News | Ministry of Transport

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

TumuhaTEC invites schools to participate in Digital Youth Festival at QITCOM 2019

DOHA- QATARTumuhaTEC, an initiative under the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC), is inviting schools to participate in the 2019 Digital Youth Festival to be held from October 29 to November 1 at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) in Doha. The event is part of Qatar Information Technology Conference & Exhibition (QITCOM 2019), the largest Information and Communication Technology showcase and event in Qatar, being held under the theme “Safe Smart Cities.”TumuhaTEC promotes digital technology as a dynamic, exciting career choice for young people in Qatar. Now in its second edition, the Digital Youth Festival at QITCOM provides a space for students to explore digital skills and opportunities through various technologies and tools in cooperation with the festival’s partners’ offerings. At this year's event, students will have the opportunity to enjoy a series of educative and fun-filled activities at the four zones - Creative, Coding, Safe and Tech zones - strategically designed to empower them to be a part of Qatar’s digital transformation.The Creative Zone is where participants can interact, learn, explore and enjoy different tech activities as using digitally fabricated tools. Some of the activities include Smart Materials, Robotic Kits, Virtual & Augmented Reality and Machine Show.The Coding Zone is designed to inspire an interest in coding by developing problem-solving skills and improving students’ creativity. Activities lined up for this zone include Hour of Code, Codefest, Coding digital art wall and the Girls Can Innovate Competition.At the Safe Zone, students will participate in various cyber-safety games and quizzes and learn how to be safe and responsible citizens online and offline while creative and practical cyber safety activities are being provided by Vodafone.The Tech Zone, on the other hand, is designed to enable participants experience technology through hands on creative learning and be part of an interactive environment. The advanced tools at the zone will be showcased by TumuhaTEC partners including Microsoft, Kidzania Virtual Reality, Sanea Bus (IBTECHAR) and Rolling robots.Building on the success of the 2017 event, where more than 1,600 students from 52 schools in Qatar participated, TumuhaTEC hopes to attract 2,500 students at this year’s edition. In addition to participation from educational institutions, TumuhaTEC is also calling on interested volunteers to join them in empowering students digitally during the festival. Schools and volunteers interested in participating can send an email to digitalyouth@motc.gov.qa.Commenting on the festival, Her Excellency Reem Al Mansoori, Assistant Undersecretary of Digital Society Development Affairs, Ministry of Transport and Communications, said: “We look forward to welcoming the students at the 2019 Digital Youth Festival. MOTC is committed to developing a generation of tech-savvy young people in Qatar and we believe that the festival will further stir the interest of our children in in digital technology. The series of activities lined up for the event have been carefully put together to expose the students to the latest trends in digital technology while at the same time educating them in a fun-filled atmosphere.”The 2019 Digital Youth Festival is proudly supported by Vodafone, Deloitte, Tebyan Qatar, Edutech Middle East WLL, Redrock International, Respond Media and PWC among others. Since its inception, QITCOM has been responsible for bringing together investors, global digital experts and end-users to understand, envision and build Qatar’s digital future. QITCOM 2019 aims to attract 30,000 visitors, sign MoUs, enter strategic sponsorships and showcase many smart solutions that will drive Qatar’s digital transformation. This year’s event will further contribute towards creating connections across the Smart Cities ecosystem at a national, regional and global level.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

MoTC’s QDGTP and ESCWA-UN to deliver digital transformation workshop at QITCOM

DOHA- QATARThe Qatar Digital Government Training Program (QDGTP), an initiative of the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC), is organising a workshop on Digital Transformation for government entities. In partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA), the workshop is scheduled to take place on October 30 and 31, 2019.The event is taking place on the sidelines of the Qatar Information Technology Conference & Exhibition (QITCOM 2019) which is being held from 29th October to 1st November 2019 at the Qatar National Convention Center in Doha, under the theme “Safe Smart Cities”. Participants will include representatives from public bodies concerned with the provision of government services including IT directors, managers and high-level positions from over 25 government entities; representatives from national universities and research centers, the private sector and ICT companies among others.The workshop is ESCWA's first in Qatar and is aimed at informing participants about the main concepts of digital transformation, its challenges and potential socio-economic impact. It will discuss best regional and international practices on implementing this transformation, highlight key international and regional indicators, and measure methodologies and mechanisms used to gauge the progress in digital transformation. Other topics include new trends in digital transformation, such as open government data, and technical and management aspects related to the development of digital government transformation.One of the major highlights of the two-day event will be the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hackfest held in conjunction with Microsoft. Participants from seven government entities will be presenting 10 use cases that they have worked on before the event with the audience voting to select the best ones. Prizes will be awarded on the last day of the workshop.Commenting on the occasion, Her Excellency Reem Al Mansoori, Assistant Undersecretary for the Digital Society Development Sector at the Ministry of Transport and Communications,, said: “We are delighted to host this workshop which comes as part of our strategy towards enhancing the capacity of IT professionals in Qatar, especially in the public sector. This workshop comes at an opportune time as Qatar is rapidly developing a knowledge-based diversified economy in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030, contributing to its digital transformation goals. We believe that participants will gain valuable insights from the event that will positively impact the digital transformation of Qatar.”The QDGTP is a strategic initiative developed by the MoTC to boost the professional capacity of government IT employees with specialized and accredited training. The program aims to build information and communication technology capability in the government to achieve improved service provision, efficiency and transparency in line with the Qatar Digital Government 2020 Strategy.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Minister Heads Qatar Delegation to Tbilisi Belt and Road Forum

