The Minister for Business and Trade, HE Sheikh Jassim bin Abdul Aziz al-Thani and HE Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad al-Thani at QITCOM after inaugurating the conference and exhibition yesterday
By Peter Townson
The Minister for Business and Trade, HE Sheikh Jassim bin Abdul Aziz al-Thani and HE Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad al-Thani yesterday officially inaugurated QITCOM, the first information and technology conference and exhibition in Qatar.
The three-day event at Doha Exhibition Centre has brought together local and international technology companies as a forum for innovation in the region, with official expecting around 15,000 visitors to attend the exhibition.
The conference, organised under the slogan ‘Innovate, Connect and Transform’ will also serve as a platform for the announcement of numerous startups, agreements and new partnerships between many of the participating organisations.
The opening of the conference was also attended by vice-president of Qatar Foundation and chairman of MEEZA, Rashid al-Naimi and the secretary general of organising partners ictQatar, Hessa al-Jaber.
Panel discussions and speakers on the first day centred on innovation and incubation, Arabic digital content and social networking in the Arab world.
Visitors also have the opportunity to vote for who they feel are the best innovators and leaders in the technological industry, with voting machines set up at entrances to the exhibition.
“I think this is a great opportunity, it’s the first time that technology companies have really got together to partner with ictQatar,” said country marketing manager for Microsoft in Qatar, Asad Ahmed.?
He said that he had been particularly excited at the event’s audience, explaining that a number of entrepreneurs and representatives of small and medium sized enterprises visited Microsoft’s stand on the opening day.?
Microsoft are displaying a large selection of their technology at the event, including their private, public and hybrid cloud systems, their smartphones and the kinect, while a number of the company’s partners are also displaying their solutions at the Microsoft stand.
“I think this event will grow and double in size next year,” he said, adding “we will definitely be back.”
?Another company promoting innovation and creativity at the conference is the Youth Company, an organisation aimed at empowering and developing young people in Qatar.?
The company has been involved in organising the volunteers working at the event, and has also partnered with ictQatar to participate in a competition at the event’s Innovation Theatre, which will see the best business concept rewarded with $50,000.?
Chief executive officer, Mohamed Farid described QITCOM as “an outstanding initiative,” working in line with the Youth Company’s aims to encourage creativity and unlock potential.?
Gulf Times also spoke to Qtel’s senior manager of consumer broadband and consumer marketing, Richard Neeson, who described the opening day of QITCOM as a success and said he was looking forward to monitoring the level of interest during the event.
“A lot of big local players and big industry members from the region are here and I think it’s a very good start,” he said.?
“In terms of technology we are still playing a bit of catchup in Qatar, but we have got an opportunity to leapfrog now,” he said, referring to the conference as a great start to helping the sector in the country.?
Neeson spoke about future technology to be launched by Qtel, discussing how the impending launch of high speed and ultra speed Internet will change everyday life in Qatar.?
“There is a strong appetite for next generation services in Qatar,” he said, adding “technology that was once only available to enterprises is now heading to the mass market, as you can see at this event.”
Managing director of organisers, IFP Qatar, George Ayache noted: “QITCOM 2011 has already set the standard for future events. Already we have had world class speakers like Guy Kawasaki and seen what young entrepreneurs in Qatar have to offer.”
Today will see major announcements from the Ministry of Interior and Microsoft, with conference sessions addressing e-government initiatives.