Government Communications Office and Qatar Embassy Host Second Runway to Web Summit Qatar 2027 Event in Paris

The Government Communications Office (GCO) and the Embassy of the State of Qatar in France organised the second Runway to Web Summit Qatar 2027 promotional event in Paris, as part of ongoing preparations to host the fourth edition of Web Summit Qatar in Doha from 31 January to 3 February 2027.

During the event, Business France, the public agency supporting the international development of the French economy, officially announced its participation at the head of a trade delegation in the fourth edition of the summit through a dedicated pavilion for French companies, investors and partners. The move aims to strengthen the presence of French startups and allow them to showcase their solutions and innovations to the global technology and investment community attending the summit.

The delegation will include leading French companies and institutions such as artificial intelligence company Mistral AI, luxury goods group LVMH and French public investment bank Bpifrance.

The event formed part of efforts to expand international participation in the summit and build on the growing presence of French startups, investors and speakers at previous editions, while opening new opportunities for cooperation between the technology and entrepreneurship ecosystems in Qatar and France.

Participants included senior officials and representatives from Business France, TotalEnergies, quantum computing company Alice & Bob, the Franco-Qatari Economic Circle Qadran and Invest Qatar, alongside a select group of investors and entrepreneurs.

The programme featured a series of dialogues and panel discussions involving more than 100 representatives of Qatari and French entities, investors and entrepreneurs. They discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in technology and innovation, support companies seeking to expand and enter new markets, and facilitate access by European technology companies to international investment opportunities.

HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the French Republic Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al-Thani said Qatar had concluded a strategic investment partnership with France focused on supporting startups, investment funds and projects in strategic sectors, led by artificial intelligence, semiconductors, digital technologies, energy transition, healthcare and aerospace.

His Excellency added that the partnership combines France's advanced scientific and technological expertise, leading research institutions and dynamic startup ecosystem with Qatar's investment capacity, advanced infrastructure and growing innovation ecosystem.

He explained that, from this perspective, Web Summit Qatar goes beyond being a platform for showcasing the latest technologies, as it provides space to connect with investors, build partnerships and explore promising opportunities for growth.

Director of Studies and Strategic Planning at the GCO Soud Ahmed Al Boinin said Paris was selected as the first European stop on the promotional tours for Web Summit Qatar because of its integrated ecosystem comprising a large number of startups, business incubators and investors. He added that the number of French startups participating in Doha had more than tripled since the summit's inaugural edition, reflecting growing interest among French companies in opportunities available in Qatar.

Al Boinin added that Qatar had created an ideal environment for establishing businesses and simplified procedures to provide a seamless experience for companies seeking to establish a presence in the region. During the summit, companies can apply to establish their businesses and obtain licences at the event venue, thanks to procedures adopted by the state to attract global companies to the Qatari market.

Chief Strategy Officer at Invest Qatar Dr. Hamad Rashid Al Naimi said Qatar's offering to startups extends beyond market access, providing an integrated ecosystem that connects founders with investors, companies, customers and supporting entities. He stressed that building relationships based on trust remains essential to business development and turning opportunities into tangible growth.

Al Naimi added that the summit serves as a gateway to this ecosystem, bringing together leading entities, founders and opportunities that help startups explore new markets and build partnerships. This makes it an ideal opportunity for companies seeking to expand and assess Qatar's potential to support their regional and global growth ambitions.

Chief Events Officer at Web Summit Craig Becker said the summit brings together business communities from around the world and offers opportunities to connect with partners and investors who can help shape new business paths and support professional development. He also praised Qatar's unique combination of rich history and heritage with modern, advanced infrastructure, alongside the growing vitality of its business community and startup ecosystem.

Director of Export Programs at Business France Laurence de Touchet said organising a French pavilion at Web Summit Qatar and leading a French trade delegation to the summit's fourth edition reflect Qatar's growing position as a regional technology and innovation hub, as well as its increasing investment in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity and cloud computing.

The Web Summit Qatar 2027 promotional events began last week at the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Washington, DC, and will continue after Paris in Berlin, Düsseldorf and Stockholm. Representatives of entities involved in technology and innovation will participate alongside investors and entrepreneurs ahead of their attendance at the next edition of the summit.

The events form part of Qatar's efforts to strengthen its position on the global innovation and entrepreneurship map and support the development of a knowledge-based economy in line with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030.

Source: QNA

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