The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) in Qatar yesterday launched the ‘Qatar Open Data Portal’ to help share government data on the Internet via a single national platform.

The open data portal will streamline public access to government data, while being fully-aligned with international standards in the area.

According to His Excellency the Minister of Transport and Communications, Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti who launched the portal at a ceremony, “The aim is to provide public services efficiently and transparently, build a knowledge-based economy and boost innovation and creativity through an open and transparent culture where knowledge is available and accessible."

سعادة الوزير يشيد بجهود وزارة الداخلية ووزارة المالية وجهاز التخطيط والإحصاء على المبادرات المتميزة في مجال إتاحة البيانات ويحث كافة الجهات الحكومية على الانضمام للبوابة لبناء حكومة أكثر كفاءة وشفافية وانفتاحا". #حكومة_قطر_الرقمية pic.twitter.com/fVi3ZBCS0J

— المواصلات والاتصالات (@MOTC_QA) April 21, 2019

Launched under the Open Data Policy that was introduced in 2014, the portal is part of the Ministry’s efforts toward the achievement of Qatar National Vision 2030.

HE Al Sulaiti noted, "In light of our work toward building a smart nation and our commitment to raising the name of Qatar in all global rankings where government transparency is a key factor, I am pleased to launch the Qatar Open Data Portal today, which will be a gateway to government data, making information easy to access, share and reuse.”

The portal will aid in transforming the information available on it into tools and applications that facilitate research, innovation and creative and smart solutions, the Minister underlined, according to an MOTC press release.

Al Sulaiti commended the Ministry’s initiative in the field of open data, and efforts of the Ministry of Finance and Planning and Statistics Authority that was among the first entities to begin sharing their data via the new portal.

السيد حسن السيد وكيل وزارة المواصلات والاتصالات المساعد لشؤون تكنولوجيا المعلومات أثناء حفل تدشين بوابة قطر للبيانات المفتوحة: نجاح البوابة يتطلب تعاون مختلف الجهات الحكومية، وستتولى الوزارة مسؤولية إدارة البوابة ودعم الجهات الحكومية وتنظيم ورش العمل لتشجيعها على نشر بياناتها. pic.twitter.com/Y43h9HZviS

— المواصلات والاتصالات (@MOTC_QA) April 21, 2019

HE the Minister of Transport and Communications said he was positive that all other government bodies would participate in the portal soon and contribute to building a government that is more efficient, more open and more transparent.

According to Qatar Tribune, the Minister underscored that the world today is witnessing the flow of large amounts of data either by public sector institutions or the private sector or individuals for various purposes, and noted that these data represent a huge wealth if used for good.

HE the Minister said that government sector data in particular can be useful given it is the main source for official statistics.

When made available electronically, this information can be used in an innovative way to find useful tools to support and develop business, facilitate public services and restructure administrative procedures, the Minister explained.

MOTC said it will continue to hold training workshops for open data ambassadors in each government entity to make them familiar with the portal.

The event wrapped up with a panel discussion that included representatives from MOI, Ministry of Culture and Sport, the Planning and Statistics Authority and the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority for insights and exchange of expertise.

Director of e-Government Programs & Standards at MOTC Mashael Ali Al-Hammadi said that in the coming years countries would not be ranked as rich or poor but based on scales that focus on knowledge and information and to what extent they apply knowledge, research, development and technology.

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Interior had also launched an open data website in a bid to increase transparency and make it more convenient to access information for residents and citizens of Qatar. 

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Cover Image Credit: Twitter/MOTC_QA