Ministry Hosts IMO Member States’ Delegate Heads, Representatives at Evening Reception

London - UK Attended by Minister of Transport HE Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti, the Ministry of Transport held an evening reception in London in the name of the State of Qatar, for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council. The Embassy of the State of Qatar in London and several Qatari maritime industry entities participated in the event. The reception event was attended by IMO Secretary-General Mr. Kitack Lim, some IMO officials, several ambassadors serving in London and heads and representatives of IMO Member States’ delegates. In his remarks during the event, HE Minister Al-Sulaiti welcomed the audience, and voiced Qatar’s thanks and gratefulness to the IMO for its efforts to ensure maritime navigation’s safety and security and marine environment protection. He also emphasized Qatar’s obligation to continue cooperating with IMO to achieve its objectives and principles.

Ministry Conducts New Control, Awareness Campaign on Maritime Vessels

Doha As more COVID-19 curbs ease, Ministry of Transport, represented by Maritime Transport Affairs, has conducted a new awareness and control campaign on maritime vessels to ensure helmsmen and users of all types of maritime vessels are following the precautionary and health instructions, as well as relevant maritime safety and security measures. In addition to Ministry professionals, several maritime affairs professionals from the MOI’s General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security, MoPH and Qatar Tourism also participated in the campaign. They stressed the importance of adhering to the precautionary measures to stop the spread of the virus and offered advices and awareness relating to safety and wellbeing.  They also inspected the availability of all safety and security equipment on boats.

Minister Inaugurates Al Sudan Bus Station Equipped

Doha - Qatar Minister of Transport HE Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti today inaugurated Al Sudan Bus Station, which is equipped with electric charging equipment, in a step that supports the strategy of switching to electric vehicles that the Ministry developed in cooperation with bodies concerned. This came during an event at the site of the station, attended by Minister of Municipality HE Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Subaie, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al-Thani, President of Public Works Authority (Ashghal) Dr. Eng. Saad bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi and President of Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation (KAHRAMAA) Eng. Essa bin Hilal Al-Kuwari. HE the Minister said that inaugurating the first out of eight public transit bus stations comes in the context of the Public Bus Infrastructure Program that aims at creating an integrated and sustainable public transit network to cover all urban areas through a coherent transportation that includes public transit buses, the Doha Metro and the Lusail Tram that will open soon. Five more public transit bus stations will be inaugurated before this year’s end at Lusail, Gharrafa, the Education City, Al Wakra and the Industrial Area, the minister said. Two more stations; the Central West Bay and Msheireb, will be inaugurated in 2022 and all those facilities are equipped with electric public bus charging infrastructure, he added. Inaugurating Al Sudan Bus Station today and the next ones later is especially significant as the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 nears, since the public transit network is a cornerstone for the success of that global event through providing a multimodal transportation system to give visitors an exceptional, safer, and smoother experience, the minister said. The Public Bus Infrastructure Program is one of the world’s most ecofriendly programs, “laying the groundwork for a full switch to a transportation system that is powered by clean, ecofriendly electric energy, thus backing the country’s sustainable development requirements.” HE Minister Al-Sulaiti said that Ministry of Transport is working on measuring improving the air quality in all public transit means and facilities within the framework of Qatar’s National Environment and Climate Change Strategy, thus bringing us one step closer to achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030 goals.” Ministry of Transport’s Technical Affairs Department Director Sheikh Mohamed Bin Khalid Al-Thani said that the massive public transit program in Qatar, which has begun to pay off, is giving the country a ranking alongside the countries that are most advanced in terms of public transit systems and transportation services offered to citizens, residents and visitors while deploying latest associated technologies such as payment methods and tracking systems. Al Sudan Bus Station is strategically located near the Sudan Metro Station and Al-Sadd SC southwards. The western side of the station is neighboring the Aspire Zone, the Villaggio Mall and the Torch Tower and other nearby destinations, he added. Built in an area of 65,216 sq. m., the station accommodates 7 bus bays that can operate 22 buses per hour, distributed on 4 routes with a total capacity of 1750 passengers per day, to reach 7 destinations, particularly the metro stations and bus stations located within a close range, Sheikh Al-Thani noted. The station building features an iconic curved canopy that spans above it, contributing to the brand identity associated with bus stations. The canopy evokes the ripples of sand dunes with the cladding on the underside of the canopy featuring linear baguette elements evoking the beautiful craftsmanship of traditional hand-made Qatari objects such as woven baskets. Public bus stations include ticketing outlets, offices for the operating company employees, a passenger waiting area and other visitor service facilities.

