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A delegation from the Qatar Chamber has concluded a visit to several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain, aimed at strengthening ties with regional chambers of commerce and business leaders. The Chamber's delegation was headed by Board Member Eng. Ali bin Abdullatif Al Misnad, and included meetings with the Bahrain Chamber, Riyadh Chamber, Dubai Chamber, and Sharjah Chamber. In a Qatar Chamber statement Saturday, the discussions focused on mechanisms for forming sectoral committees and developing their work plans, as well as discussing successful practices, performance evaluation methods, and digital systems used to manage committee operations. During a meeting with Chairman of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce Eng. Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman Al Obaikan, Al Misnad emphasized Qatar Chamber's commitment to strengthening cooperation with GCC chambers of commerce and businesspeople. He highlighted the importance of enhancing collaboration between the committee departments of Qatar and Riyadh chambers through the exchange of experiences and successful practices that can further develop the work of commercial chambers, increasing their contribution to supporting the private sector and representing its interests. He further noted that sectoral committees in commercial chambers are among the most effective tools, as they work on identifying challenges facing various economic sectors and contribute to addressing them in cooperation with relevant authorities. For his part, Director of the Department of Committees and Business Councils Affairs Hamad Ali Al Marri said that the main objective of the visit was to learn about the leading experiences in the functioning of sectoral committees in Gulf chambers and to benefit from the best practices in this field.

Behind Japan’s futuristic Expo showcase lies a deeper goal: turning its domestic pavilions into real-world incubators that would spark breakthroughs in healthcare, digital technology, and green solutions for the future.This strategy is anchored by two distinct pillars – resource circulation and regenerative medicine – each presented in highly interactive and functional exhibition spaces at the Expo 2025 Osaka.According to organisers, the Japan pavilion, themed “Between Lives,” serves as the epicentre of this national strategy. Its architecture, divided into unique Plant, Farm, and Factory zones, symbolises the concept of “circulation,” a principle deeply embedded in Japanese culture and craftsmanship.Masafumi Sugano, deputy commissioner general for Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) and director of the Expo’s International Office, told reporters that the pavilion operationalises cyclical resource management by tackling the issue of waste generated on-site.“Within the pavilion, we actually take rubbish, garbage, trash from the Expo site, we decompose it and turn it into clean water, and methane,” Sugano said. “Then we take the algae (developed from methane) and turn it into valuable products.”This functional system, he noted, shows how Japan interprets the circular economy, focusing not just on recycling, but on creating business-viable, productive systems that remain responsible to the global climate.“It shows how we interpret the circular economy in Japan, which is something that I’m sure would be interesting for Qatar,” he added.Sugano said the commitment to circularity extends to the structure itself, pointing out that the wooden panels used in the pavilion’s architecture are designed to be repurposed across Japan once the event concludes.Adding a playful touch to this environmental pledge, the pavilion also features an array of algae – 32 unique types – some represented as popular, adorable Hello Kitty characters, flourishing in a warmly lit “forest of the future”.Complementing the focus on green innovation, the Pasona Natureverse pavilion explores the future of healthcare, highlighting revolutionary regenerative medicine based on Induced Pluripotent Stem cells (iPS).iPS technology allows adult cells to be “reprogrammed” back to a pluripotent state, enabling scientists to differentiate them into any required cell type. This breakthrough, discovered by Nobel Laureate Dr Shinya Yamanaka in 2009, forms the basis of two groundbreaking exhibits.Carla Alonso from the Pasona Group presented the iPS Heart, an artificial heart model created by transforming some 200 million skin adult stem cells into beating heart muscle tissue.“What you see here is essentially an artificial model of a heart... beating completely by itself without any electrical impulse,” she said.While the exhibit currently displays only the heart muscle tissue, she said the goal is to use this technology within the next 50 years to completely reproduce whole hearts from a patient’s own cells, significantly reducing the high rate of rejection associated with traditional heart transplants.However, a more immediate application is the iPS Heart Muscle Sheet, which Alonso described as functioning ‘a little bit like a band aid’. She said this sheet is applied to cardiac tissue damaged by heart failure, where it re-integrates into the surrounding tissue and promotes regeneration.“In around two weeks, new capillary networks can be created and the heart can start to function normally again,” Alonso said. She noted that the technology is already further along; the company behind the specific exhibit, CUORIPS, has completed a successful human trial and has applied for government permission to begin making this a real treatment, positioning it for potential use far sooner than the full iPS Heart.The theme of transforming society continues at the Osaka Healthcare Pavilion, themed “Reborn,” which offers visitors a tangible glimpse into urban life in 2050.The interactive ‘Reborn experience’ route captures visitors’ individual health data via a body analysis pod, subsequently generating an avatar showing them their personalised health and lifestyle 25 years in the future. The exhibit pools Osaka’s collective wisdom, technology, and ideas on future cities, food, and culture, creating a powerful, personalized experience.From personalised healthcare stations like the Cell Design Station and Eye Care station to interactive projections of future cities, the Osaka pavilion highlights that Japan’s Expo presence is not merely about showcasing technology, but about defining, developing, and deploying the systems needed to support a thriving, sustainable, and healthy future society.

Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (KAHRAMAA) has announced the completion of its strategic Customer Database Update Project, which comes as part of its comprehensive plan for digital transformation and the development of public services infrastructure. This project represents key step in supporting the State’s progress towards achieving the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 and the 3rd National Development Strategy (NDS3), by enhancing operational efficiency and sustainability in the electricity and water sectors.The project included updating more than 900,000 reading meters, verifying the accuracy of over 7 million records, and maintaining or replacing more than 13,000 service boxes. In addition, reviewing customer data has enhanced communication accuracy through updated customer profiles, ensured service delivery in line with the highest quality standards, and improved performance and network safety by detecting illegible connections and addressing damaged cables. These efforts contributed to improving network reliability and enhanced distribution system efficiency, ensuring the continuous provision of smart and reliable services to customers.KAHRAMAA noted that this achievement reflects its commitment to raising customer satisfaction through innovative and integrated services that support Qatar’s path of sustainability and innovation, while keeping pace with global trends in electricity, water and digital transformation.The Corporation affirmed that this project constitutes a qualitative leap in strengthening network security and improving service efficiency, thereby contributing to the achievement of the National Development Strategy’s objectives and consolidating Qatar’s position as a leading country in applying smart and sustainable solutions.This achievement crowns KAHRAMAA’s continuous efforts to enhance its national responsibility and embodies its firm commitment to supporting the State’s sustainable development strategies, contributing to building a more prosperous future for coming generations.

In the modern, interlinked ecosystem, online footprints significantly influence career paths and organizational fortunes. Online reputation management has grown from a niche service to a core business activity. This growth has spawned a new generation of specialist crisis management companies, with ReputationUP emerging as a shining example of holistic digital reputation defense and restoration.The Evolution of Digital Risk ManagementThe internet era has transformed the ways reputations are established, sustained, and impacted. Conventional public relations strategies, which were previously sufficient to deal with corporate image management, are now not effective enough to counter the sophisticated issues of online defamation, viral lies, and organized digital assault. The advent of search engine defamation, compliance blacklist manipulation, and personalized disinformation campaigns has generated an increasing demand for professional intervention services.ReputationUP has systematized this challenge with its own certified proprietary framework that deals with the four pillars of contemporary online reputation management: cleaning, monitoring, protection, and improvement. This methodological framework is a significant break from the traditional crisis management practices of the past, providing clients with a step-by-step guide to digital reputation restoration and long-term safeguarding.Guided by CEO EMEA Andrea Baggio and CEO America Juan Ricardo Palacio, the company has forged what industry-watchers acknowledge as an overarching vision of digital crisis management. With decades of collective experience in online reputation management, crisis mitigation, and digital privacy, ReputationUP has become a go-to solution for governments, Fortune 500 corporations, and prominent individuals on five continents.Dealing with Modern Online ThreatsThe range of online threats to contemporary organizations and individuals has grown significantly. Business leaders are targeted by synchronized attacks intended to counterfeit search results and harm professional reputation. Political leaders are confronted by complex disinformation campaigns capable of shifting public opinion in a matter of hours. Also, financial institutions deal with illegitimate compliance blacklists that have the potential to initiate banking prohibitions and reputational loss.ReputationUP's response to these threats demonstrates an appreciation for the way digital environments function. The company's RepUP