QITCOM 2014 Conference to showcase Qatar's development as regional ICT leader
Qatar’s largest ICT event QITCOM will feature a three-day conference with world experts, focusing on the challenges and opportunities of ICT in Qatar, the role ICT plays in Qatar’s significant economic and social development and how ICT gives Qatar a competitive advantage by fuelling entrepreneurship and innovation.
QITCOM 2014, which is organized by fischerAppelt, qatar in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ictQATAR), will be held on 26-28 May 2014 at Qatar National Convention Center. Now in its third edition, it is set to become one of the region’s pre-eminent ICT events and also includes an exhibition and regional awards programme.
The conference is at the heart of the QITCOM, and it showcase’s Qatar’s development to becoming a regional leader in ICT. The conference provides a platform for discussion of future development initiatives and highlights and celebrates public and private ICT success stories. It will attract not only global industry experts but is designed to appeal to the entire ICT community - from executives to innovators and entrepreneurs as well as ICT enthusiasts, from the private and public sector alike.
The Minister of Information and Communications Technology, HE Dr. Hessa Al Jaber, will open the conference, and she will be followed by ICT experts in Qatar and internationally who will give keynote addresses, talk in panel discussions and deliver case studies on the current framework of the industry, its projected growth and development and ICT opportunities from the market in Qatar and the major construction and infrastructure projects currently underway. This is all within the context of Qatar’s National Vision 2030 and the National ICT Plan 2015.
The first day of the conference will be dedicated to an analysis of the ICT industry in Qatar, its challenges and opportunities. It will examine how ICT can enhance Qatar’s ability to deliver on its promises enshrined in the National Vision and what can be expected from future initiatives, covering topics such as broadband; cyber security; satellite; telecoms and policy, legal and regulatory frameworks. Qatar’s current and projected ICT framework will also be discussed, including smart cities, ICT in civic amenities such as traffic and sanitation, e-commerce and electronic finance, e-government services and how to enhance the appeal of ICT as a desirable vocation in Qatar.
The second day of the conference will look at ICT in business, and the role it plays in Qatar’s social and economic development in line with the National Vision. As the largest consumer of ICT in Qatar, Government is a key stakeholder. Experts will discuss past government ICT projects and the lessons learned, the current needs of government and the role businesses can play in the considerable future growth of ICT in government in Qatar and the wider region.
The ICT demands of Qatar’s major projects and initiatives, such as hosting FIFA World Cup in 2022, Qatar Railways, the development of Lusail and other smart city projects, big infrastructure projects like the new port at Mesaeed and the significant growth of the healthcare and medical research sector in Qatar with the opening of Sidra, will also be discussed.
Day three will look at the future of ICT and Qatar’s competitive advantage as an emerging regional leader in ICT thought leadership. Focusing on Digital Arabic Content, experts will discuss how businesses, government and individuals can make Arabic Digital Content more pervasive. They will also examine how ICT can be an ideal avenue for innovation and entrepreneurship, and how new ideas and technologies can be fostered in Qatar. Finally, the future of ICT in Qatar will be discussed – how Qatar will be reshaped by ICT across the public and private sector, in business, government and academia.
David Schopper, General Manager of fischerAppelt, qatar, said: “As a catalyst for ICT industry development, and as a platform for ICT businesses, providers, investors and ICT adopters alike, the QITCOM conference is the heart of the mission and vision that we have for the event as a forum to showcase Qatar’s moves towards ICT thought leadership.
The 2014 QITCOM conference will engage the industry in a discussion about the current framework of the industry, growth perspectives and future outlook, as well as tangible ICT business opportunities from Qatar’s market and large-scale initiatives as part of the Qatar National Vision 2030.
Our proposed conference programme, which is clearly aligned with the Qatar National Vision – in particular the National ICT Plan 2015 as its ICT contribution – will feature case studies and topics delivered by leading experts from Qatar as well as high-profile international speakers. The aim of the conference is to engage the entire ICT community, from the public and private sectors, and we look forward to welcoming everyone to what will be an engaging and agenda-setting event for the ICT industry in Qatar and the region.”