MCIT Holds Series of Virtual Webinars on E-Commerce

Minister Meets with Libyan Counterpart

Doha - QatarMinister of Transport HE Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti met with Libyan Minster of Transport HE Muhammad Salem Al-Shahoubi, in Ministry offices today.The two ministers discussed aspects of Qatari-Libyan cooperation in the fields of transportation and civil aviation and ways of further enhancing them. They also discussed several topics that interest the two brotherly countries.The meeting was attended by Libya’s Airports Authority President Mohammad Bait Al-Mal and the delegation accompanying the Libyan minister.

54th AACO AGM Opens in Doha under Minister Al-Sulaiti’s Patronage

Doha - QatarThe 54th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Arab Air Carriers’ Organisation (AACO) opened in Doha today, patronized and attended by Minister of Transport HE Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti.The two-day AGM was inaugurated by Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive and Chairman of the 54th AGM HE Mr. Akbar Al Baker. Director-General of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ACAO) Eng. Abdennabi Manar, Director General, Mobility and Transport, European Commission Mr. Henrik Hololei and Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) William M. Walsh were in attendance.The event is also attended by more than 200 senior aviation decision-makers, including CEOs of IATA member airlines, partner airlines, IATA partners in the aviation industry such as aircraft and engine manufacturers, the global distribution system and IT organizations and several other companies concerned with Arab and universal aviation industry.HE Minister Al-Sulaiti thanked the AACO for its efforts to enhance cooperation between airlines in Arab countries for the best interest of the Arab air transportation industry and to increase its contribution to economic growth.This event, he said, comes in an exceptional timing through which we in Qatar have succeeded to maintain civil aviation operations via the national carrier Qatar Airways, in addition to maintaining business continuity at Hamad International Airport in spite of the repercussions of the pandemic. He said they did so to actively reinforce the contribution to leading the recovery of the Arab and world travel sector and ensure the stability of supply chains around the world.He hoped success for the AGM with the necessary decisions to support the Arab air transportation industry under such extraordinary circumstances.The convening of the 54th AACO AGM embodies the intention of the aviation sector in our region to restore air connection and travel services back to normal and we are fully mindful of the important role upon us to revive and revitalize the aviation industry, given its impacts on communities, said Mr. Al Baker.He said the 54th AACO AGM tomorrow will discuss a roadmap and key topics relating to air transportation recovery and developing the aviation industry sustainably, particularly with relation to reducing carbon emissions.Despite the challenges facing the aviation industry, he noted, we must continue our efforts firmly towards achieving lower carbon emissions, which is a shared responsibility upon the aviation industry.AACO Secretary-General Mr. Abdul Wahab Teffaha thanked and appreciated HE Minister Al-Sulaiti for patronizing this 54th AACO AGM, voicing his appreciation for the pivotal global role that Qatar is playing worldwide, particularly in the Arab world. Meeting up in Qatar for the third time at the level of AGM within 20 years demonstrates Qatar’s position in the Arab aviation landscape, he said.The 54th AACO AGM will discuss several topics on aviation industry recovery from the current tough situation due to the global pandemic.CNN’s Richard Quest is moderating a panel discussion tomorrow that features Mr. Al Baker, the chairman and director-general of Royal Air Maroc, the Etihad Aviation Group CEO, Mr. Hololei, ACAO director-general and IATA secretary-general.