Monitoring Tool, a proprietary solution, detects reputational attacks in real time, and the RepUP Guardian Tool examines and identifies malicious accounts, categorizes sources of disinformation, and triggers takedown processes. This technological backbone makes it possible to respond to threats as they emerge, rather than after they have inflicted long-term harm.The group's efforts on behalf of extorsion victims illustrate the organization's dedication to helping those who are experiencing extremely personal digital emergencies. Through its melding of technical proficiency and compassionate crisis counseling, ReputationUP has assisted thousands of people in reasserting control over their digital lives and professional futures.Regional Expertise and Global ReachThe global operations of ReputationUP demonstrate the varying nature of online threats in different regions and regulatory frameworks. In the United States, the operation is focused on defense against fake news, defamatory information, and viral social media onslaughts. While the Middle East focuses on defense against online defamation and financial reputation loss due to false compliance databases.Within Latin America, the company offers full online reputation cleaning services with specialized victim care for sextortion. Lastly, European operations specialize in addressing search engine defamation and client removal from problematic compliance blacklists. Expansion into African markets serves to meet the specific challenge of political reputation management and interference in democratic processes.This geographical specialization, allied to multilingualism in English, Spanish, and Italian, allows ReputationUP to deliver culturally appropriate and legally sound solutions in varied markets. The company's success globally has been helped by its capacity to tailor its core methodology to local regulatory needs and cultural sensitivities. The Technology-Driven ApproachReputationUP's technological expertise sets it apart from conventional crisis management companies. The company's in-house monitoring systems offer round-the-clock tracking of online channels, facilitating early identification of threats. Sophisticated analytics capabilities enable the detection of orchestrated attacks and the origin of the malicious content.The content removal capabilities of the organization go beyond mere takedown notices. With its advanced legal and technical strategies, ReputationUP can tackle sophisticated cases with multiple jurisdictions and obstinate platforms. Content removal from Google search results and dealing with compliance database entries are specialized skills that very few organizations have.Crisis communication strategy is another key element of ReputationUP's service portfolio. The company's crisis management procedures guarantee clients retain ownership of their message throughout times of digital crisis, safeguarding both short-term reputation and long-term brand reputation.Setting Industry StandardsReputationUP's impact reaches from client-by-client service to setting wider industry standards. The company's executives are frequent contributors of expert opinion to the world's leading media and are speakers at international conferences on digital reputation and crisis management. This thought leadership has assisted in defining best practices in digital crisis resolution and reputation defense.The company's dedication to ethical practices and client privacy has earned trust in industries where reputation management is critical. Banks, healthcare organizations, and government institutions trust ReputationUP's confidentiality and skill to manage delicate reputation issues without organizational integrity being undermined.The company's high success rate in intricate reputation recovery situations has drawn praise from independent experts and sector watchers. This record of achievement across a range of markets and types of threats illustrates the success of ReputationUP's methodical strategy to online crisis management.Online reputation management has become a professional specialty unto itself, demanding expert knowledge, proprietary technology, and worldwide operating capabilities. ReputationUP's holistic strategy to the challenge has set new benchmarks for what individuals and organizations may anticipate from professional reputation protection services.As online threats persist in developing, the company's dedication to technical innovation and best practices makes it a significant authority in online reputation management and crisis mitigation.

