QND conveys patriotic fervour

HE the Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mohammed bin Ali bin Mohammed al-Mannai has hailed the anniversary of the founding of the State of Qatar by Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani as an occasion that conveys patriotic meanings.In remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), HE al-Mannai said the anniversary represents a pivotal moment in Qatar’s history when Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani showed a legacy of prudence and leadership that led to the establishment of a modern independent and unified state.Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani’s vision was the foundation for Qatar’s multi-sector renaissance, HE al-Mannai said, highlighting that Qatari people’s pride on this historic occasion is the result of their ancestors’ sacrifices for a sovereign state.This occasion reminds Qataris of a long history of hard work and dedication to build a single national identity through which all members of the Qatari people unite for a prosperous future. As marking this occasion prompts Qataris to reflect on Qatar’s achievements, it also boosts the need to preserve their national heritage and the values set by the Founder, he added.HE al-Mannai hailed the National Day as an opportunity for all nationals and residents to renew their pledge to the country and its wise leadership to press on accomplishments that elevate Qatar’s profile. Turning to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT)’s achievements, al-Mannai highlighted the ministry’s future digital vision, primarily the launch of the Digital Agenda 2030 — a six-pillar strategy striving to foster public and private sectors to build a thriving digital economy aligning with the Third National Development Strategy (NDS-3) and Qatar National Vision 2030.In this respect, he spoke about the Fanar project — an Arab AI Project in collaboration with local and Arab agencies. A significant milestone underscoring Qatar’s dedication to elevating the Arabic language and culture in the AI era, Fanar is expected to generate accurate Arabic texts through original texts amounting to approximately 300bn words.Also among the MCIT’s accomplishments were the 2024 launch of the Qatar Digital Academy and TASMU project. The Qatar Digital Academy — an expansion of the Qatar Digital Government Training Program keeps a keen eye for enhancing digital competencies in Qatar, envisioning training 1,000 state employees annually. With a focus on many digital skills such as AI, cybersecurity and the Internet of Things, the academy also grants 250 employees international certificates annually to enhance their qualifications and keep pace with technological developments.The academy’s specialised training programmes aligning the needs of government institutions aim to build a qualified workforce that supports digital transformation in Qatar and overcome the future challenges. Tasmu — a project catalysing Qatars ICT ecosystem — unites global innovators with the needs of the local market to fuel Qatar’s digital transformation. The programme received 640 applications from 74 countries following a thrilling 2023 cycle, which garnered $36mn funding and over $100mn sales. HE the Minister also spoke about SafeSpace, a project set to be launched in 2025 with the aim of elevating awareness about digital safety.