Qatar and the US signed two letters of intent (LoIs) in the field of cybersecurity and on the Qatar-US co-operation platform, the official Qatar News Agency reported yesterday.
The LoIs are among several agreements and memorandums of understanding signed between the two countries to strengthen dialogue and security co-operation during the US-Qatar Strategic Dialogue, which took place in Washington, DC on January 30.
Khalid al-Hashmi, Assistant Undersecretary for Cybersecurity at the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC), signed the two LoIs from the Qatari side.
Erin Walsh, US Assistant Secretary of Commerce, and Manisha Singh, US Assistant Secretary of State, were the signatories representing the US.
The letter of intent signed between the MoTC and US Department of Commerce regarding the Qatar-US co-operation platform aims to strengthen and expand the bilateral commercial co-operation through fostering increased collaboration between US and Qatari companies in areas of mutual interest, including smart cities, and infrastructure areas such as transportation, logistics,environment, healthcare, sports and e-commerce, the MoTC said in a statement.
It also aims to encourage companies of both countries to explore co-operation in the Middle East and other appropriate opportunities to increase the international competitiveness of firm from both nations.
The second LoI was signed with the Department of State in the area of cybersecurity, as the two sides intend to promote the expansion of bilateral co-operation and co-operation across multilateral forums.
Forms of co-operative activities may include information exchange and sharing of cybersecurity best practices, co-operation on counter-cybercrime, cyber defence and capacity-building activities, the statement added.
Officials at a signing ceremony.
