Minister of Communications and Information Technology H E Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai during the Qatar IT Roundtable, yesterday.
Minister of Communications and Information Technology H E Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai has said Qatar has made the digital sector one of its focal points for sustainable economic growth, calling on local and international partners to collaborate with the government.
While addressing the industry experts and the media during the Qatar IT Roundtable organised by the Communications Regulatory Authority yesterday, Al Mannai said the digital sector contributes almost two percent of its GDP, adding, “Qatar has established a very strong communication infrastructure where we cover the different networks in line with international standards. This has enabled Qatar to enjoy the best services, and we are working to overcome any challenges, especially as we build up to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
“With Qatar going ahead with its ambitious strategy, the IT sector plays a major role in this process, especially in streamlining sustainable growth. Qatar has made the digital sector one of its most important priorities, and this can only be achieved with partners; hence, the importance of this meeting is to know more about the growth and trends in this sector.”
The minister also noted that government would put several initiatives to support the sector to make Qatar a digital hub, tapping from the multi-opportunity IT holds to enhance Qatar’s attractiveness and competitiveness at the regional and global levels. He added that the ministry is working on developing an integrated communications and information technology (ICT) plan to be ready in the first quarter of 2023.
Also, during a high-level panel discussion on the state of the country’s digital and entrepreneurial eco-system, panellists stressed the importance of accessible venture capitals, mainly localised technologies.
According to the 2021 Qatar Venture Investment Report sponsored by Qatar Development Bank, Venture funding in Qatar hit a record high of QR69M in 2021, having grown by 92% compared to 2020.
The panel included Marwan Marouf, Doha Tech Angels, Yousif Al Salehi, Executive Director Qatar Science & Technology Park, Nayef Al Ibrahim, Founding Partner and CEO ibtechar, and Hamad Al Hajri, founder and CEO of Snoonu.
Al Hajri said, “I will say today that we lack venture capital, and most investors, on the other hand, still prefer the traditional economy like manufacturing, real estate, etc.” “The entrepreneur today in Qatar still lacks experience, and I think what we need now is a success story in Qatar, which will attract more investment and capital.”
The panel also added that localising technology is a partnership between the government and the private sector. The government provides adequate and investment-friendly regulations, and the private sector offers the talent. They also stressed that regulations surrounding venture capital should target promoting localised technologies.
Commenting on how interest in IT can be promoted, Nayef Al Ibrahim said students should be encouraged to take on technology programmes just like when engineering courses were encouraged years back due to the oil and gas boom.
The CRA roundtable also showcased several development initiatives and success stories of local companies and provided an overview of the information technology sector and its current trends in the region and globally.
