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Some 16 government entities will take part in the 3rd edition of the Annual Meeting of the State Procurement Programme 2026 from October 20 to 22, the organisers announced today.The event will be held under the slogan ‘One Vision, Multiple Opportunities’, officials of the Ministry of Finance, represented by the Government Procurement Regulatory Department and Qatar Development Bank, in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Qatar Chamber said at a media event at the Ministry of Finance.They said the 2026 Government Procurement Plan Forum is considered one of the most prominent events in the field of government procurement.This announcement comes following the success of the previous two editions, with last year's forum witnessing notable attendance, reflecting the active role the forum plays in strengthening communication and cooperation between the public and private sectors.The 2026 Government Procurement Plan Forum is considered a strategic platform aimed at enhancing collaboration between government entities and local companies, while providing an enabling environment for economic growth and technological development within the procurement sector.With participation from some 16 government entities, this year’s edition will feature a renewed set of focus areas.Workshops will explore key themes such as procurement policies and legislation, digital transformation, and company classification. In addition, updates related to the In-Country Value (ICV) framework for 2026 will be presented.Panel discussions will address issues including support for small and medium-sized enterprises, cost-saving opportunities, competitiveness enhancement, investment potential, promotion of local products.The Government Procurement Regulatory Department at the Ministry of Finance has invited all companies, entrepreneurs, and interested parties to take part in the third edition of the forum.The event offers a unique opportunity to gain direct insight into the government’s procurement plans for 2026 and to explore available opportunities for building future partnerships and participating competitively in the national procurement market.The previous edition of the forum attracted more than 2,000 participants from the local community, including entrepreneurs, investors, and representatives of companies of different sizes.Over 980 representatives from across the economic spectrum took part, contributing to the creation of an ideal environment for communication and partnership-building.The diversity of participation spanned several key sectors, including manufacturing, services, construction, construction technology, hospitality, and other industries.This broad and inclusive engagement reflects the forum’s growing importance as a national platform for reinforcing collaboration between the public and private sectors, while also empowering companies and advancing the national economy.

Four talented Qatari graduates from HSBC Qatar have completed the HSBC Global Graduate Programme in London this August.The intensive programme brought together top emerging talents from 15 different countries across HSBC’s global network to equip them with the skills, knowledge and international exposure required to thrive in today’s competitive financial and corporate landscape.The programme also deepened their understanding of HSBC’s ambition, strategy, and values — while building connections that span the globe. The Qatari Graduate Cohort included Hissa al-Thani, Mahdi al-Majed, Nayef al-Mahsin, and Lolwa al-Dosari.HSBC Qatar CEO Abdul Hakeem Mostafawi said, “In collaboration and with the support of the Qatar Central Bank and the Ministry of Labour, we are committed to developing Qatari talents into tomorrow’s leaders. We are proud to see a new wave of Qatari talents completing the Global Graduate Programme and returning from London with new skills, global experience, and a stronger foundation to contribute to Qatar’s financial sector and future leadership.”Mohammed al-Sultan, country head of Human Resources at HSBC Qatar, added: “Empowering Qatari youth through international exposure and practical learning opportunities is at the heart of our talent strategy. By equipping our graduates with global perspectives and critical skills, we are preparing them to succeed and thrive in today’s fast-changing financial world.”The milestone highlights HSBC Qatar’s ongoing commitment to Qatarisation and the development of future Qatari banking leaders. The graduates will now apply their international experience and knowledge locally, serving as ambassadors of Qatar’s emerging talent and its potential on the global stage.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), the Primary Health Care Corp (PHCC) has launched the Family Medicine Certificate Programme, which aims to prepare a new generation of general practitioners specialising in family medicine, qualified to provide comprehensive community healthcare in any public or private healthcare facility in Qatar.The programme launched on September 1, welcoming its first cohort of 15 medical school graduates, children of residents. It will continue for one full-time year.The programme focuses on building a solid scientific and practical foundation through intensive clinical training, evidence-based practice, and multidisciplinary collaboration across health centers.Executive Director of the Clinical Affairs Directorate at PHCC Dr. Hanan al-Mujalli said the new programme reflects Qatar's strategic direction toward strengthening primary care, a long-term investment in community health.She pointed out that graduates of this programme will contribute to early diagnosis and prevention of diseases, thus promoting health in the community.

