QITCOM Exhibition and Conference Kick off in Doha

Doha, March 05 (QNA) - The QITCOM Exhibition and Conference activities kicked off at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) here on Monday in the presence of HE Minister of Business and Trade Sheikh Jassim bin AbdulAziz bin Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, HE Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani , Dr. Hessa Al-Jaber, the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Information Technology (ictQATAR), Dr. Hamadoun Tour?, Secretary General, ITU and other key officials and government representatives. The second annual Conference & Exhibition organized by the Supreme Council of Information Technology (ictQATAR), in partnership with IFP Qatar. In her address entitled ''Economic Diversification through Innovation and Collaboration An ICT Perspective'' she delivered before the opening session of the conference, Dr. Hessa Al-Jaber said, '' Qatar today is well and truly advanced on the path of economic prosperity. The last few years have been witness to a growth impetus resulting from sustained economic and social development under the leadership and guidance of HH Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani. Qatar s natural resources have been instrumental in laying a foundation for this economic and social development within the State; and offering a platform for growth in other industrial sectors. '' I believe that the Qatari economy today is at the threshold of further growth and prosperity. Our collective sovereign effort is guided by our National Development Strategy that puts forth a developmental path for the fourteen core sectors underpinning the Qatari economy'', she said. ''In my view, continued economic and societal development will be dependent on three core themes: (i) diversification incremental emphasis on non-hydrocarbon sectors; (ii) innovation challenging the status-quo and established norms within every sector; and (iii) collaboration collective and concerted effort exerted by public and private institutions towards a common goal. ''These three themes characterize ictQATAR s focus on and efforts in developing the ICT sector in Qatar. I would like to elaborate on these themes and put forth the Qatari ICT sector perspective''. The first theme of diversification poses the question "What is the contribution and role of the ICT sector in supporting the diversification of the Qatari economy?" Elaborating Dr. Hessa Al-Jaber, the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Information Technology (ictQATAR), further said,''Qatar s efforts in diversifying our economy are bearing fruit and today the contribution of non-hydrocarbon sectors to the Qatari GDP is already in the range of 50%. Furthermore, these efforts are instrumental in Qatar gaining prominence on the global stage; be it our selection as the host for FIFA 2022 games or our regional leadership in innovation''. Dr. Hessa Al-Jaber, the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Information Technology (ictQATAR), went on to say, ''The information and communication technology (ICT) sector is uniquely positioned at the core of this diversification momentum; both as a driver and enabler of growth in the Qatari economy. ''This brings me to the question resulting from the innovation theme "What is the role of the State in general and ictQATAR in particular in developing the ICT sector and fostering ICT innovation in the Qatari economy?" Qatari State led institutions are at the forefront of stimulating and embedding ICT innovation across the continuum of core education, research and development and commercialization that is benefiting multiple sectors. I would like to outline the typical roles that the State can play to catalyze ICT innovation. I also want to elaborate on the efforts of ictQATAR in this specific area. The first role is that of a Developer . The State proactively pursues development, financing and operations of ICT opportunities. As an example, we are currently leading the development and roll-out of a national broadband network (Q. NBN). The second role is that of a Facilitator. The State provides development support in the form of funding, policies and procedures and infrastructure. ictQATAR, through incubation and innovation facilities for entrepreneurs and start-ups in the digital content space, is currently playing this role. The third available role is that of a Financer . In this set-up, the State just provides the funding but leaves the ICT innovation/ development opportunity to the private sector. ictQATAR is currently in the process of developing specific targeted funds for entrepreneurs and SMEs in the ICT space available in the form of Seed Funds, Grants and other investment vehicles'', Dr. Hessa Al-Jaber, the Secretary General of the ictQATAR said. She noted that ictQATAR is currently developing its ICT Investment Strategy 2016 that will identify specific ICT development and investment opportunities in Qatar over the coming 3-5 year timeframe. Our intent is to (i) help develop the required ICT capabilities in Qatar; and (ii) focus on identifying and innovative and expansion-focused ICT opportunities. Dr. Hessa Al-Jaber, the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Information Technology (ictQATAR), further referred that the final topic that I am going to cover is that of Collaboration . I firmly believe that stimulation of innovation, identification of ICT development opportunities and successful commercialization cannot be done in isolated pockets, by individual institutions in the public and private sectors. The ICT industry has undergone a radical change in the past few years industry boundaries have blurred and traditional linear value chains have evolved into complex interconnected ecosystems. These complexities are resulting in competitive challenges for private sector players and policy-making, sector development and governance challenges for the State and public sector institutions'', she told the audience. The key question that we need to address is "How will we ensure orchestration of efforts and collaboration between various institutions?" In our different capacities as policy makers, sector developers, regulators, operators, investors, and other players in the ICT ecosystem, we have been discussing the ideal mechanism of ensuring success. My views on this are: We collectively need to continue on the path of collaboration between public sector institutions, private sector companies, investors, academia, and research and development facilities. ictQATAR will work together and collaborate with all the players in the ICT ecosystem to identify innovation and development opportunities so that we collectively maintain focus on successful economic diversification. Once we conclude the development of our ICT Investment and Development Strategy 2016, ictQATAR will conduct an Investment Forum with the Public and Private sector stakeholders to discuss resulting ICT development and investment opportunities in Qatar. I would like to conclude by thanking all of you for attending QITCOM 2012 and for joining ictQATAR in this ongoing