Affairs Mr. Rashid Taleb Al Nabet and GBM Qatar Board Chairman Mr. Badr Omar Al Mana.On this occasion, HE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti said that the project comes within the Ministry’s efforts to further improve the performance and integration of the country’s transportation system to achieve the economic objectives associated with transportation efficiency and effectiveness. He said it would also encourage the public to use this well-equipped and modern public transit easily and smoothly, within a framework of collaboration between Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail) and Mowasalat “Karwa.” This, he added, would help in the integration of all current and future land and marine transport networks.The Ministry by establishing this new system contributes to enforcing state policies on boosting the domestic private sector’s role and ingraining the principle of competitiveness on national economy, HE the Minister noted.The project, he added, aims for the optimal use of computer technologies, advanced communications systems and smart e-payment systems that mirror latest developments in mobility and transportation industry. This is one of the smart projects that help streamline procedures through reducing time and effort consumed.He also said that the Ministry is making serious efforts on several fronts to develop transportation services and did complete several key strategic studies and projects for further developing Qatar’s land transport industry.This is aimed at providing best applicable solutions and facilitations so as to put in place a modern, safe, integrated and environment-friendly transportation system in line with Qatar’s National Development Strategy 2018-2022 and Qatar National Vision 2030, HE the Minister said.The structure of the new project has multiple components for a unified fare collection and ticketing system, including ticketing, ticket vending machines, standalone validators and central clearinghouse.Mr. Al Nabet said that the public would use the new system very easily on all needs related to public transportation such as the metro, the Lusail Light Rail Transit (LRT) system, buses, taxis and marine transport.He added that improving mobility and comfort for people, increasing traffic safety, reducing energy consumption, limiting impact on the environment and increasing productivity are some of the new system’s top features.The project aims to achieve a paradigm shift in terms of public transit performance by founding an integrated, multimodal clearinghouse system in line with best world standards in addition to raising the efficiency of the land transport network in general, he added.There are numerous advantages for public transit users who will be able to use a single ticket for all means of transport and the tickets will be easy to buy and recharge, let alone the flexibility and comfort when using public transit, parking lots and sports stadiums, he added.For public transit operators, he said, the new system is helping reduce costs associated with ticketing systems, machines and maintenance and provide continued supply of data; which would help monitor the curve of demand, draw and apply best operational plans, improve the network, update prices and guarantee a safe e-payment.The system also allows the state to supervise the operation of public transit services with full flexibility and transparency, he said. It also helps increase mobility and transportation policies effectiveness, in addition to the security dimension through the availability of information on operators and users let alone the availability of basic information sources needed for informed planning and enhanced integration in the future for road and transportation networks.