As part of their efforts to promote digital innovation in the tourism sector, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), in collaboration with Qatar Tourism, held an awareness workshop under the SMEs Go Digital Program, the national initiative aimed at supporting SMEs in adopting digital solutions.The workshop focused on showcasing the role of digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) in driving innovation across hotels and tour operators. Two workshops have been organized in collaboration with Qatar Tourism emphasized the vital role of digital transformation in advancing the tourism industry, where participants explored practical AI applications that enhance customer experience, simplify operations, and open new avenues for SMEs growth.On this occasion, Faraj Jassim Abdulla, Director of the Digital Economy Department at MCIT, stated: "The SMEs Go Digital Program is a cornerstone of our strategy to foster a diverse and sustainable digital economy in Qatar. The program goes beyond offering technical solutions; it provides an integrated system of tools and services that empower SMEs to innovate business models, achieve greater operational efficiency, and expand their presence in local and global markets. Our partnership with Qatar Tourism represents a key opportunity to accelerate digital transformation in a sector that is a major driver of economic growth, by integrating AI technologies and digital solutions that improve service quality and enrich visitor experiences. This program reflects MCIT’s commitment to building a business environment founded on digital innovation, strengthening collaboration with strategic partners, and enabling SMEs to be a central engine in achieving the goals of the Digital Agenda 2030."Commenting on the workshop, Omar al-Jaber, Chief of Tourism Development Sector at Qatar Tourism, stated: "At Qatar Tourism, we are committed to keeping pace with technological advancements by integrating artificial intelligence into our website and applications. We strive for all our partners to adopt these solutions to elevate the tourism sector in Qatar. Through our partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, we are supporting SMEs in embracing digital solutions that enhance service quality and reinforce Qatar’s position as a leading global tourism destination."This workshop is part of a series of specialised sessions under the SMEs Digital Transformation Program, targeting key sectors including tourism, education, healthcare, retail and wholesale, and transport and logistics. The program supports the objectives of the Digital Agenda 2030 by building a business ecosystem driven by digital innovation. As a national initiative, it aims to accelerate the digital transformation of SMEs in Qatar, with a particular focus on enabling them to adopt emerging technologies and enhance their readiness for the digital future.It offers a wide range of benefits to SMEs, including tailored digital assessments, customized digital transformation roadmaps, opportunities to connect with service providers, exclusive technology offers, and potential financial support through Qatar Development Bank. It also provides training courses and awareness sessions that equip SMEs with the skills needed to leverage digital technologies for sustainable growth.

The Ministry of Labour announced the launch of the pilot phase of the Moawen Platform—a pioneering digital system designed to redefine domestic worker recruitment, bolster transparency, and safeguard the rights of all stakeholders. This was unveiled during the meeting of Her Excellency Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour Sheikha Najwa bint Abdulrahman Al-Thani with licensed recruitment offices. Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation with recruitment offices, supporting and developing their operational capacity, and addressing the sector's key challenges—particularly in workforce management and recruitment procedures. The Moawen Platform streamlines every stage of domestic worker recruitment. Recruitment offices can orchestrate applications through a unified digital portal, while employers can select workers and licensed offices with full transparency, based on service quality and pricing. Simultaneously, the Ministry receives comprehensive, real-time data on recruitment office activity, enabling rapid analysis, identification of bottlenecks, and timely, evidence-based interventions—strengthening sector stability. Key features of the platform include: submission and management of recruitment offers; conducting job interviews; worker and office selection; contract finalization; payment of recruitment fees and wage transfers; and management of end-of-service entitlements and processing of refunds in disputes. During the pilot phase, the platform will register recruitment offices and available workers to create verified, comprehensive profiles; enable offices to manage applications, submit feedback, and refine processes; and allow select clients to test end-to-end application submission and tracking. This trial ensures the Ministry can rigorously evaluate Moawen's effectiveness and readiness ahead of its full launch, while providing recruitment offices the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the system and adapt it to practical operational needs.

Techno Q, a leader in technology and digital solutions, particularly in the sports sector, has won new government contracts valued at QR62mn.These contracts include the supply, installation, and maintenance of giant screen systems and broadcasting infrastructure in several sports facilities across the country.This achievement is further evidence of the trust that government entities place in Techno Q’s services and its high efficiency in executing vital projects that meet international standards, the company said in its regulatory filing with the Qatar Stock Exchange.It also reflects the country's commitment to developing sports infrastructure and providing an advanced environment that supports both athletes and fans."These projects are not just new contracts; they are a direct contribution to supporting the development of sports in our country and an affirmation of our strategic partners' trust in our capabilities," said Zeyad al-Jaidah, a board member and managing director at Techno Q.Through these projects, Techno Q continues to solidify its position as a key partner in the nation's sports renaissance by providing advanced technological solutions and utilising the latest global systems in display, broadcasting, and lighting.This ensures that it keeps pace with the rapid developments in the sports industry and enhances the experience of fans, the filing said."With increasing national investments in this vital sector, Techno Q looks forward to more future successes and to solidifying its role as a reliable national company that supports the state's efforts in building a comprehensive and sustainable sports system," it added.

