Qatar’s telecommunications sector in the country surged 11% last year and is expected to continue growing from 9 to 12% in the next five years, HE the Minister of Information and Communications Technology Dr Hessa al-Jaber said in a keynote speech.
“We cannot complete Qatar’s digital landscape without mentioning the vast amount of digital data that are now being used on a daily basis by individuals, institutions and companies and our dependence on technological devices,” said Dr al-Jaber.
The minister reiterated the ICT’s important role in realizing the Qatar National Vision 2030.
Dr al-Jaber noted that ICT had played a crucial role in achieving the nation’s development goals, a reason to exert more effort in harnessing the power of ICT.
In his speech, HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani said: “There is no doubt that digital technology and knowledge have become important tools to achieve these development goals, including the role its plays in stimulating global economies.”
The Prime Minister cited the significant contributions and progress made by Qatar’s ICT sector in the past years.
“This is a result of the strong commitment by the government to give priority to this sector, as this is one of the key elements in the national development strategy,” said Sheikh Abdullah. “All parameters point to a healthy and vibrant ICT sector in the State of Qatar.”
The Prime Minister stressed that the government, under the guidance of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, had prioritized efforts to continue working on various projects through advanced infrastructure in all sectors, including in the ICT.
HE the Minister of Finance Ali Sharif al-Emadi noted that 40% of Qatar’s total budget for fiscal year 2014/2015 was allocated for major projects being done in various parts of the country.
He also noted that they had invested QR 2.5bn for Qatar satellite company Es’hailSat, a move that will further boost the country’s capability in ICT.
“The GDP contribution from this sector has increased to QR 7.5bn in 2013 from QR 5.5 bn in 2010,” he said.
Gulf Times
27 May
