News | Ministry of Transport

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Qatar Attends 33rd Session of Arab Transport Ministers’ Council & 25th Assembly of AASTMT

Doha – QatarThe State of Qatar, represented by a delegation chaired by HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti, attended the 33rd Session of Arab Transport Minister’ Council and the 25th General Assembly’s Ministerial Session of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT). The two events were held this morning via videoconferencing and attended by several Arab ministers and officials.The 33rd Session of Arab Transport Minister’ Council opened with HE the Mauritanian Minister of Equipment and Transport Mohamedou Ahmedou M’haimid handing over the session chairpersonship to the Republic of Yemen.Their excellencies the ministers discussed ways of cooperation among Arab States in transportation – one of the most vital service industries with close and direct connection to all other industries.They also discussed boosting land transportation between Arab countries within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, the Convention on the Regulation of Transit Traffic among the Arab League States and proposed solutions for challenges faced by land transportation sector in Arab countries.Furthermore, the session also discussed several matters relating to maritime and air transportation in Arab countries such as a draft convention on regulating maritime transportation of passengers and cargo and the economic role of shipbuilding and ship repair industry.Other key topics discussed the convention on mutual exemptions on taxation and customs duties on Arab air transport’s activities and equipment and expanding the membership of the ICAO Council and ICAO Air Navigation Commission.At the AASTMT General Assembly meeting, their excellencies the ministers discussed the recommendations of the Executive Council of AASTMT at its 39th and 40th sessions, in addition to several Academy organizational matters.

Monday, October 19, 2020

MOTC Wraps Up “Procedural Framework on Working in Qatari Waters” Training

Doha-MOTC has wrapped up the “Procedural Framework on Working in Qatari Waters” training program. Held in Ministry offices, the training was attended by specialists from the General Directorate of Coasts and Borders Security and some other Qatari entities.The training featured a full explanation of the rules and procedures that must be followed as per Law 8/2016 on Maritime Vessels and Law 8/2017 on the Practice of Maritime Business in Qatari Waters. The penalties laid down on the two laws were also explained. The training also featured a field exercise on how to detect and fine the violations and infractions that can be committed by maritime vessels and ships in Qatari waters.The training program comes as MOTC continues to scale up the skillsets of those working in the maritime industry at various entities across the country. At the end of the training, Ministry's Assistant Undersecretary of Maritime Transport Affairs Dr. Saleh bin Fetais Al Marri handed over training completion certificates to program attendees and wished them professional success.

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Qatar Ranks 1st Worldwide on Digital Accessibility Rights Evaluation Index 2020

Doha – QatarQatar has ranked first worldwide on the Digital Accessibility Rights Evaluation Index 2020 (DARE Index 2020) released by the Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies (G3ict).DARE Index is a benchmarking tool for disability advocates, governments, civil society, international organizations and policymakers to trace country progress in making Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) accessible for all, in compliance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).This is the second edition of the DARE Index. It comprehensively documented the advances made by 137 countries that aim to provide global metrics for activists and those interested in the empowerment of the disabled.DARE Index 2020 data shows Qatar’s commitment toward the people with disabilities and including them digitally. It also demonstrates Qatar’s belief in the importance of investing in ICTs to unleash the potential of the disabled and help them enjoy independence and self-reliance.Qatar came number-one on the global ranking, the regional ranking, the Peer Economic Development Group Ranking and the Implementation Ranking.Qatar was one of the very first countries to have ratified the CRPD in 2008. It later on issued several legislations and took several measures and steps as part of its efforts to enhance and protect the rights of the disabled, getting them included in the society and engaging them effectively in the developmental process across the country – something that reflects Qatar’s respect to its international commitments. This also embodies the QNV2030 that aims for equity and justice among all segments of the society.The Ministry of Transport and Communications and its Qatar Assistive Technology Center (MADA) have been prioritizing the empowerment of people with disabilities and the elderly and providing them with easy access to ICTs.MOTC launched the Digital Inclusion Strategy to ensure no one is left behind and everyone can access to ICTs and benefit from its countless advantages. MOTC also launched Qatar’s e-Accessibility Policy to ensure people with disabilities across Qatar have equal access to the technologies that can enrich their lives. MADA could be viewed as the world’s center of excellence when it comes to accessing ICTs in Arabic.The DARE Index survey is divided into three dimensions or legs: audit assessment tool, or the Country Commitments (Structure), audit tool or Country Capacity to Implement (Process) and audit tool or Country Actual Implementation (Outcomes).Noteworthy, Australia, Italy and S. Africa were in the top 5 positions this year.