Tbilisi – GeorgiaHE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti headed the State of Qatar’s delegation participating in the Tbilisi Belt and Road Forum, which the Prime Minister of Georgia HE Mr. Giorgi Gakharia inaugurated in Tbilisi today.Themed “Partnership for Global Impact”, the forum saw attendance of over 2000 participants from 60 countries, including heads of states, ministers, diplomats and representatives of international and business organizations.The event examines factors that effectively define regional and global trade and connectivity and the challenges facing countries along the New Silk Road connecting East and West, and find common solutions that have a positive impact on the region and the global economy.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Georgia PM Receives Minister Al-Sulaiti in Tbilisi

Tbilisi – GeorgiaThe Prime Minister of Georgia HE Mr. Giorgi Gakharia received HE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti in Tbilisi today as the Minister is on an official visit to Georgia to participate in the Tbilisi Belt and Road Forum.At the meeting, HE the Minister delivered an invitation from the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani to HE Georgia’s PM to attend the Qatar IT Conference and Exhibition ( QITCOM 2019), which runs in Doha from Oct. 29 to Nov.1.The meeting also reviewed bilateral relations between the two friendly countries in the fields of transportation, mobility and communications and means of further enhancing them, in addition to discussing a number of topics of common interest.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Ministry Accredits First Center for Specialized Maritime Training Move in compliance with International Maritime Organization convention

Doha – QatarThe Ministry of Transport and Communications has accredited the Qatar International Safety Center (QISC) to be the first center of its kind to provide specialized maritime training in Qatar.The move comes within the framework of MOTC’s compliance with the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention 1978.The accreditation followed a full audit process conducted by MOTC, represented by its Maritime Transport Planning and Licensing Dept., verifying QISC’s compliance with all formalities and requirements laid down in the Convention, in addition to reviewing and approving the training materials to ensure that training and qualifications meet the level and quality required by the Convention.The ultimate objective is to emphasize Qatar’s compliance with all IMO conventions and standards, foremost of which are marine safety, marine environment protection, and protecting lives and property at sea.QISC will provide maritime sector’s workers in Qatar and from other countries with specialized maritime training courses on the techniques of personal survival, fire prevention, firefighting, elementary first aid, personal safety and social responsibilities.Beneficiary trainees will obtain certificates that are recognized by MOTC and internationally as they are issued in a country, Qatar, which is an IMO member state and a Convention party. QISC has been accredited in accordance with STCW Convention requirements and prerequisites.“Accrediting QISC for training seafarers in maritime courses that are classified as mandatory by the Convention is unprecedented in Qatar. QISC is now the first accredited center in Qatar to meet IMO requirements,” said MOTC’s Assistant Undersecretary of Maritime Transport Affairs Dr. Saleh Bin Fetais Al-Marri.Formerly, he explained, seafarers used to enroll at accredited training centers in other countries to take these courses.This step, he added, “comes as part of MOTC’s endeavors to develop Qatar’s maritime transport services in terms of training and qualifying the sector’s professionals and workers in line with IMO requirements.”This accreditation will be announced by the IMO, which, in turn, will reveal it to other countries and member organizations and entities, he added.He also said that this is a good opportunity to encourage those who are interested in working in maritime transport affairs to visit the ministry and get updated on relevant prerequisites and requirements that they should know.Maritime Transport Quality Assurance Director Mr. Mohammed Al-Mutawa said that accrediting QISC came after verifying all quality criteria, which is a top-priority requirement of the STCW Convention. On that Convention, he said, there is an article stating that each Convention party should commit to continuously overseeing the training, assessment and medical and technical certification procedures in such a way that ensures the fulfillment of all quality standards.Port State Control Officer at MOTC Capt. Khalid Elagib said that the mandatory courses are very important for meeting the requirements of the seafaring profession and are an integral part of mandatory certifications for captains, naval officers, naval engineers and all those who work on ships, in order to be licensed professionals.Accrediting QISC, he noted, came after major efforts in collaboration with a universal rating agency to realizing such an unprecedent achievement in Qatar.“QISC was established in 2001. It delivers training solutions that are developed and customized to meet all clients’ needs. We have worked hard with the officials concerned at MOTC’s Maritime Transport Affairs to win QISC accreditation in accordance with STCW Convention standards, becoming the first accredited center in Qatar,” said QISC CEO Mr. Abdul Rahman Darwish Al-Darwish.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Minister Meets with Georgia Economy Minister

Tbilisi – Georgia HE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti met today with Georgian Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development HE Ms. Natela Turnava. The two ministers discussed aspects of cooperation between the two friendly countries in the fields of transportation, ports and communications and means of further enhancing them. They also discussed potential investment opportunities in these fields, in addition to a number of topics of common interest. The meeting also addressed broadening the service of the Black Sea Express Service (BSX), which is Milaha’s first container shipping service in Europe. BSX is a direct container feeder route linking Greece, Turkey, Georgia and Russia – a service that has been resonating widely at the regional level since its launch, in addition to its role in boosting the commercial operations for markets it serves.