News | Ministry of Transport

Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Ministry Hosts Govt Entities at Microsoft Framework Agreement Workshop

Doha - QatarThe Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) has recently hosted more than 200 IT specialists from various government entities at an interactive workshop that covered the mechanisms and tools that are available in MOTC’s Microsoft Framework Agreement for assessing to what extent the best practices for the information security of Microsoft software and platforms are followed in work environments.Aiming at further improving how government entities function digitally, MOTC wants to make the most out of all its framework agreements with major universal technology corporations such as the one signed with Microsoft.The workshop discussed the outcomes of an assessment MOTC has conducted in association with Microsoft over the past few months at more than 30 ministries and government entities. It also covered how to address and avoid information security threats through enabling Microsoft security controls and features.Workshop attendees were also updated on the fast-paced world of sophisticated information system threats, attacks and data breaches and how to detect and recover proactively.“Engaging the private sector in enhancing supply chain security is highly important as part of Qatar’s efforts to raise government entities’ information security efficiency. MOTC, through its framework agreements with major global technology companies, deploys the latest technologies and technical services to make the most out of world’s advanced software. It also provides training and awareness campaigns to technical specialists working at government entities to raise their information security expertise,” said Mr. Eng. Khalid Al-Hashmi, Assistant Undersecretary of Cyber Security at MOTC.The workshop said government entities covered in MOTC’s Microsoft Framework Agreement are increasingly following an approach focused on regular upgrading and updating of the Microsoft technologies they use – an approach MOTC launched last March. It also said those entities were using the modern technologies the Agreement provides in their day-to-day functions, particularly cloud computing, document save and track and multi-factor authentication (MFA).

Monday, March 4, 2019

Qatar-EU Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement Initialed

Brussels, BelgiumThe State of Qatar and the EU initialed a Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels today. HE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti and HE European Commission Vice-President for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness Mr. Jyrki Katainen witnessed the signing event.The first of its kind ever between the EU and a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member state, the agreement allows for open airspace between Qatar and all the EU member states with unlimited access to their respective territories, in addition to daily shipment flights between the two sides.The agreement was initialed by Qatar’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Chairman HE Mr. Abdulla bin Nasser Turki Al Subaey and the Head of Unit, International Transport Affairs, Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, Mr. Carlos Acosta. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive HE Mr. Akbar Al Baker and HE Qatari Ambassador to Belgium Mr. Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al Khulaifi were in attendance.“This agreement, which reflects the EU’s trust in Qatar’s potentials, will allow for the liberalization of the fundamental mobility rights between Qatar and EU markets - one of the oldest and largest in the world in the realm of air transport,” said HE the Minister.“This will contribute to increasing the mobility, tourism and trade exchange between Doha and EU capital cities, widening the partnership with EU countries and developing our national carrier’s network, thus supporting economic growth across all sectors,” he added.“This agreement,” he noted, “is a completion to the pivotal role the State of Qatar has been playing in developing the global air transport industry and also boosts Qatar’s ranking as one of the leading countries in the region in air transport.”“The agreement also recognizes the key role our civil aviation bodies play and their compliance with global standards as well as the role of Qatar Airways, which is widely recognized as one of the best carriers in the world and the best in terms of efficiency and quality, while consistently reporting the highest growth rates regionally and universally.”HE the Minister thanked Mr. Al Subaey and Mr. Al Baker for their crucial roles and efforts to conclude the agreement and to all contributors from the EU.Mr. Al Baker said; “This historic landmark agreement will offer a host of opportunities for airlines in Europe and Qatar to collaborate and cooperate together, ensuring fair access to markets, competing for market share based on products and services that the customer wants and is willing to purchase.”Mr. Al Subaey noted the significant role the agreement would play in opening up future horizons for broader cooperation between Qatar and the EU member states, as well as boosting their bilateral relations.With this agreement in place, he said, Qatar could upgrade its mobility rights and increase its cooperation with the EU member states in all aviation aspects.He said the agreement was a historic event, particularly under the unjust blockade on Qatar and confirmed that the country is continuing to meet ever more ambitious targets in the aviation industry, which is one of the country’s most active economic sectors.“This event comes in the context of the significant development Qatar’s air transport industry has been witnessing. It also fits in our plan for exploring more new opportunities to enable our national carrier to reach as many destinations as it can around the world. In addition, it enables Qatar Airways to boost its operational processes; something which helps widen Qatar-EU cooperation and secure a common ground for airlines from both parties to explore and find new gateways for broader cooperation and coordination.”This Qatar-EU Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement provides a new level of competition for carriers in Europe and Qatar. Both parties are expected to take bold steps through agreeing upon the terms and conditions relating to fair competition, the environment, consumer protection, social aspects and transparency, in addition to an item relating to doing business under which Qatar will no longer force European carriers to have a local sales agent to be able to operate flights to Doha.The agreement was initialed following a series of consultative meetings and full-scale discussions that covered the agreement’s terms and conditions and all particulars to conclude a final version. The parties also discussed matters relating to air safety, aviation and navigation security and environment.News about concluding this agreement was officially announced during the Feb. 5-6, 2019 CAPA Qatar Aviation, Aeropolitical and Regulatory Summit in Doha.

