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Qatar Chamber recently participated in the 39th meeting of the board of directors of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development (ICCD) and the ‘Invest in the Digital Economy Forum’, held in Amman, Jordan.The events came as part of the Islamic Chamber’s ongoing efforts to strengthen economic integration and advance the Islamic business sector globally.Qatar Chamber’s delegation included board members Dr Mohammed bin Jawhar al-Mohammad, Abdul Rahman bin Abdul Jalil al-Abdul Ghani, and Abdullah bin Mohammed al-Emadi.The meeting discussed mechanisms to foster economic co-operation among Islamic countries, facilitate the exchange of expertise, and support joint development projects.During the meeting, heads and representatives of chambers and unions from 16 Islamic countries, together with leading economic experts and decision-makers, reviewed the progress of the Islamic Chamber’s projects and initiatives, which aim to empower private sector organisations and support Muslim businesses in non-Islamic countries.It also reviewed the action plan prepared by the general secretariat, based on a study submitted by Qatar Chamber at the previous meeting. The study included three comparative analytical reports assessing the organisation’s performance against similar institutional models, alongside a set of proposals outlining the organisation’s future role and potential directions in the coming phase.Speaking at the meeting, al-Mohammad condemned the brutal attack on Qatar by the Zionist entity, emphasising that it occurred at a time when Qatar was actively seeking to promote peace and explore all avenues for a peaceful resolution in Gaza.He added that this attack on Qatar, as well as on other Arab and Islamic countries, calls for a reassessment of strategies and a reformulation of approaches within the framework of the Islamic Chamber, which represents the Islamic economy across 57 countries and advocates on behalf of the economic interests of the Muslim world.Al-Mohammad underscored the ICCD’s pivotal role in enhancing co-ordination among its member chambers and ensuring their active participation in international forums. He also highlighted the importance of encouraging chambers to collaborate, support initiatives launched by individual members, and motivate others to join these efforts.In this context, he pointed to the Jordan Chamber’s initiative in the digital field, emphasising that it should be supported as a successful model. Al-Mohammad also stressed the importance of establishing joint economic entities that serve the private sector and Islamic countries and societies, establishing Islamic banks with contributions from member chambers, and launching insurance companies, educational, health, and technical companies, as well as contracting and construction projects.During the meeting, Abdullah Saleh Kamel was re-elected by acclamation as president of the Islamic Chamber for a new term (2026-2030). The meeting further reviewed an update of the Palestine Initiative, launched by the Islamic Chamber during the 39th General Assembly in Qatar.The initiative aims to support SMEs in Palestine, empower youth to work remotely, and provide job opportunities with various companies and organisations worldwide through digital economy tools. It also seeks to enhance skills across multiple fields through targeted training, thereby contributing to Palestine’s integration into the global market and the development of a strong and resilient national economy despite existing challenges.

