His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday attended the opening ceremony of Qatar Information Technology Conference and Exhibition (QITCOM 2019) at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC).
The prestigious ICT event which gathers more than 400 local and international exhibitors, 300 innovators and entrepreneurs, among others, showcases the latest smart technologies and innovations, locally and internationally.
Organized by the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC), QITCOM 2019 will run until November 1, under the theme "Safe and Smart Cities."
President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame; Sultanate of Oman’s Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah; the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr Mohammad Javad Zarif; The President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Nechirvan Barzani; the Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, Wolfgang Ischinger, in addition to a host of top officials and dignitaries attended the opening ceremony.
Qatar's Prime Minister and Interior Minister, HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani and a number of Their Excellencies Ministers were also in attendance at the event.
HH the Amir meets a number of Their Excellencies the participants of the Qatar IT Conference and Exhibition (QITCOM 2019), and the Munich Security Conference Core Group (MSC) meeting at the Qatar National Convention Center (QNCC). #QNA pic.twitter.com/cFdRduu0eV
— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) October 29, 2019
HH the Amir along with the President of Rwanda toured the exhibition, during which they were briefed by exhibitors in the fields of entrepreneurship, technological and digital projects, and programs related to smart transformation and ICT.
The opening ceremony kicked off with the screening of a film about Qatar's digital transformation, followed by the speeches of HE Jassim bin Saif al-Sulaiti's, Minister of Transport and Communications, and Wolfgang Ischinger, Chairman of the Munich Security Conference.
HE the Minister of Transport and Communications announced the adoption of Qatar’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, in cooperation with Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), with the participation of several experts from international universities.
The strategy is aimed at using artificial intelligence to secure Qatar’s economic and strategic future as desired by Qatar National Vision 2030, he said.
Speaking about Qatar's transformation into an integrated digital society, HE the Minister said Qatar was one of the first countries to realize the benefits of smart cities and their importance for the comprehensive and sustainable development the country is working to achieve.
He said Qatar strengthened its ICT infrastructure and improved the internet quality, and became the first country in the world to launch 5G services.
He noted that government ministries and agencies began using technologies and systems that better the quality of services they offer to the public, improve the lifestyle of individuals, support scientific research and innovation in the digital industry, among other benefits.
HH the Amir and President of Rwanda toured the exhibition during which they were briefed by a number of exhibitors in the fields of entrepreneurship, technological and digital projects, and programs related to smart transformation and ICT. #QNA pic.twitter.com/LyaG30Tfbf
— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) October 29, 2019
He further mentioned that the Smart Qatar program “Tasmu” was launched in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and will boost investments to further develop the digital infrastructure in the country.
Qatar's adoption of smart city technologies has already shown significant benefits for its various sectors. These technologies have helped develop the traffic system and contributed to the development of the healthcare sector and the education sector, with the latter ranking first on the Arab level and fifth on the global level, HE the Minister said.
He said the country’s main ports, such as Hamad Port and Hamad International Airport, were also equipped with state-of-the-art smart solutions and technologies.
HE Al Sulaiti said this year's QITCOM features the first edition of Smart City Expo Doha, taking place in cooperation with Fira de Barcelona organization, which is the organizer of Smart City Expo World Congress. The expo will see the participation of several specialists in the fields of entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, and urban planning.
He also pointed out that Qatar is hosting the Munich Security Conference in tandem with QITCOM 2019 to discuss regional and global security issues and raise awareness of cybersecurity issues and their impacts.
You can find all the details on QITCOM 2019 here.
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