Qatar sets sights on a smart future

The Smart Qatar Programme, Tasmu, and other digital initiatives are expected to generate QR40bn over the next five years, HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani announced yesterday. “Qatar will spend QR6bn across the public and private sectors over five years to develop the necessary technological infrastructure as part of Tasmu, which is expected to speed up the growth of job market in the ICT sector by 10% a year,” he explained after launching Tasmu.HE Sheikh Abdullah was speaking after inaugurating the fourth Qatar Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Conference and Exhibition (Qitcom) 2017 under the patronage of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani at Qatar National Convention Centre.“The Qatar Digital Oasis will be created as the main platform for enhancing the horizons of co-operation among multi-national companies, emerging companies, small- and medium-size enterprises and research institutes,” he said. Tasmu, especially designed to expedite the realisation of all pillars of the Qatar National Vision 2030, will be a launch platform for progress towards the digital economy and smart future.Qitcom 2017, described as Qatar’s biggest digital event, supports the progress of the country towards building national economy in general and the digital economy in particular as part of the implementation of various major infrastructure projects of global standards.“Under the wise leadership of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the government has achieved great strides in enhancing the basic foundations to develop the ICT sector by providing suitable legal and organisational framework,” the Prime Minister said.“Well-trained people are among the priorities of the government. Since 2013, the country has been keen to train specialised Qatari staff in this field with more than 10,000 trainees,” he pointed out. “In addition, as many as 1,600 electronic services have been launched for the benefit of the public.”HE Sheikh Abdullah recalled that Qatar has been keen to protect the rights of people with special needs and provided the necessary legal infrastructure that guarantees their rights and integration within the modern ICT sector.It was in this connection that Mada (Qatar Assistive Technology Centre) was established as the first specialised centre in the Middle East and the second globally for the benefit of the people with special needs.“Qatar Development Bank would continue its support to encourage creativity and business entrepreneurship in the ICT sector,” HE Sheikh Abdullah added.HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti echoed HE the Prime Minister’s statement, saying that “Qatar is strongly engaged in developing a vital ICT sector to build the smart future we want.”“Tasmu will form the cornerstone of our efforts to realise our aims. Our ministry has identified more than 100 smart technological solutions within the framework of this initiative,” he said.Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane, UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Lt General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed al-Nahyan, a number of Qatar ministers and senior officials, and stakeholders involved in the ICT sector also attended the ceremony yesterday. The fourth edition of Qitcom, under the theme “Qatar Towards a Smart Future,” focuses on the availability of services, solutions and smart applications for five major sectors in Qatar, namely: transportation, environment, health, sports and logistics.