News | Ministry of Transport

Monday, March 26, 2018

Minister, Sudanese Counterpart Meet on Suakin Port Development

Red Sea State – SudanHE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti held talks with HE Sudanese Minister of Transportation, Roads and Bridges Eng. Makawi Mohamed Awad, in Sudan’s Red Sea State, today.The two officials discussed transit trade to neighboring countries and means of bolstering trade at the free zone of the Port of Suakin, in addition to establishing the Port’s infrastructures required to boosting its operations to qualify it to become the main trade gateway in the region.The meeting also discussed the investment opportunities in the fields of transportation and ports as well as a number of matters of common interest between the two brotherly countries.The meeting was attended by Qatar’s Ambassador to Sudan HE Mr. Rashid Bin Abdul Rahman Al Nuiami and Red Sea State Govenor HE Mr. Ali Ahmed Hamid.The two ministers paid a field visit to the Port of Suakin where they witnessed part of its operations and workflow. They also visited its floating dock and conducted a maritime tour around the Port.On this occasion, Minister Al Sulaiti emphasized the depth of Qatari-Sudanese ties and constructive cooperation in the fields of transportation and ports. He also said the coming days would witness the signing of a number of cooperation agreements in the interest of the two brotherly nations. He noted that the two sides share the same intentions that aim for developing these bilateral relations to the best format. “Today’s meeting comes in implementation of the MoU signed between the Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani Qatar) and the Port of Port Sudan for developing the Port of Suakin on the Red Sea, making it a key seaport for cargo transportation,” he added.Mr. Al Sulaiti also said that the meeting brought forth an emphasis on commencing Suakin Port’s development works, in addition to giving directives to the work team to complete all necessary studies at the earliest possible date. Such a partnership will be granted a concession at the free economic zone in a way that serves mutual investment.

Monday, March 26, 2018

Sudanese President Welcomes Minister, Reviews Relations

Khartoum – SudanHE the Sudanese President Omer Hassan al-Bashir received HE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti at the Presidential Palace in Khartoum today.HE the minister conveyed greetings from HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Deputy Emir HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani and HE Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani to HE the Sudanese president. He also conveyed HH the Emir’s wishes for more progress and prosperity to Qatar-Sudan relations.On his part, HE the Sudanese president expressed greetings to HH the Emir of Qatar and his wishes for more prosperity to the State and people of Qatar.At the meeting, viewpoints have been exchanged on a number of matters of common interest and means of further developing Qatari-Sudanese relations. Qatar’s Ambassador to Sudan HE Mr. Rashid Bin Abdul Rahman Al Nuiami attended the meeting.

Monday, March 26, 2018

Minister Witnesses Signing of Minutes of Joint Committee Meeting

Khartoum– SudanHE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti and his Sudanese counterpart HE Minister of Transportation, Roads and Bridges Eng. Makawi Mohamed Awad today witnessed the signing of the minutes of the meeting of the joint committee on developing and managing the Sudanese Port of Suakin.Mr. Hassan bin Hassan Al Hail, chairman of the joint committee on transport with the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC), and the Director General of Sudan’s Maritime Ports Authority Dr. Abdul Hafiz Saleh Ali, signed the minutes of the meeting. The event was attended by Qatar’s Ambassador to Sudan HE Mr. Rashid Bin Abdul Rahman Al Nuiami.The minutes of the meeting, signed this morning at the premises of Sudan’s Ministry of Transportation, Roads and Bridges, outlines a future roadmap for cooperation and general frameworks for partnership.HE Minister Al-Sulaiti stressed the strength of Qatari-Sudanese relations for which the foundations were laid down by HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and HE the Sudanese President Omer Hassan al-Bashir.This step, he added, would bring back Suakin Port’s historic glory and make it a maritime commercial gateway and a key, vital economic platform in the region.Saukin Port, the minister said, has comparative advantages and is supporting exports significantly, especially the economies of the African region. He also stressed its importance and vital, strategic location, its connection to the Silk Road and uniqueness for being a very important meeting point for exportation, particularly for neighboring countries, which makes it a value added to the economies.He emphasized that the Port’s development works would move at an accelerated pace to finalize the Port’s rehabilitation and development by 2020, taking into account applying world’s latest technologies for operations, as well as environment standards.Starting this April as a beginning for cooperation, he said, a maritime route would be launched between Hamad Port and Suakin Port to ship Sudanese livestock, stressing that the minutes of the meeting included a powerful economic cooperation in the interest of both brotherly countries.HE Minister Awad hailed the Qatari role that is supportive of Sudan in all fields, nothing that it had contributed to the country’s progress and economic development. He said the minutes of the meeting came within the framework of successful strategic partnerships between the two brotherly countries.Mr. Awad said the project would provide high-quality services to all vessels on the Red Sea, as Suakin Port is a new seaport for Africa and an investment source to be producing economic benefits for Sudan and serving the two countries’ interests. It would also provide Sudan with opportunities for training, capacity building and investment in all maritime transport areas, he noted.

