News | Ministry of Transport

Monday, September 16, 2019

Minister Meets with Argentina, Philippines Ambassadors

Doha – QatarHE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti held separate meetings here today with Their Excellencies the Ambassadors Mr. Carlos Alberto Hernandez of Argentina and Mr. Alan L. Timbayan of the Philippines.The two meetings discussed cooperation relations between Qatar and the two friendly countries in the fields of transportation and communications and means of further enhancing them.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

ARAB GIRLS ARE INVITED TO COMPETE IN A DIGITAL HACKATHON

Doha – QatarArab girls in Qatar are to be given the chance to prove their digital innovation skills in an exciting competition where the shortlisted projects will represent Qatar in the regional finals in Egypt later this year, as well as present their ideas at QITCOM 2019.The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC), in collaboration with Arab Women in Computing (ArabWIC), is inviting entries from Qatari and Arab girls in the country aged 15-22 to the ‘Girls Can Innovate’ Hackathon to be held on Saturday 14th – Sunday 15th September from 8am to 6pm at MOTC Digital Incubation Center (DIC)’s Headquarters, Al-Nasr Tower (B), fifth floor.The competition is aimed at stimulating innovation and creativity in girls to produce digital solutions to problems facing their communities in specific areas. The competition in Qatar will focus on seven categories: Fintech Applications, E-agriculture, E-health and Smart Water Management, Digital Services, Road Safety, and Rural Productivity. By providing the invaluable opportunity of taking part in the Hackathon, MOTC hopes to give girls the possibility of improving their programming and technical skills as well as the ability to work in intense environments, while collaborating with other participants to achieve a common goal.All shortlisted projects will also be mentored by experts on pitch presentations. The selected participants will be invited to present their projects in front of an eminent panel of VIP judges at QITCOM 2019 to decide on the winners. The winning team will be awarded a prize.The competition comes as part of the International Girls Day 2019 celebration, an initiative launched by the International Telecoms Union (ITU) in 2011 to enable girls around the world to leverage their interest in ICT and pursue studies and careers in STEM fields.The Hackathon in Qatar is open to Qatari girls and girls from the Arab region aged 15-22. More details on the event and how to enter can be found here: http://arabgirlscaninnovate.com/

Tuesday, September 10, 2019

The Ministry invites applications for ‘Make the Deal’ initiative

Doha-THE Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) on Tuesday invited entrepreneurs and startups to submit applications for the ‘Make the Deal’ initiative, where they can compete to pitch their business ideas to investors at this year’s Qatar IT Conference and Exhibition (QITCOM 2019). While the last day for registration is October 15, the application screenings and pre-event mentoring will continue until October 20.Driven by MoTC’s Digital Incubation Center (DIC), the third edition of Make the Deal forms an integral part of the Entrepreneurship Zone of QITCOM 2019, scheduled to take place from October29 until November 1at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC).Make the Deal (startup-Investor Matchmaking) aims to promote a climate of entrepreneurship and investment and is an opportunity to connect high-impact technology startups with local, regional and international investors. Before the event, all shortlisted participants will be individually mentored by global experts on pitch presentations and will be invited to participate in pre-event matchmaking. The final business pitch will be made to investors at the Innovation Theatre during the course of QITCOM 2019, and the winners will be awarded with investment deals and incubation offers.Held under the theme ‘Safe Smart Cities’, QITCOM 2019 has dedicated an Entrepreneurship Zone to boost investor-startup relationships, inviting innovators and professionals to learn about digital entrepreneurship. Around 300 entrepreneurs are expected to participate in the Entrepreneurship Zone activities this year, with 100 local, regional and international startups showcasing their products and services across 5 key platforms: Make the Deal, Idea Camp, Code Camp, Startup Hub and the Innovation Theatre.Reem al Mansoori, assistant undersecretary of Digital Society Development Sector, Ministry of Transport and Communications, said: “In its 5th edition, QITCOM 2019 will provide opportunities for businesses to bring real citizen-centric solutions to life. The Entrepreneurship Zone will lead the charge and promote learning and innovation among startups and innovators, while connecting them to potential investors to create a stronger knowledge-based economy. Make the Deal is an excellent opportunity for entrepreneurs to network and find financial support for their smart solutions”.“This is an amazing chance to meet with investors, build a global network and grow your business. Make the Deal connects startups and investors prior to the actual pitch event in order to make an initial go/no-go decision at Qatar IT Conference & Exhibition”, added Mansoori.

