News | Ministry of Transport

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

MOTC Calls for Entries for WSA 2018 for Digital Innovation

Doha – QatarThe Ministry of Transport and Communications is now accepting applications at the national level for World Summit Awards for Digital Innovation 2018.The application process is open until this May 31. Individuals, public and private entities and companies are encouraged to join the competition by submitting their best digital innovations to compete on all categories. Winners will represent the State of Qatar at the global level.WSA 2018 categories reflect the United Nations WSIS action lines and are updated regularly to meet the development of the markets. The categories are: Government & Citizen Engagement, Health & Wellbeing, Learning & Education, Environment & Green Energy, Culture & Tourism, Smart Settlements & Urbanization, Business & Commerce and Inclusion & Empowerment.A local jury, to be formed by the national expert for the Awards from Qatar, who is MOTC’s Assistant Undersecretary for Digital Society Development Affairs HE Ms. Reem Al-Mansoori, will evaluate the submissions and select one qualified work for each category to represent Qatar globally.Evaluation is based upon the concept of excellence in content and creativity. After the national pre-selection period, a jury of eminent experts will come together to evaluate the submissions and select the 40 best products; 5 on each category. The 40 WSA winners will get the chance to present their products at the WSA World Congress – an event that offers a platform for high-level experts, industry leaders, and government representatives to discuss digital innovations.Any submitted product must be free of offensive or plagiarized content and may not violate human rights as laid out in the UN Declaration of Human Rights. Submissions, which encourage war, the exercise of violence or discrimination, will not be accepted. Similarly, submissions that violate international copyright provisions will be excluded.All submitted works must have been done more than two years ago (after Jan. 1, 2016).Interested participants are requested to send information and details about their submissions to MOTC via wsa@motc.gov.qa. More information on the Awards, eligibility and rules and conditions are available hereThe World Summit Awards are a unique awards system, selecting and promoting local digital innovation with high impact on improving society. Combining an ongoing series of international events and activities with a global network of start-ups, social entrepreneurs, mentors, jurors, speakers, experts, government leaders, academia and civil society, WSA is an international platform for cut edge examples on how ICTs can have an impact on society. Running 15 years by now, WSA has become a quality seal for digital content with societal impact in over 180 participating countries.

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Qatar Voluntarily Contributes $1 Million to ICAO’s “ No Country Left Behind” Campaign

Montreal- CanadaHE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti has announced a $1-million contribution by the State of Qatar to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)’s “ No Country Left Behind” Campaign (NCLB).The NCLB campaign highlights ICAO’s efforts to assist States in implementing the Organization’s Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs). The main goal of this work is to help ensure that SARPs implementation is better harmonized globally so that all States have access to the significant socio-economic benefits of safe and reliable air transport. Priority fields are air navigation safety and security.This came during a reception and dinner event Qatar organized under the patronage of HE the Minister, who was also in attendance, to mark the inauguration of Qatar’s Permanent Office at ICAO in Montreal, Canada.Senior officials representing the civil aviation industry attended the event, led by President of the ICAO Council Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, representatives of all Member States and some officials from the Government of Canada.Qatar’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Chairman HE Mr. Abdulla bin Nasser Turki Al Subaey, Ambassador to Canada HE Mr. Fahad Mohammed Yousif Kafood, Qatar Aeronautical College Director General HE Sheikh Jabor bin Hamad Al-Thani and the Director of International Organizations Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Yousef bin Sultan Yousef Laram, were in attendance. The event was also attended by a number of officials from the Ministry of Transport and Communications and CAA.Qatar ranked among the world’s top countries in civil aviation safety, according to ICAO’s safety audit reports released in 2017, scoring 99.10% in implementing the guidelines of Annex 17 on Safeguarding International Civil Aviation Against Acts of Unlawful Interference. Annex 17 is the most important benchmark in terms of civil aviation safety.This reflects the great advances Qatar has achieved in the field of aviation and airport security, thus boosting its ranking amongst world countries.In addition, it was announced at the event that Qatar will host the fifth ICAO Global Aviation Training & Trainair Plus Symposium, this December, which is one of the largest training conferences in the field of aviation, which expects over 500 participants from around the world.