Saturday, March 24, 2018

Ministry Obtains ISO 90012015 Quality Certification

Doha – QatarThe Ministry of Transport and Communications has obtained its ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems certification from the British Standards Institution (BSI).The certification, maintained by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), is a globally recognized metric validating the quality of an institution’s management, planning and quality systems.MOTC was awarded the certification following an intensive, all-out external audit from BSI team, who, after conducting a review of all processes, saw to what extent MOTC’s administrative system is complaint to internationally recognized standards and practices.This achievement corresponds to MOTC’s strategy for building a safe, sustainable and efficient transportation system capable of providing unique services. The Ministry also works on developing Qatar’s ICT sector in line with best standards and quality systems worldwide.“Obtaining this well-known certification is a new achievement added to a series of MOTC accomplishments. It reflects MOTC’s effort and hard work toward its employees to continue upgrading and promoting all departments to hit new levels of success,” said HE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti.This certification, he added, “proves MOTC is committed to implementing the highest quality standards and best management practices with a view to supporting its strategy that aims to provide better services.”

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Ministry’s Digital Incubation Center Launches "Make the Deal 2"

Doha-QatarUnder the patronage and with the attendance of HE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti, the Digital Incubation Center (DIC) under MOTC launched the second edition “Make the Deal 2.”The event was attended by a number of senior officials, Qatari investors and technology companies interested in making investment deals to support entrepreneurs. It brought them together with at least nine local tech startups within the framework of the final stage of “Make the Deal 2” event. Some of those startups are already incubated at the DIC. The event was attended by several entrepreneurs who are passionate about ICT.The final stage followed trainings for up to 20 startups working on Qatari market. The top nine of them were selected and did attend special training and evaluation sessions for five days where mentorship and guidance experts screened their business ideas and prepared them to pitch these ideas before potential investors.Organized yesterday at the DIC premises at MOTC, the event featured the official launch of the Doha club for angel investors in the field of technology; Doha Tech Angels. The club so far includes 15 angel investors with significant experience in the field of technology and successful business management such as Dr. Hessa Al Jaber, Dr. Nasser Marafih, Dr. Shiekha Al Jaber and others. DTA has already invested in a number of startups in Qatar. The club also provides funding, expertise, networking and mentorship in order to help startups flourish and grow.“DIC aims to provide a platform for entrepreneurs in Qatar to develop technology-based companies that serve the main five sectors of transportation, environment, logistics, healthcare and sports in consistency with the TASMU Smart Qatar Program,” said HE MOTC’s Assistant Undersecretary for Digital Society Development Affairs Ms. Reem Al-Mansoori.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

TASMU Smart Qatar Program Participates in QF’s ARC’18

Doha – QatarThe TASMU Smart Qatar Program participates in the 7th edition of the Qatar Foundation Annual Research Conference 2018 (ARC'18), organized by QF on March 19-20 at the Qatar National Convention Center.TASMU has an interactive booth at the exhibition organized at the sidelines of the conference, where a specialized TASMU team are there to explain the program’s vision, mission, objectives and its focus on harnessing the power of technology and innovation to drive sustainable economic diversification, improve the quality of life and enhance the delivery of public services across priority sectors.The booth also displays some of the smart solutions and projects TASMU had already pitched to local and foreign companies and entrepreneurs aiming to further improve the quality of life in Qatar and address national challenges in TASMU’s five top priority sectors; Transportation, Logistics, Environment, Healthcare and Sports.“TASMU’S main reason of participation is to reinforce its partnership with the eco-system of research and academia. Sharing with them the national challenges of the five sectors and guiding them toward innovating for them through applied research,” said HE MOTC’s Assistant Undersecretary for Digital Society Development Affairs Ms. Reem Al-Mansoori. She added; “TASMU along with the Qatar Digital Cluster will work on creating the full cycle ecosystem for smoother collaboration from research and academia parties to connect with government challenges and have access to collaborate with technology partners.”TASMU, along with other planned digital enterprises, is expected to generate some QR40 billion for Qatari economy over the next five years, and to accelerate job creation growth in the ICT industry at a rate of 10% annually.TASMU is designed to accelerate the achievement of all the pillars of the Qatar National Vision 2030. It will serve as a platform for the realization of a digital economy and smart future.TASMU aims to reduce road network delays by 20%, lower road fatalities to 6 per 100,000 and achieve a 10% reduction in average vehicle trip emissions.It also aims to cut import costs by 50%, raise Qatar’s Logistics Performance Index to 12th and increase GDP contribution of logistics to 10%.Environmentally, TASMU wants to reduce energy and water consumption per capita by 20% and 35% respectively, and produce 40% of overall food consumed locally.At healthcare level, the program seeks to reduce obesity rate by 5%, smoking rate by 30% and improve access to medical attention.TAMSU also aims to develop capabilities to manage sporting events for up to 150,000 visitors annually, rank in the top 50 in the Olympics and achieve 40% active population.