Monday, September 9, 2019

Hamad Port Enters Guinness World Records as Deepest Artificial Basin on Earth

Doha – QatarHamad Port, Qatar’s gateway to world trade, has added a new achievement to its series of achievements by setting a new Guinness World Records title as the deepest artificial basin ever made on Earth.HE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti received the Guinness World Records certificate from the organization’s representatives at a special event held at MOTC premises today.“Hamad Port winning of such a universal certificate signals the importance and size of the project. Such an achievement is a new addition to a collection of world records the country set at Guinness World Records. It also emphasizes Qatar’s capability of developing innovative projects in line with highest global standards,” HE the Minister said. “Hamad Port’s continuing achievements place us before a double responsibility toward our society so as to continue our performance according to world standards and our ambitious goals,” he added. He also noted that since construction operations began at Hamad Port the latest technologies have been in use to ensure highly-efficient work progress in line with best global quality standards. The concerted efforts from both staff and partners have always been the key to the port’s milestones, he said.Hamad Port's basin is 4km long, 700 meters wide and 17 meters deep. Basin construction took about two and a half years of excavation, during which over 6900 tons of explosives were used to challenge the drafts - with full commitment to preserving wildlife and marine life - to extract more than 44.5 million cubic meters of dredged material, which was later used in other construction works at the project, resulting in huge savings.This new Guinness World Records certificate is an addition to a collection of universal certificates and rankings the port has made recently as it was awarded high commendation in the Coastal Dredging Project of the year category at the inaugural IHS DPC Innovation Awards. The commendation was awarded to Hamad Port for the deployment of unique systems in the construction and excavation of the port basin, which was built on land in a rare operation of its kind in international ports in addition to its advanced infrastructure that supports the ecofriendly port technologies worldwide.Hamad Port was also listed by the Lloyd's List Global Awards 2018 among the top 8 international ports in the field of innovation and among the top 5 ports in terms of operations. The port was commended for deploying constructive initiatives and ideas, plus its efficient operational processes and overall unique performance. In terms of operational processes, Hamad Port managed to set new records in August 2019, celebrating two key milestones; the handling of over 3 million TEUs and 7 million tons of general and bulk cargo since the commencement of operation of the facility.

Monday, September 2, 2019

MoTC invites nominations for Qatar Digital Business Awards

Doha – QatarThe Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) today announced the opening of nominations for the 2019 Qatar Digital Business Awards.Now in its fifth year, the Qatar Digital Business Awards, formerly known as Qatar IT Business Awards, is one of the most prestigious awards for the digital industry in Qatar, and comes as part of MoTC’s readiness to honour and recognize corporate entities, SMEs and startups that have contributed to the development of the digital industry in Qatar during the past year.The awards are open to all companies operating in the digital industry in the country and submission of nominations can be made at www.qitba.qa until 10 October 2019.This year’s awards are in 10 categories:ICT Service Provider of the YearSystems Integrator of the YearMobile App of the YearCloud Solution of the YearDigital Startup of the YearSmart Solution of the YearSME Digital Transformation of the YearE-Commerce Solution of the YearInnovative Fintech Solution of the YearICT Exporter of the YearHeld under the patronage of the Minister of Transport and Communications HE Jassem bin Saif Al Sulaiti, the Qatar Digital Business Awards takes place on the sidelines of this year’s edition of the Qatar IT Conference and Exhibition (QITCOM) to be held from 29th October to 1st November 2019 at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC) in Doha.Commenting on the launch of the awards, HE Ms. Reem Al Mansoori, MoTC’s Assistant Undersecretary for Digital Society Development Sector said, “The awards is a major platform to recognize those who are at the forefront of efforts to develop a vibrant digital industry in Qatar. The Ministry of Transport and Communications recognize the potential of this field and we are committed to providing the necessary support to local institutions and companies to enhance their competitiveness internationally.”“It also comes as part of our plans to support the growth and expansion of the digital industry in Qatar by upgrading the standards and quality of services and capabilities of companies in the local ICT market and to enhance excellence in the digital industry by celebrating local success stories thereby spurring them to even greater development in the future in line with QNV 2030 of building knowledge-based economy.”An eminent panel of judges comprising of leading experts in the industry will judge the nominations and decide on the winners during QITCOM 2019 Gala Dinner on 1st November.Information relating to the award categories and the criteria, terms, and conditions can be found by visiting the official awards site www.qitba.qa.Taking place under the theme 'Safe and Smart Cities', QITCOM 2019 is a key platform for the development, support and empowerment of entrepreneurs and SMEs operating in the digital industry in addition to accelerating the growth of the ICT market in Qatar and attracting startups. The event, which has become one of the most important regional technological meet, is expected to attract the participation of 300 international and local companies, 100 local and international startups and more than 300 innovators and entrepreneurs.About Qatar Digital Business AwardsQatar Digital Business Awards is one of the most prestigious awards for the digital industry sector in Qatar. Held annually since 2014 as Qatar IT Business Awards, the awards has been rebranded as Qatar Digital Business Awards to cater to a larger pool of business entities in the sector. The awards aim to help companies gain the recognition they deserve from peers and stakeholders by recognising their expertise and contributions towards building a dynamic digital society in Qatar.About Qatar IT Conference and Exhibition (QITCOM 2019)Under the patronage of His Highness, the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Ministry of Transport and Communication will hold the Qatar Information Technology Conference & Exhibition – the largest Information and Communication Technology showcase and event in Qatar – from 29th October to 1st November 2019 under the theme “Safe Smart Cities”. Featuring over 90 speakers, 300 technology exhibitors, 100 startups and 300 innovators and entrepreneur, Qatar IT Conference & Exhibition 2019 will be a one-stop-shop for participants to showcase disruptive smart technologies and exchange next-generation knowledge.

Monday, September 2, 2019

Minister Holds Talks with Gambian Minister of Foreign Affairs

Doha – QatarHE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti held talks with HE Gambian Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad Dr. Mamadou Tangara in Doha today.The two ministers discussed bilateral relations between Qatar and Gambia and means of further enhancing them. They also discussed a number of matters of common interest between the two sisterly countries.