Digital transformation of Qatar SMEs at the forefront, says minister

The digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Qatar is one of the core programmes implemented by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT).
Speaking to the media on the concluding day of Web Summit Qatar 2024, HE the Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mohamed bin Ali al-Mannai underscored the role of SMEs as the backbone of the economy.
Al-Mannai underscored the need to provide SMEs with “the right digital tools” and “the right digital transformation approach,” along with a wide range of government support in the digital transformation domain, one of the MCIT’s major programmes under the Digital Agenda 2030.
Aside from the MCIT’s support for SMEs, al-Mannai also lauded the Investment Promotion Agency Qatar (Invest Qatar) for launching ‘Startup Qatar’ ahead of the Web Summit. The initiative is a one-stop online platform catering to all business requirements and serving as the single comprehensive national resource for information, support, and opportunities offered to startups.
The minister also lauded Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor al-Thani, the director of the Government Communications Office (GCO) and Organising Committee chairman of Web Summit Qatar 2024, for a successful collaboration with Web Summit under the leadership of its CEO, Katherine Maher.
Al-Mannai said Web Summit Qatar 2024 provided content to create more events and showcase the country’s capability in events management, but it also attracted thousands of startups to the country.
The event also opened opportunities for entrepreneurs and innovators in the GCC and the Middle East to network with their peers abroad and learn more about the international entrepreneurship ecosystem.
“Our co-operation with Web Summit enabled us to provide a global platform from Qatar for innovators, entrepreneurs, and startups from our region and beyond. We are also happy to see that many companies are coming from Africa and other parts of the region, demonstrating that the target set from the beginning was well achieved with the representation of more than a thousand startups,” al-Mannai pointed out.
Earlier on the sidelines of Web Summit Qatar 2024, al-Mannai spoke during a fireside chat titled ‘Qatar’s Plan for a Digital Future’ and underscored the significance of the Digital Agenda 2030 in promoting a knowledge-based digital economy and boosting digital transformation across industries.
Al-Mannai also highlighted the role of SMEs in the success of Web Summit Qatar 2024 and the role of both SMEs and the private sector in bolstering the national digital economy.