QNB has been recognised by Global Finance magazine as one of the best in digital banking, winning two prestigious awards: ‘Best Mobile Banking App’ and ‘Best in Social Media Marketing and Services in Qatar’ for its continuous efforts in digital banking, and marketing.These accolades reflect QNB’s commitment to delivering innovative digital banking solutions and exceptional customer experience, further cementing its leadership in digital transformation, and significant efforts on customer awareness on digital through innovative marketing channels.QNB has distinguished itself through a wide range of pioneering digital services, as it has introduced ‘3D Secure eCommerce Transaction Verification’, allowing customers to approve online payments via QNB Mobile Banking push notifications.This new feature is provided alongside the SMS verification method already in place, giving customers additional options for secure transaction approval.It has also expanded the scope of convenient fund transfers with Visa Direct, allowing customers to instantly transfer money to Visa debit, credit, or pre-paid cards directly through QNB Mobile Banking.Court payments have similarly become easier, with customers now able to complete these transactions conveniently through QNB Mobile and Internet Banking.Through its Digital Onboarding service, QNB enables new customers to open a current or savings account, obtain a Virtual Card, and begin using their accounts instantly within minutes through QNB Mobile Banking without having to visit a branch.In addition, the bank has introduced a Multi-Currency Travel Card that allows customers to create a virtual card in multiple currencies within minutes, ensuring hassle-free transactions worldwide at competitive exchange rates.Furthermore, QNB Mobile Banking application offers customers the flexibility to adjust their credit card repayment percentage with ease.Reinforcing its reputation as a regional innovator, QNB became the first bank in Qatar and the Middle East to launch ATMs with bulk cash deposit functionality.These awards are a testament to QNB’s continuous innovation and investment in cutting-edge digital services, designed to provide its customers with secure, seamless, and exceptional digital banking across all channels.QNB continues to enhance its digital platforms in line with its strategy to deliver smart, customer-centric solutions that make everyday banking faster and more secure.The Group was also recognised recently with several international awards including: ‘Best Multi-Channel Offering in the Middle East and North Africa’, ‘Best Digital Bank in Qatar’ and ‘Excellence in Omni-channel Customer Experience’.

Floward, the go-to online flowers and gifts delivery destination in MENA and UK, is proud to launch Floward Future Coders, its latest initiative aimed at empowering the young generation with coding and digital literacy skills, in line with Floward’s 2025 ESG strategy and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).In partnership with leading coding academies across the region, Floward is offering around 100 scholarships for children and youth, providing hands-on training in coding and digital literacy. These programs are delivered in collaboration with local institutions in each market to ensure maximum impact and accessibility. In Qatar, Floward is working with Logiscool to bring this initiative to life.Chairman and CEO at Floward, Mr. Abdulaziz B. Al Loughani said: "At Floward, we don’t just deliver gifts, we deliver opportunities. Floward Future Coders initiative is our way of turning vision into action, giving aspiring coders across the region the tools to innovate, create, and lead. This initiative reflects our commitment to investing in human capital, a core part of our ESG strategy. As a tech-driven company, we believe that empowering future generations is an investment in our own future.”Interested students are encouraged to connect with their local partner institutions to learn about scholarships, program updates, and rollout details. Each program will follow the schedule set by the academy, offering students the chance to be part of the next generation of coders and innovators. Established in 2017, Floward is a full-fledged e-commerce solution that offers prime fresh-cut flowers sourced from the best growers and farmers around the world and arranged locally by a team of florists and designers. Floward also offers cakes, chocolate and perfumes curated by the region’s most exciting designers bundled with its flower arrangements and manages last-mile same-day delivery to ensure the best customer experience. About Floward Founded in 2017, Floward is the preferred online flowers and gifts destination in the MENA region that offers a wide range of fresh-cut flowers and a variety of accessories for every occasion. Floward procures flowers from the best farmers and growers around the world which are arranged by a team of florists and delivered to the customer through its last-mile delivery fleet. www.floward.com For any media inquiry contact: Nai Issa on +965 60064186 and [email protected]