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia’s chairmanship of Asean in 2025 is poised to catalyse a new era of cross-regional halal collaboration, particularly between Southeast Asia and Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries, the top official of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) has said.Asked about Qatar’s growing role in halal innovation and its strategic investment across Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) markets, and how Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship and MATRADE’s leadership open new pathways for cross-regional halal collaboration between Southeast Asia and the Gulf, MATRADE chairman Reezal Merican Naina Merican told Gulf Times that the two regions are seen as the “main beacon” and “main catalyst” in promoting halal globally.Merican noted that the GCC pavilion "includes participation from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain, among others," while the Asean pavilion reflects robust regional engagement, with “300” buyers and “600” exhibitors from Asean countries participating in the International Sourcing Programme (INSP), a main component of the 21st Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS), which will run until September 20 at the Malaysia International Trade & Exhibition Centre (MITEC).“Altogether, out of about 900 [buyers], 300 are coming from Asean. Out of 2,400 exhibitors, 600 are from ASEAN countries,” said Merican, who also highlighted the presence of "first-time participants from Africa and Latin America, including Ghana, Mali, Congo, Senegal, Nigeria, Panama, and Costa Rica, as well as Central Asian nations, such as Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan."“We are seeing a very productive, fruitful, and more importantly, long and lasting partnership between Malaysian exporters and overseas buyers,” the MATRADE chairman also pointed out.Merican also revealed that Asean has elevated halal as a priority economic deliverable under Malaysia’s presidency, with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi proposing the establishment of an Asean Halal Council.“Not just to look at Malaysia as one of the main and premier promoters of halal, but to see Asean as a region being one of the major players in promoting and also in providing the support of a global halal chain globally,” he said.Merican also highlighted the scale of MIHAS 2025’s INSP, which is expected to generate 2.5bn Malaysian ringgit in sales through more than 4,000 business meetings. Asean countries account for 300 buyers and 600 exhibitors, while GCC participation is described as “significant,” with Qatar among the key contributors.

Stars of Science, Qatar Foundation’s (QF) flagship edutainment programme will launch its Season 17 on September 12, introducing a lineup of innovators and digital creators, joining long-time presenter, Khalid Aljumaily. Joining the jury this season is Dr Bothaina al-Mulla, a Qatari Ob-Gyn physician at Sidra Medicine and Hamad Medical Corporation, as well as a motivational speaker. “Being invited to join the jury of a show I’ve long admired was an honour,” said Dr al-Mulla. “What struck me most this season is the calibre of the contestants. As a medical professional, it is exciting to see so many bright minds tackling real-world challenges with purpose and precision.” The participants’ journey unfolds at Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), a member of QF a place designed not just for invention, but for scale and substance — where science meets entrepreneurship to tackle real-world challenges and turn ideas into lasting impact. Seven innovators from across the Arab world will develop and refine their ideas in the Stars of Science studios at QSTP. Over the course of 12 weeks, they will receive expert mentorship and access to resources as they set their sights on the title of Top Arab Innovator. Each innovator will play a role in contributing to QSTP’s vision of creating a future where technology and science positively impact humanity and the natural world.

Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) has stressed that with the new academic year, family preparations should not be limited to books and school uniforms, but must also include attention to children’s oral health.Dr Najat Alyafei, manager of Oral Health Promotion and Prevention, PHCC noted that oral health has a direct impact on a child’s comfort and academic performance, pointing out that even minor issues such as tooth decay or gum inflammation can lead to school absences and negatively affect learning outcomes.She added that the 'Asnani' School Oral Health Programme serves as a national initiative to safeguard the oral health of children in government schools and has been designed to meet the needs of different age groups through two main components. The first is dedicated to kindergarten students, who, according to scheduled plans, are taken to health centres equipped with specialised dental care rooms. During these visits, children engage in interactive activities designed to raise awareness and teach proper oral care habits in an enjoyable and age-appropriate way. They then undergo dental check-ups in designated clinics, where fluoride is applied as a preventive measure against tooth decay.The second component targets primary school students. Nine dental teams visit government schools according to approved schedules, delivering age-appropriate awareness lectures, conducting dental examinations, and applying fluoride treatments. Dr Alyafei emphasised that the implementation of these activities requires parental consent, obtained through forms distributed to students in their schools.She further explained that the role of the Asnani Programme is not limited to student check-ups. The dental teams also deliver the ‘Oral Health Ambassadors’ lecture to school teaching and administrative staff during their visits, aiming to spread awareness and promote healthy practices within the school community. She highlighted the importance of ensuring that adolescents in preparatory and secondary schools continue to maintain regular oral hygiene, visit dental clinics routinely, and avoid delays in seeking treatment. Dr Alyafei noted with concern that programme teams encountered a significant number of students who had never used a toothbrush, underscoring the urgent need to strengthen awareness efforts from an early age.She concluded by reaffirming that early attention to oral health ensures that children enjoy healthy smiles and consistent school attendance, while giving them greater confidence to begin the academic year fully prepared and focused. She called on parents to ensure their children participate in the Asnani Programme by signing the consent forms.

Ideal Indian School (IIS), organised a five-day orientation programme for its teachers, marking the start of the academic year with a renewed focus on professional growth, innovation, and well-being. The refresher course commenced with an address by principal Shaik Shamim Saheb, who oriented the faculty for the academic year 2025–26.Sessions were led by Dr Ambrin Siddiqui, Maninderjit Kaur, and Mohamed Mazher Yahya.The itinerary also included departmental meetings and section-wise meetings.The programme was co-ordinated by Girls' Section headmistress Khatija T C and assistant headmaster (academic affairs) Anwar Sadath.

Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Doha Debates has welcomed a new cohort of 195 young leaders from across the globe into its ambassador programme.Furthering Doha Debates’ goal of empowering young people to bridge differences and build consensus through constructive debate, participants in the Doha Debates Ambassador Programme learn to engage in intercultural dialogue and generate solutions to the world’s most timely and complex issues.At the start of the 12-week programme, ambassadors join an online community of practice guided by facilitation and intercultural communication expert Dr Brandon Ferderer, systems-thinking specialist Jennifer Geist, and several international guest speakers.Participants will build critical communication, systems-thinking, and consensus-building skills to prepare them for the second half of the programme, where they work in small teams to produce a Majlis-style debate that examines a global issue of concern to their generation.As well as acquiring valuable intercultural communication tools and techniques, ambassadors form lifelong connections with their peers and often engage with Doha Debates long after the programme concludes. Programme graduates have participated in live debates and town halls, podcasts and other special events. A group of 20 alumni will mentor the incoming cohort.Alumni have also created their own community projects showcasing the skills they acquired in the programme and reflecting its majlis-style approach. Former ambassador Ahmed Berramdane hosted Majlis-style workshops at the American Cultural Center Algiers, while Murshidul Alam Bhuiyan launched the Human Heroes Project, a space for authentic story-sharing to bridge divides. Meanwhile, Ayomide Emmanuel Akinwale, Rami Mroueh, Fils Jean Pierre Mutsinzi, Hafsa Rasheed, and Azra Shahab co-created a global affairs podcast promoting peaceful dialogue among youth.This cohort represents 68 countries across six continents, including Iraq, Somalia, India, Nigeria, Kenya, Afghanistan, Qatar, the US, and the UK. Many are current students or alumni of QF partner universities.“We warmly welcome our seventh cohort into the Doha Debates Ambassador Programme,” said Amjad Atallah, managing director of Doha Debates.