The Qatari Businesswomen Association (QBWA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, represented by its Businesswomen Committee, during the symposium on ‘Leadership and Management Development’ held in Muscat.The event was held under the patronage of Sayyid Loay bin Ghalib al-Said and aimed to enhance the capacities of women professionals and empower them to lead the future with confidence and competence.This collaboration reflects QBWA’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the capabilities of women entrepreneurs and supporting them in transforming challenges into investment and development opportunities through the cultivation of confident, future-oriented female leadership.As part of the symposium, Aisha Hussain Alfardan, vice-chairwoman of QBWA, delivered a keynote presentation titled ‘Personal Empowerment, Internal Transformation, and Self-Leadership’. In her remarks, she emphasised that true strength begins from within, and that self-leadership and internal transformation are essential foundations for any form of sustainable development be it at the individual, societal, or national level.Alfardan shared her personal and professional journey, which led her to firmly believe that authentic empowerment starts with self-belief. She noted that the moment a woman realises her potential is the moment she becomes a catalyst for change and progress.She also underscored that empowering women to make decisions and access equal opportunities in the workplace enhances their capacity to lead transformative change.She expressed her pride in sharing her perspective and experience on self-empowerment and leadership, affirming that these elements are the foundation of sustainable leadership. Her work with QBWA, she noted, is a living example of how self-leadership can drive meaningful social impact.Alfardan also participated in a high-level panel discussion titled ‘Inspiring Leadership in a Rapidly Changing World: Between Empowerment and Crisis Management’. The session explored how inspirational leadership shapes workplace environments, how leadership principles translate under pressure, and how institutional leaders can empower teams and foster a culture of innovation.Joining Alfardan on the panel were Ayman bin Hamad al-Busaidi, vice-chairman of SABCO Group; Dr Aflah bin Said al-Hadhrami, general manager at Petroleum Development Oman; and Swati Mandela, president of the Mandela Institute for Humanity.The discussion examined the role of leadership in balancing empowerment with crisis management, with a focus on nurturing women's leadership capabilities and addressing the unique challenges they face in Arab societies.The symposium featured an interactive dialogue titled ‘Challenges and Opportunities in a Changing World’, where Dr Amer Bin Awad al-Rawas, chairman of the Concordia Group, discussed the challenges facing business leaders amid regional and international shifts, explored the opportunities emerging from current economic transformations, and addressed strategies for balancing challenges and opportunities to enhance business sustainability.The symposium concluded with the official MoU signing between Alfardan and Areej Bint Mohsin al-Zaabi, chairwoman of the Businesswomen Committee at the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry.The MoU aims to enhance economic, commercial, and investment co-operation between Qatar and Oman and to facilitate investment processes in both directions. It reaffirms both parties’ commitment to exchanging expertise, supporting women’s empowerment efforts, and highlighting the pivotal role women play in driving economic growth and entrepreneurship.Commenting on the occasion, Alfardan stated: “At the Qatari Businesswomen Association, we firmly believe that strategic regional partnerships, such as this agreement with the Businesswomen Committee in the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, lay the foundation for enhancing trade and investment between our countries. Women’s empowerment is not achieved through awareness alone, but through building sustainable ecosystems that translate into tangible opportunities on the ground.”From her side, al-Zaabi said: “Signing this MoU with the Qatari Businesswomen Association represents a significant step toward unifying Gulf efforts to support women entrepreneurs and enhance knowledge and trade exchange between Omani and Qatari women. We believe that joint cooperation is the key to fostering a culture of innovation, competitiveness, and meaningful participation of women in economic development.”The initiative reflects QBWA’s dedication to establishing a comprehensive platform for empowering women and enhancing their social and economic presence. It is part of a broader strategy to expand the association’s local, regional, and international impact by forging partnerships with institutions that share its mission to elevate women’s status across all sectors.

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has presented an introductory video about the Qatar Sustainability Portal at Qatar’s pavilion in Expo 2025 Osaka, Japan.The video highlighted the country’s efforts in addressing climate change challenges and emphasised the importance of engaging various sectors in adopting responsible practices aligned with Qatar’s National Environment and Climate Change Strategy.

As part of the celebration of World Ozone Day, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Department of Chemicals and Hazardous Waste, organised a series of awareness workshops for a number of schools, in co-operation with the Environmental Awareness Section of the Public Relations and Communication Department.These activities aim to enhance students’ awareness of the importance of protecting the ozone layer and its role in environmental sustainability, besides promoting environmental culture among the younger generation and strengthen the role of educational institutions in climate issues.

Qatar Investment and Innovation Conference has announced that the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) has joined the upcoming edition 'Driving GCC Entrepreneurial Growth' as strategic partner. This high-level forum, organised by The Business Year and Msheireb Properties aims to foster dialogue between policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs, and innovators from across the Gulf region.The partnership underscores MCIT's commitment to advancing Qatar's digital transformation, fostering innovation, and building a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem in line with the Third National Development Strategy, Qatar National Vision 2030, and Digital Agenda 2030. By focusing on emerging technologies, digital inclusion, and innovation-led growth, MCIT's participation emphasises the vital role of public-private collaboration in shaping the region's future as a knowledge-based economy.Faraj Jassim Abdulla, director of the Digital Economy Department at MCIT, stated: "Through the Qatar Investment and Innovation Conference, MCIT aims to empower entrepreneurs and innovators across the GCC by providing a platform to connect, share ideas, and explore growth opportunities. This conference is an excellent example of how public-private partnerships can strengthen the digital economy, accelerate innovation, and position Qatar as a leader in innovation and sustainable economic transformation."The conference, scheduled for November 3 at Barahat Msheireb, will convene senior leaders from government, investment, and the private sector to explore opportunities in entrepreneurship, innovation, and digital transformation across the GCC. Msheireb Downtown Doha will provide a fitting venue for these regional stakeholders to engage in meaningful discussions on the role of entrepreneurship in driving economic growth, strategies for scaling start-ups, the evolving investment landscape, and the importance of public-private partnerships in strengthening global competitiveness.New to this year's edition is the “AI for Good Innovation Challenge”, hosted in collaboration with the AI for Good initiative YAILs and its Doha chapter. This dynamic segment will provide a global platform for showcasing emerging AI-driven solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), featuring emerging companies from across the GCC alongside main panel discussions with industry leaders and policymakers.As a Strategic Partner, MCIT will play a central role in shaping the programme, ensuring alignment with Qatar's national priorities and reinforcing the country's position as a regional hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Qatar National Library (QNL) hosted on Saturday the second edition of 'Write to Inspire: Books and Authors' program, bringing together publishers, authors, and industry professionals. The program explored current state of publishing and authorship in Qatar, with a focus on strengthening collaboration between local publishers and authors while providing them with an opportunity to connect with the wider community.The initiative aligns with Qatar National Library's mission to establish itself as a hub for learning, culture, and dialogue.This year's edition focused on deepening understanding of Qatar's publishing and distribution ecosystem, providing a platform for stakeholders to share experiences, highlight challenges, and explore growth prospects. One of the program's key outcomes was enabling publishers and authors to directly engage with the public.The event also welcomed representatives from Al-Nour Center, who gave a presentation on Braille printing in Qatar. They highlighted that most Braille publications are limited to school textbooks and stressed the need for more diverse reading materials for people with visual impairments.The event also showcased literature and writing prizes in Qatar, celebrating the achievements of local authors.On this occasion, Senior Information Services Librarian at Qatar National Library, Haya Abdulla Al Sheeb, said the event serves as a platform for nurturing Qatari talent and promoting a culture of collaboration within the local publishing industry.She added that bringing together authors, publishers, and readers, this program creates meaningful connections that support local creativity and contribute to a thriving cultural landscape. Al Sheed also underlined that Qatar National Library is working to encourage publishers and writers to devote greater attention to producing Braille books, enriching the availability of such works in Qatar and better serving the needs of the visually impaired.