discussion on developing the ICT sector in the region, and in Qatar. Addressing the opening session of the conference , Rashid Al-Naimi, the Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, MEEZA also spoke in a similar address about the challenges facing such a (ICT) sector in Qatar referring meantime to the remarkable progress the communication technology market achieved in qatar where the qatari economy has benefited from such progress in the pas two years. Touching on the MEEZA Company as services and information technology solutions supplier during the current year 2012,Rashid Al-Naimi noted that the company which was established in 2008, was able in a short period to build three data centers first was in 2008. He pointed out that in 2010 the company was able to build a network of fiber-related, including Education City, adding in this context that the Gulf bridge of Submarine Cables, which took effect in December 2011, will help improve the linkage between the different institutions using the latest technologies to serve the industry, putting Qatar in the lead. Elaborating he said that the company set up to support knowledge-based society in Qatar, designed to provide the latest computing services, services and IT solutions they provide to their customers to improve their work as soon as possible. The Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, MEEZA also explained that the company is registered in the list of the largest providers of computing services internationally has received numerous awards and recognitions for excellence in providing information technology services, including helping customers reduce business risk, and reduce the size of the expenses related to information technology, as well as dealing with rapid changing business needs. For his part, Dr. Hamadoun Toure, the Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) also addressed the opening session of the event and praised the remarkable growth Doha is now witnessing in the various fields, indicating that such a progress is only the embodiment of an inspired vision on part of HH the emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and which turned into a policy which is now shared between the government and the private sector in the country. The ITU Secretary General pointed out that the last twenty years is a golden age for the development of telecommunications and information technology, where it became the basics of the rules of this sector is available to all peoples of the world, and became the power of information technology used to make the world better and to bring about a revolution in the development of services and methods of delivery, has also become the techniques used particularly in the areas of providing excellent medical services . He pointed out that the telecommunications sector is one of the most important work platforms for the dissemination of knowledge and information and also formed a quantum leap in the world of education where the most prestigious universities in the world follow the distance learning system. Dr. Hamadoun Toure said the forthcoming years are expected to witness a great revolution and an expansion in this field. The innovative uses of this technology plays an important role in the management of water resources which are characterized by high value worldwide, where communications sector plays a prominent role in predicting the weather, soil, seas and others. Held concurrently is the QITCOM 2012 Conference with a program designed to response to key ICT industry trends and topics particularly relevant to the Middle East. It will witness keynote speeches from internationally renowned motivational speakers such as Michio Kaku and Jeffery Stibel among many others. It also includes over 14 panel sessions addressing the most poignant and of the moment topics dictating ICT agendas for both the public and private sectors including, Cloud Computing, National Digitization, Cyber-security and Digital & Mobile Advertising. QITCOM 2012 also saw the kickoff of "Innovation Theatre", a forum where young people can pitch their technology business concepts to a panel of experts to possibly win financing and Incubation services. The competition will run for the next two days with the winners being announced on the final day. The Exhibition, which is held between 9am-9pm, offers an ideal platform for businesses to showcase the latest ICT developments to market and is even more futuristic and forward looking than last year, with companies from across the globe showcasing truly break-through, one-of-a-kind technologies. "Tech Zone", QITCOM 2012 s latest offering, received significant attention on the first day, providing a unique platform for technology innovators and companies to share knowledge and discuss their latest products or solutions in an open forum. Another new offering for QITCOM 2012 is the "Business Zone," an area dedicated for consulting companies to showcase their services and work with potential clients onsite. The pre-eminent platform for the information and communication technology (ICT) sector in Qatar, started yesterday, and will continue from March 5th -7th, 2012 at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC). QITCOM 2012 organizers have confirmed that first day attendance was significantly higher than last year, as local, regional and international ICT leading companies, organizations and government bodies turned out in force for the second annual Conference & Exhibition organized by the Supreme Council of Information Technology (ictQATAR), in partnership with IFP Qatar. The day began with the opening of the Conference at 9am led by Dr. Hessa Al-Jaber, Rashid Al-Naimi, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, MEEZA, Vice President Administration, Qatar Foundation, Dr. Hamadoun Tour?, Secretary General, ITU. It continued with a range of informative and motivating sessions including Entrepreneurship in the Arab World, Next Generation Broadband, Internet TV, Broadcasting and IPTV and Social TV. The Exhibition was then officially opened at 12 noon with His Excellency Sheikh Jassim bin AbdulAziz bin Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, Minister of Business and Trade, HE Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani and Dr. Hessa Al-Jaber, took a tour of the much increased exhibition space, taking the opportunity to stop and talk with exhibitors. For his part, Ali Al-Khulaifi, QITCOM Organizing Committee Chairman and ictQATAR ICT Market Development Manager said, "We are delighted at the attendance of the first day which has far outnumbered the previous year. Receiving this level of official support and recognition is something we are very proud of and it is yet another demonstration of QITCOM s growing size and stature as a leading platform for local and regional professionals to engage with international leaders within the ICT sector. We now look forward to another two days of networking, best practice sharing and knowledge transfer and encourage all those who want to see into the future of the ICT industry to attend, " QITCOM Organizing Committee Chairman concluded.(QNA)