The Ministry of Labour (MoL), in co-operation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), on Sunday announced the launch of screening interviews for the Government Scholarship Programme for the Private Sector.The interviews are the first phase of the strategic initiative that includes partners such as Qatar Investment Authority, Sidra Medicine, Qatar National Bank, and Es’hailSat, among several stages involving a range of private sector partners participating in the programme.It boosts the partnership between the Ministry of Labour, the MoEHE, and the private sector. It aims to support the country’s approach to sending national talents for the first time to this vital sector.The initiative contributes to providing tools and opportunities for Qatari citizens, enhancing the skills of the national workforce, enabling them to contribute to driving the growth of the national economy, achieving a prosperous future, and building a society capable of innovation and entrepreneurship. This aligns with the goals of the Third National Development Strategy 2024-2030.The scholarship programme targets two main categories: students applying for the government scholarship in the private sector and those initially nominated scholarship recipients.These candidates undergo rigorous assessment interviews to measure the compatibility of their qualifications and capabilities with the requirements of the beneficiary employers, ensuring optimal alignment between educational outcomes and labour market needs.The first phase of the Private Sector Scholarship Programme included Qatari students selected according to strict criteria that ensures academic excellence and professional readiness.The Qatar Investment Authority is conducting direct interviews with the nominated students to assess their preparedness and compatibility with the nature of work in the investment and financial institutions affiliated with the authority.Upon successfully passing the interviews, official procedures continue with the signing of the scholarship contract, marking the beginning of an academic and professional journey tailored to the needs of the private sector. This process ensures mutual commitment between the scholarship students and the beneficiary entities of the programme’s outcomes.This initiative comes as part of the efforts by the Ministry of Labour, in co-operation with the MoEHE and success partners in both the public and private sectors. It represents an unprecedented experience aimed at activating scholarships as a strategic tool to qualify Qatari cadres, supporting the localisation plan by building a qualified and highly skilled national workforce. It also prepares them to enter the private sector labour market and participate effectively in the country’s sustainable development journey.The Government Scholarship Programme for the Private Sector also aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030, which prioritises human resource development. It supports the national direction to empower Qatari youth to pursue specialised fields required in the private sector, particularly in areas such as financial services, information technology and digital services, food and agriculture, education, healthcare, logistics, tourism, manufacturing industries, construction, and real estate.This step represents a qualitative leap in expanding the scope of the government scholarship programme to include private sector institutions for the first time. It directs the programme towards serving economic development goals and enhancing the participation of national cadres in private sector institutions. This initiative is part of the Ministry of Labour’s efforts within the National Workforce Affairs Sector in the private sector, aiming to activate the localisation law and increase the employment rates of Qatari nationals in this vital sector. (QNA)

The World Food Program (WFP) has warned that food aid currently reaching the Gaza Strip remains far from enough to avert widespread starvation.WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain said in a press statement that the organization is now able to deliver about 100 aid trucks per day into Gaza, compared with 600 trucks daily during a two-month ceasefire that ended in mid-March.She stressed that this amount is not nearly sufficient to ensure people are adequately nourished and protected from starvation.McCain, who visited Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis this week - including a clinic supporting children and pregnant and lactating women - highlighted persistent challenges in delivering aid to vulnerable populations deeper inside Gaza."What we saw was utter devastation. "It was basically flattened, and we saw people who were very seriously hungry and malnourished," McCain said.She added that the visit underscored the urgent need for sustained access across the Strip to consistently provide essential food supplies.A report released Friday by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) - a global hunger monitoring body - found that about 514,000 people, nearly a quarter of Gaza's population, are already facing famine conditions in Gaza City and surrounding areas.The report also warned that famine could spread to the central and southern districts of Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of September.Israel dismissed the IPC report as "deeply flawed" and urged the body to retract it on Wednesday, reiterating its rejection of previous warnings as false and biased.