The Statistical and Data Training Centre at the National Planning Council (NPC), in co-operation with Qatar Foundation (QF), has concluded a specialised training programme entitled ‘Economic Statistics for Managers: From Data to Decisions’.The initiative, held at QF headquarters, was part of national efforts to enhance government efficiency and advance knowledge-based sustainable development, a statement said.The aim is to qualify government leaders in economic fields, empowering them to effectively utilise data and statistics to impact public policies.The programme focused on developing skills for using data efficiently as a fundamental element in improving institutional performance and enhancing decision-making effectiveness.It is also a significant step towards qualifying national cadres and developing their capabilities in statistical leadership, as well as building integrated, collaborative systems for data exchange among various entities. The programme emphasised the importance of building trust in government data as a cornerstone for ensuring effective governance.It highlighted the pivotal role of integration and data exchange between institutions, and encouraged the adoption of modern tools and techniques in future planning.This reinforces the concept of leadership empowerment in the field of data, which enables leaders to support national decisions with accurate and reliable information. The intensive six-day programme covered several key themes, including: fundamentals of data and statistics, national statistical system, statistical literacy for executive leaders, data integration and ethics, statistical data management, strategic leadership, and roadmap design.Hessa Ali al-Malki, director of the Statistical and Data Training Centre at NPC, said: “Organising the programme with Qatar Foundation strengthens our partnerships with the country’s leading academic institutions.”QF’s talent management director Sheikha Ghalia al-Thani, said: “This initiative is part of our strategic co-operation with national institutions, reflecting QF’s steadfast commitment to enhancing national capabilities through knowledge exchange and leadership development across various sectors.”

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change's Marine Protection Department has spotted an environmental violation involving the entry of three marine vessels into the fishing harbour of Bu Zuluf, located west of Al-Ruwais Port, where they collided with the coral reefs.A field inspection team from the ministry’s Marine Protection Department examined the site and found topographical changes to the seabed caused by the direct contact of the vessels with the coral reefs. This resulted in the destruction of coral structures, a reduction in the percentage of live coral cover, and erosion and sedimentation in parts of the reef area due to the collision.The ministry explained that these damages negatively affected the rich biodiversity of the area, home to many fish, invertebrates, and marine organisms associated with the coral reef ecosystem.The ministry stressed that it has taken the necessary legal measures against the violators, while confirming its continued efforts to intensify the protection of natural resources and monitor and detect any environmental violations against the country’s marine ecosystems.

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani sent cables of congratulations to Governor-General of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis Marcella Althea Liburd on the occasion of her country's Independence Day.HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim al-Thani also sent a similar cable to Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis Dr Terrance Michael Drew on the occasion.