Thursday, February 28, 2019

Announcement

Effective 1st March 2019, QTerminals is pleased to announce that it will offer incentives to the main shipping lines that have direct services calling at Hamad Port and do not transship within a range of 250 Nm from Hamad Port.

Monday, February 25, 2019

HE Minister inaugurated Mada strategy 2019-2021 under the slogan “Digital Access for All”

Doha-QatarHE Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti Minister of Transport and Communications, inaugurated Mada strategy 2019-2021 under the slogan “Digital Access for All”. On the sidelines of the launch ceremony, the Minister said that the digital access rate in the State of Qatar reached 94 percent, one of the highest access rates for government agencies that deal with essential services for citizens in the world.He added that Qatar was one of the first countries to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008 and since that time, Qatar has taken a number of measures in its ongoing efforts to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities and their full integration into society.The Minister pointed out the achievements of Mada Center in the field of digital access, which contributed to Qatar being ranked fifth in the world in DARE Index, which reflects the high level of commitment of the State of Qatar to the rights of persons with disabilities and digital access.The main objective of this strategy to enable equal opportunities, ensure a comprehensive education system at all levels and continuous learning through ICT, and as for the culture and society sector the 2019-2021 strategy aims to enable an equal basis for persons with disabilities to participate in cultural life through ICT, and to provide opportunities for persons with disabilities to show their creative, artistic and intellectual potential.

Monday, February 18, 2019

Minister meets with Turkey Post Corporation Director-General

Doha – QatarHE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti met here today with Turkey Post PTT (Posta ve Telgraf Teşkilatı) Corporation Director-General Mr. Kenan Bozgeyik.The meeting discussed aspects of cooperation between the State of Qatar and Turkey in the fields of postal services and means of further enhancing them as well as a number of matters of common interest between the two brotherly countries. The meeting was attended by HE Turkey's ambassador to Qatar Fikret Ozer, and Qatar Post Chairman, and Managing Director Mr. Faleh Mohamed Al-Naemi.

Saturday, February 16, 2019

Chatham House, MOTC, Host International Workshop on Maritime Cyber Security

Doha - QatarInternational policy think-tank Chatham House, and the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) today held a forum for experts from around the world to discuss electronic threats to the business and infrastructure of shipping and ports.Titled: “Cyber Security of the Maritime Sector: Challenges and Opportunities” the event brought together specialists from shipping, industry, government and research to exchange ideas and experiences on the ever-evolving risks facing the transport of commodities by sea.Joining Chatham House and MOTC were senior specialists from local shipping conglomerate Milaha, LNG shipping giant Nakilat, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Coventry University UK, Associated British Ports, Hudson Cyber USA, and Aon, amongst others.With 97 percent of its imports arriving by sea, Qatar’s economy is especially vulnerable to both physical and electronic attacks on the maritime sector, and local speakers revealed how both government and industry are working together on building sustainable resilience in the area.Neil Quilliam of Chatham House opened the forum by emphasizing the importance of cross-sector collaboration and highlighting how workshops such as these are an example of partnerships being built to create effective responses to the constantly changing threats in the maritime sector.In his address, Eng. Khalid Al Hashimi, Assistant Under-Secretary of Cyber Security at MOTC, spoke about the evolution of risk management and the fact that Qatar has just launched a framework to enable government e-services to be automatically compliant with European norms and standards in terms of data security; “We at Qatar Government are working with constituents and industry to ensure that certification and compliance are not a hindrance but inspire trust,” he said.MOTC Director of Compliance, Eng. Dana Al-Abdulla outlined the legislative tools that Qatar is developing to ensure that security strategies are enforceable, while Adnan Al Banna from Milaha explained how Qatar was able to recover the almost 40% drop in maritime inflows after the blockade in ”almost no time” thanks to partnerships such as that between Milaha and the MOTC.Roberto Di Pietro, Professor of Cyber Security, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, described how maritime activity has one of the largest attack surfaces of any sector and that the consequences of cyber attacks on unprotected systems can have devastating consequences for both business interests and human safety, describing how hackers have been able to infiltrate GPS systems to reroute ships, create fake weather reports and even create non-existent vessels.Closing the workshop, Mr Ewan Duncan, Group Head of Security at Associated British Ports, described how organized crime is evolving in the way it uses ports, citing the example of smugglers hacking the container management system at the port of Antwerp, Belgium, to indicate which containers were to be searched by customs and which were not. He also mentioned the challenge of making sure regulations keep pace with these trends in a period of declining public resources, while ensuring ports remain commercially competitive.