Aspire Academy’s burgeoning padel programme has been further boosted with the opening of four world-class courts inside the iconic Aspire Academy dome.The new courts are an important step in the development of Aspire Academy’s padel programme, which was launched in 2023. A third intake of six new student-athletes will begin their journey at Aspire Academy in September when the new academic year begins.Following a training camp and tournament in Alicante, Spain, in July, many student-athletes and pre-academy players are utilising the state-of-the-art facilities to prepare for the upcoming season. The regular training timetable will resume in September.Aspire Academy’s Padel Head Coach, Mariano Amat, emphasised the importance of the new courts not just for the Academy but also beyond.“Having our own padel courts at Aspire Academy means much more than just a new facility – it consolidates a global development project that aims to become a world reference in training young padel players,” he explained.“These courts allow us to apply our methodology with consistency, give our athletes a true high-performance environment, and open the door to hosting official and international competitions in the future.”“The players’ reaction has been fantastic: they feel these courts are their home, which multiplies both their motivation and their sense of belonging.”Several Aspire Academy student-athletes have been selected to represent Qatar at the GCC Team Championships, which will take place in Doha from September 15 to 19.The players are also aiming to impress and be selected to play for Qatar at the Junior Padel World Championships in Barcelona, Spain, from September 29 to October 4.Having the courts on site means the padel players and coaches no longer need to spend time travelling to and from the nearby facilities provided at Padel In.The use of the Padel In courts was part of a two-year agreement signed in 2023, as one of the initial steps the Academy took in establishing its own padel programme, and to help lead the way in developing the sport in Qatar.In addition to the training opportunities, the collaboration resulted in the first-ever International Padel Federation (FIP)- recognised youth event in Qatar: the FIP Promises Aspire Academy Tournament.The highly successful tournament was part of the FIP’s global tour for youth padel players and was part of Aspire Academy's 20th-anniversary celebrations.Plans are already underway for Aspire Academy to organise and host another FIP event, as well as other tournaments to help develop the sport in Qatar.

The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change's Climate Change Department, organised a comprehensive national workshop on 'Strengthening National Capacities for Preparing the First Biennial Transparency Report on Climate Change (BTR1)', in co-operation with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) – Regional Office for West Asia.The three-day workshop which concludes today (Thursday) aims to build and enhance national capacities for preparing and submitting the first Biennial Transparency Report, which serves as a key tool for presenting the country’s efforts in addressing climate change. The report includes data on emissions, progress made in implementing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), adaptation measures, and support provided and received.In his opening remarks, engineer Saad Abdullah al-Hitmi, director of the Climate Change Department, stressed the importance of the First Biennial Transparency Report, which represents a milestone in Qatar’s journey to fulfil its international commitments in reporting national efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to climate change impacts, and track support provided and received in terms of finance, technology transfer, and capacity building.He also highlighted that the report is a strategic tool reflecting Qatar’s progress toward achieving its NDC goals. He noted that the workshop serves as an opportunity for national experts from various sectors to strengthen their capacities in preparing reports in line with the requirements of the Enhanced Transparency Framework, ensuring data quality and comprehensiveness. The workshop also provided a platform for enhancing institutional coordination and exchanging technical expertise.Engineer al-Hitmi further stressed that the success of the report relies on co-operation among all parties and on the commitment of each entity to provide timely and high-quality data and information, expressing his confidence in the valuable expertise of the participants. The workshop gathered representatives from various national sectors, including energy, industrial processes and product use, agriculture, forestry and land use, and the waste sector, in addition to specialized experts and technicians.The workshop included a variety of activities, such as hands-on training sessions on national inventory methodologies, the use of Common Reporting Tables and Common Tabular Formats, mechanisms for tracking NDC implementation, as well as discussions on data and capacity gaps and planning to address them.