A delegation from the Qatari Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding, participated in an academic symposium titled "The Reality and Challenges of the Translation Movement between Arabic and Chinese" which was held on Sept 18 at Beijing Foreign Studies University.The symposium was also attended by representatives from the Qatari embassy in China, and a group of experts and academics from several Chinese universities. Research institutions, and publishing institutions participated in the symposium, including Peking University, the University of International Business and Economics, the Beijing Language and Culture University, Guangzhou University, Ningxia University, and Beijing Foreign Studies University. The participants exchanged views and ideas on issues of cultural exchange and translation between China and the Arab world.In his opening remarks, Professor Liu Xinlu, Vice President of Beijing Foreign Studies University, noted that the university's College of Arabic Language, as the main implementing agency of the Belt and Road China-Arab Friendship Library Project launched in 2016, has completed numerous translations of classic works between Chinese and Arabic. Thus, making it an important platform for promoting cultural exchange and rapprochement between peoples. He emphasized that in light of the complexities and fluctuations of today's global situation, dialogue between civilizations has become more urgent than ever, with language as a bridge and translation as a means gaining critical importance in promoting mutual understanding between different civilizations.Abdulrahman al-Marri, representative of the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding, expressed his great appreciation for the importance of this symposium. He explained that the award aims to promote the values of pluralism and openness, and to support dialogue and understanding between civilizations, and has already become the most influential award in the field of translation in the Arab world.He also expressed his hope that this symposium would provide an opportunity to deepen cooperation between Chinese and Arab researchers in the fields of translation and culture, and expressed his aspiration to enhance exchange and cooperation with the Beijing Foreign Studies University.The symposium's proceedings covered two main themes: "Translation and Introduction of Chinese and Arabic Classics" and "Translation and Chinese and Arab Civilizations." The researchers discussed the history, reality, and challenges of the mutual translation of classical literary and cultural works between the two sides from various perspectives.They also addressed the role of translation in supporting educational development, intellectual convergence, and cultural progress, by discussing issues of teaching Arabic translation, Sino-Arab cultural exchange, and the role of education support funds. The symposium witnessed the participation of more than 100 Arabic language professors and students from several universities in Beijing.It is worth noting that the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding aims to consolidate the values of pluralism and openness, encourage knowledge and dialogue, promote international understanding, and advance the level of translation between Arabic and other languages. It also honours translators, cultural institutions, and publishing houses that have made outstanding contributions to promoting friendship and co-operation between the Arab peoples and the peoples of the world. Professor Xu Qingguo (Bassam) of Beijing Foreign Studies University is the first Chinese scholar to receive this award. The award committee has announced that it will again award the prize to translators working in the field of Chinese-Arabic translation in 2026.

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC)continues its dedicated efforts to protect the ozone layer by adopting sustainable environmental policies, monitoring ozone-depleting substances, and promoting public awareness of this vital shield, an X post said.The ministry explained that it contributes to reducing harmful emissions and ensuring a safe environment for all, as part of its full support for international efforts aimed at preserving the ozone layer. Protecting the ozone layer is not a temporary task, but a long-term national commitment that reflects the state’s responsibility toward future generations.Accordingly, the MoECC has been organising awareness and training workshops for students, technicians and the community on related issues and topics. Besides, it has established the necessary legislation and constantly monitors the imports and exports of the materials that could potentially harm the ozone layer.The ministry supports the use of environment-friendly alternatives for refrigeration and air-conditioning systems. Other efforts include, organising training programmes for customs officers and border inspection personnel, conducts regular inspection of the targeted facilities, and monitor the consumption of related materials and substances in addition to submitting periodic international reports to ensure compliance."The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer falls on September 16. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Vienna Convention a global model for science-based environmental action," the ministry's X post added.

The Qatar Chamber held a meeting on Thursday with the non-resident Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to the State of Qatar Dana Goldfinca. The meeting discussed ways to enhance trade and economic relations between the two countries, explored potential areas of cooperation between the Qatari and Latvian private sectors, and highlighted key investment opportunities for Qatari business persons in Latvia.Speaking at the meeting, QC Board Member Abdulrahman bin Abduljalil Al Abdulghani stressed that the current volume of trade between Qatar and Latvia remains very modest, underlining the importance of strengthening cooperation between the private sectors of both countries to expand trade exchange and mutual investments.For her part, Ambassador Dana Goldfinca expressed Latvia's keenness to deepen economic and trade cooperation with Qatar, pointing to promising sectors for Qatari investments such as information and communications technology, food security, tourism, renewable energy, healthcare, and logistics.She further noted that Latvia offers attractive investment opportunities through its eight free zones, which provide various incentives and facilities for foreign investors. She also emphasised her country's openness to Qatari investments across all sectors.The Ambassador further highlighted the importance of enhancing cooperation between the Qatar Chamber and the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to facilitate communication and foster stronger ties between the business communities of both countries.