Monday, April 30, 2018

Minister Inaugurates Qatar’s ICAO Permanent Office

Montreal – CanadaHE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al-Sulaiti today inaugurated the State of Qatar’s Permanent Office at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), in Montreal, Canada.President of the ICAO Council Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, ICAO Secretary-General Dr. Fang Liu and representatives of a number of ICAO Member States and some officials representing the Government of Canada participated in the inauguration event.Qatar’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Chairman HE Mr. Abdulla bin Nasser Turki Al Subaey, Ambassador to Canada HE Mr. Fahad Mohammed Yousif Kafood, Qatar Aeronautical College Director General HE Sheikh Jabor bin Hamad Al-Thani and the Director of International Organizations Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Yousef bin Sultan Yousef Laram, were in attendance.“The State of Qatar welcomes the inauguration of its Permanent Office at ICAO, which emphasizes Qatar’s deep-rooted and continuing cooperation with all international and regional organizations and which is consistent with Qatar’s foreign policy and role as an active partner in the international community,” said HE the Minister in remarks on the occasion.Mr. Al Subaey underlined the qualitative addition of Qatar’s ICAO Permanent Office to the civil aviation industry in Qatar through its permanent and effective participation in all ICAO events and initiatives, and also its role in boosting cooperation and the exchange of expertise with all member states that have Montreal-based delegates.He said Qatar’s ICAO Permanent Office, “will have an impressive array of civil aviation experts and will work on conducting regular training courses for Qatari personnel who work in the field in Qatar.”Qatar’s decision to create a permanent office at ICAO came in July 2017 and it named Mr. Essa Abdullah Al Maliki as its ICAO Permanent Representative.

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Port of Suakin Receives Tugboats, Container Cranes from Mwani Qatar

Red Sea State – Sudan The Sudanese Port of Suakin has received a number of container cranes and tugboats from the Qatar Ports Management Company (Mwani Qatar) in implementation of the first phase of the MoU the company had signed with the Port of Port Sudan for developing the Port of Suakin with a view to making it a key seaport for cargo transportation. On this occasion, Qatar’s Ambassador to Sudan HE Mr. Rashid bin Abdul Rahman Al Nuiami emphasized the strength of Qatari-Sudanese relations for which the foundations were laid down by HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and HE the Sudanese President Omer Hassan al-Bashir. He said the cranes and tugboats are part of the capital allocated for developing the Port of Suakin. “The Port of Suakin,” he added, “has comparative advantages. It supports exportation significantly, especially the economies of the African region.” He also stressed its importance and vital, strategic location, its connection to the Silk Road and uniqueness for being a very important meeting point for exportation, particularly for neighboring countries, which makes it a value added to the economies.

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

MOTC Launches Green Computer Club Initiative

Doha – QatarThe Ministry of Transport and Communications today launched a new initiative, the Green Computer Club, in association with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE) and Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME).The initiative is part of the wider MOTC’s Better Connections Program, which enables employers to provide free information and communication technology tools and Internet access to migrant workers in their accommodation places to integrate them into the digital community, keep them connected with their friends and families and sharpen their digital skills. It also increases workers’ awareness of their rights and responsibilities. It is a joint initiative between MOTC and the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labor and Social Affairs (MADLSA). Today’s new initiative aims to set up Green Computer Clubs at secondary schools across Qatar to contribute to the process of refurbishing the computers donated from several entities. After being updated and refurbished, computers are delivered and installed at ICT facilities at workers’ accommodation units countywide.“The Green Computer Clubs initiative creates several educational and environmental benefits. It provides students with hands-on educational experience based on studying problems and resolving them. It encourages students to solve problems within a student-centric educational environment, thus sharpening their critical thinking and teamwork skills,” said MOTC’s Assistant Undersecretary for Digital Society Development Affairs Ms. Reem Al-Mansoori.“The initiative also promotes the use of eco-friendly ICTs, thus inculcating in students the concepts of electronic waste management, recycling and green technology,” she added.“A great part of the initiative,” she said, “is that students actually dedicate their efforts and time to support worthy social causes, given the fact that the computers that they refurbish later go to ICT facilities where workers live.”The initiative is a collaborative effort. MEHE is responsible for setting up Green Computer Clubs at secondary schools, registering students and giving them the space to gain real hands-on experience in terms of resolving donated computers’ problems and making them ready for reuse. This also increases their awareness of social responsibility. MME helps in electronic waste processing and recycling, thus raising students’ awareness of e-waste management, recycling and green technology.

Monday, April 23, 2018

MOTC Minister meets his Iraqi counterpart

Doha – Qatar HE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti met here today with the Iraqi Transport Minister HE Kadhim Finjan al Hammami.The two officials discussed cooperation in the fields of transport and communications and means of further enhancing them, and also tackled a number of other matters of common interest between the two countries.The meeting also witnessed the announcement of opening a new shipping line to Umm Qasr Port, Iraq, with the first ship set to arrive early May.The meeting was attended by the Iraqi Chargé d'affaires and a number of officials from the two countries.