Thursday, October 8, 2020

Minister Meets with Ethiopian Counterpart

Doha – QatarHE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti met with the Ethiopian Minister of Transport HE Mrs. Dagmawit Moges, via videoconferencing today.The two ministers discussed several matters of common interest between the two friendly countries covering the fields of transportation, and civil aviation and mobility services and means of further enhancing them.

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

4th Arab Digital Content Forum Concludes in Doha

Doha – QatarThe events of the 4th Arab Digital Content Forum concluded in Doha today. The forum was organized by the Ministry of Transport and Communications from Oct. 5 to Oct. 7 under the auspices of the League of Arab States in collaboration with Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) of Qatar, the Arab Information and Communication Technologies Organization (AICTO), the UN Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA) and the ITU.The event came to an end with a set of recommendations to boost the presence of Arabic language online.Among key recommendations: the importance of developing and promoting Arabic domains for an easier access to Arabic content, the importance of having a larger Arabic representation in world organizations and entities concerned with the field, the importance of unifying Arabs’ efforts to disseminate the content and the importance of sponsoring and supporting the projects that focus on encouraging innovation in developing and increasing the Arabic content online.Other key recommendations include the importance of: applying intellectual property protection laws to encourage investment in professional content, providing institutional and financial support to content developers, providing a high-quality Arabic content online to ensure an easy access for Arabic speakers where they can express themselves and share their work in their own language.Forum speakers also stressed the need for more investment in ICT infrastructure as well as in governments’ current health and economic priorities as the digital gap continues to widen.Arabic is the fifth most spoken language in the world and one of the six official languages of the UN. Arabic has nearly 13 million total words. Around 422 million people speak Arabic around the world. The internet is used by roughly 100 million Arabs. However, according to forum speakers, global reports say Arabic content online makes up only 3% of the overall world digital content.The forum’s five online sessions revolved around the reality of Arabic digital content, the importance of Arabic digital content during crises, the future prospects of e-learning in the Arab region, the role of Arabic digital content within a smart nation, the Arabic digital content and entrepreneurship amongst youth and the AI impact on boosting the Arabic content.

Monday, October 5, 2020

4th Arab Digital Content Forum Begins in Doha

Doha – QatarThe events of the 4th Arab Digital Content Forum started in Doha today under the theme; “The Future of Arabic Content on the Internet.”. The forum is organized by the Ministry of Transport and Communications until Oct. 7 under the auspices of the League of Arab States in collaboration with Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) of Qatar, the Arab Information and Communication Technologies Organization (AICTO), the UN Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA) and the ITU.In his opening remarks to the virtual event, the President of Communications Regulatory Authority of Qatar Mr. Mohammed Ali Al-Mannai said that since the Internet has become the largest place for available information, using the Arabic language on the Internet nowadays requires fundamental informational tools based on Arabic language computing and analysis accurately and academically and among those tools are the search engines and dictionaries.He added that the State of Qatar has executed several initiatives supporting and promoting the digital Arabic content such as and the Doha Historical Dictionary of Arabic and the Media, Culture and Heritage National Digitization Plan, which aims to develop a vibrant digital ecosystem through which future generations can tap into their past and create new expressions of Qatari culture on the global stage. He said Qatar also issued Law 7 of 2019 on Protecting the Arabic Language.Director of the ICT Department at the League of Arab States (LAS) Khaled Wali stressed the importance of developing the online Arabic content to reach out the largest possible number of users in the Arab world.The forum will tackle six main topics on the reality of Arabic digital content, the importance of Arabic digital content during crises, the future prospects of e-learning in the Arab region, the role of Arabic digital content within a smart nation, the Arabic digital content and entrepreneurship amongst youth and the advancement of the Arabic digital content.The forum is held within the framework of implementing the decision of the 18th Round of the Arab Telecommunications and Information Council of Ministers, which decided to organize the Digital Arabic Content Forum yearly, and the ITU Arab Regional Office plan of action 2015.