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 State of Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Public Health, is set to host the Sixth Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit, which will take place in Doha on 30 September and 1 October 2025, under the theme "Transforming Mental Health through Investment, Innovation and Digital Solutions".The summit will witness broad participation from health ministers, experts, and specialists worldwide, alongside international organisations concerned with mental health.The ministerial summit will feature a rich programme of sessions and events, including two panel discussions, six workshops and several accompanying activities. During these events, officials, policymakers, and specialists will discuss pressing mental health issues and formulate strategies to address them globally. The summit will host a total of 64 local and international speakers.The summit addresses mental health as an integral part of public health, social justice, and human rights, in line with the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution on mental health and human rights, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.Chair of the Organising Committee for the Sixth Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit, Dr. Salih Ali Al Marri emphasized the vital importance of the summit in advancing mental health at the global level, particularly by focusing on investment, innovation, and digital solutions.Dr. Al Marri stated: "The Sixth Ministerial Summit builds upon the achievements of previous summits and features a comprehensive agenda and global partnerships to ensure the challenges facing mental health worldwide are addressed"."It draws from outstanding experiences to ensure that all people, everywhere without exception, have easy access to effective and sustainable mental health services," he stressed.Qatar's hosting of the summit also supports national efforts to implement the State's Third National Development Strategy and to strengthen public health.Director of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health at the World Health Organization (WHO), Devora Kestel, commented: "WHO greatly looks forward to the Sixth Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit being hosted this year by the Government of Qatar, and to joining the conversation on a range of critical topics for mental health, including service delivery innovation, digitisation, telehealth, and web-based technologies"."In a rapidly evolving world, it is vital to learn about and practice new approaches and ways of working that can better meet the needs of those we serve," she added.Chief Executive of United for Global Mental Health, Sarah Kline, highlighted that the summit's timing, coming just days after the UN High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, makes it an exceptional opportunity to confirm the practical steps nations will take to improve mental health for all.Kline added: "As Secretariat of the Global Mental Health Action Network, we are pleased to be working closely with so many stakeholders in preparing conversations on tackling stigma, reducing suicide rates, addressing the needs of young people, and strengthening mental health organisations to deliver services and support."The summit seeks to facilitate the exchange of best practices and success stories across regions and contexts, and to discuss actionable strategies to improve the implementation of community-based mental health models, particularly through digital solutions.The event will also develop a global resolution on mental health and promote investment in mental health research and innovation.The Sixth Ministerial Summit aims to build upon the achievements of previous summits held in London, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome and Buenos Aires. Past summits have consistently called for integrating mental health into public policy and highlighted the global commitment to mental health. This aligns with other global initiatives, including the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the High-Level Commission on Noncommunicable Diseases, and the WHO Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030.Qatar's summit hosting affirms its steadfast commitment to promoting mental health as a core component of sustainable human development and to leveraging innovation and modern technologies to ensure mental health services are accessible to all.

The Shura Council participated in the parliamentary session as part of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Public Forum titled 'Promoting Multilateralism Through Digital Trade: What Role for Parliaments' organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union in collaboration with the European Parliament, the session brought together parliamentarians and legislators from around the world, as well as representatives from the digital industry.HE member of the Shura Council Issa bin Ahmed al-Nasr represented the Council at this two-day event, which concluded at the WTO headquarters in Geneva. The parliamentary session discussed the contributions of parliamentarians and their role in formulating digital technology policies that promote inclusive growth and global cooperation, as well as modernizing trade governance.The session also highlighted the responsibilities of parliaments in designing legislation that supports cross-border digital trade, ensures equitable access for all, and reinforces the multilateral framework in an economy that increasingly utilizes digital technology.