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Key officials from the Philippines’ public and private sectors expressed collective optimism about robust investment collaboration with Qatar in tourism, agriculture, transportation, and trade.Speaking to Gulf Times on the sidelines of the Qatar Travel Mart (QTM) 2025, Department of Tourism (DoT) Undersecretary Myra Paz Valderrosa-Abubakar underscored the country’s unified presence in the event’s fourth edition, which will run until November 24 at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC).“Our participation in the event reflects the Department of Tourism’s keenness to not only promote the Philippines as a tourism destination but also to include halal tourism and Muslim-friendly tourism as our offering to the people of Qatar,” Valderrosa-Abubakar pointed out.**media[385855]**She added that the DoT’s participation, in partnership with the Embassy of the Philippines in the State of Qatar, was part of a broader effort to highlight the country’s readiness to welcome Muslim travellers and showcase its diverse tourism portfolio.From the provincial front, Misamis Occidental Governor Henry S Oaminal emphasised the natural attractions of Northern Mindanao as a key draw for international visitors. He said: “We have development initiatives on both our mountain and coastal areas; we have a beach resort that is multi-inspired because it has an ocean villa presentation and dolphin islands nearby.”He explained that tourism promotion was being positioned alongside trade and agriculture to strengthen ties with Qatar, noting that inbound missions from Doha to Mindanao could be complemented by outbound delegations from the province of Misamis Occidental.Meanwhile, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President Enunina V Mangio highlighted the chamber’s direct engagement with Qatari counterparts.**media[385856]**“That’s why we’re bringing a group of individuals who are all engaged in different sectors, and we will try to match them with their counterparts in Qatar,” Mangio explained, adding that the PCCI is keen on sharing best practices, technology transfer, partnerships, and investment exchange.Today (November 25), the PCCI is meeting officials of Qatar Chamber to discuss co-operation relations and networking. The Philippine delegation comprises 40 people representing about 30 companies across sectors such as labour, real estate, monorails, construction, and water technology, Mangio noted.Aside from Qatar Chamber, Mangio said the PCCI delegation is expected to hold meetings with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Qatar Investment Authority, and tourism authorities.Mangio emphasised that the Philippines is ready to deepen its partnership with Qatar, leveraging tourism as a gateway to trade and investment, while ensuring that the PCCI will highlight the key role that small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and regional provinces play in strengthening Qatar-Philippines investment ties.

Qatar and Kuwait have held talks aimed at boosting media collaboration between the two countries. His Excellency CEO of Qatar Media Corp Sheikh Khalid bin Abdulaziz bin Jassim al-Thani met with Minister Plenipotentiary and Charge d'Affaires of the Kuwaiti embassy in Doha, Mohammad Fahad al-Zoubi, in a meeting focused on enhancing bilateral media ties.During the discussions, the officials explored ways to exchange expertise, coordinate media initiatives, and promote joint efforts that reflect the close relationship between the two Gulf states. Both sides emphasized the importance of media co-operation in supporting broader regional and Gulf unity.

University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) has signed an Academic Collaboration Contract with three globally recognized UK-based companies: Metaverse Learning Limited, MX Reality Limited, and vGather Limited (Metaverse Hub). The contract marks a milestone in advancing innovation, immersive education, and applied research in Qatar. Through this collaboration, the parties will engage in several key initiatives, including joint applied research projects, and integration of cutting-edge Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Mixed Reality (MR) technologies into education. The companies will also provide training for UDST faculty, internships for students, and contribute to UDST's research proposals and industry-driven initiatives. President of UDST Dr. Salem Al-Naemi commented: "This collaboration is a strategic step toward embedding immersive technologies into applied education and research at UDST. It will enrich the learning experience for our students by allowing them to engage with state-of-the-art VR, AR, and MR tools, and will open new pathways for applied research in areas of national and global relevance. Together, we are positioning UDST as a hub for innovation in Qatar and the wider region, aligned with the national vision for knowledge-based development." CEO of mXreality, Dr. Majid Al-Kader, said: "This partnership represents a powerful collaboration between UDST and our group of businesses — mXreality, Metaverse Learning, and Metaverse Hub. Together, we are committed to accelerating the digital transformation of learning by bringing immersive technology, AI, and innovation into the hands of students. By combining UDST's academic excellence with our expertise in creating engaging, future-focused digital platforms, we will give learners the tools and confidence to succeed in an increasingly dynamic global workforce." This collaboration highlights UDST's commitment to aligning academic learning with real-world innovation, ensuring students and faculty gain access to transformative technologies and global expertise.

Qatar University (QU) and Qatar News Agency (QNA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation across various scientific, technical, research, and administrative fields. The MoU was signed by the President of QU Dr. Omar Mohammed Al Ansari and His Excellency Director-General of Qatar News Agency Ahmed bin Saeed Al Rumaihi. The MoU aims to strengthen collaboration between the two sides in exchanging expertise and information, including bulletins, periodicals, studies, statistics, and data, as well as organizing studies, research, conferences, meetings, and training programs. Furthermore, the agreement aims to provide job opportunities and cooperation in any other areas of mutual interest. The MoU also stipulates the organization and encouragement of research and studies of mutual interest between the agency and the university's media department, with the aim of acquiring academic expertise in preparing and editing news and media reports — written, visual, and interactive, as well as cooperation in employment, providing job opportunities, and any other related areas of mutual interest to both parties. On this occasion, His Excellency President of QU Dr. Omar Al Ansari said in a statement, "This partnership with QNA reflects our commitment to providing our students and graduates with meaningful opportunities that enhance their academic knowledge with practical experience." His Excellency Dr. Al Ansari pointed out that this reflects QU's continuous efforts to support various institutions in the country with its unique academic competencies. "By combining QU's academic excellence with QNA's distinguished media expertise, we aim to prepare a new generation of professionals equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to contribute effectively to Qatar's development and to the national media landscape," he added. For his part, His Excellency Director-General of QNA Ahmed bin Saeed Al Rumaihi highlighted the importance of this cooperation to achieve common goals and aspirations, expressing QNA's pride in this collaboration with QU — the prestigious national educational institution that spares no effort in preparing and qualifying national cadres capable of leading the path of progress, development, and sustainable growth. His Excellency said that this MoU comes in line with the QNA's vision to enhance cooperation with national academic institutions, noting that this promising cooperation, which includes the exchange of knowledge and expertise, coordination in holding events, and training and qualification, is a true investment in human capital and the future of Qatari media. He expressed his confidence that this cooperation will contribute to preparing a new generation of scientifically and practically qualified media professionals and will help transfer knowledge and exchange expertise that will benefit both parties and serve the development process in the State of Qatar. A new chapter in the integration of media and academic institutions under the umbrella of Qatar National Vision 2030 is being written, he said, expressing his hope that this will lead to larger and broader collaborative projects that achieve the common goals of both sides. His Excellency Director-General of QNA noted that this MoU will enable students to receive practical training in a newsroom environment and benefit from the agency's accumulated media expertise, adding that QNA will also work with QU's professors and researchers to contribute to enhancing the agency's media role at the national, regional, and international levels. In this context, His Excellency pointed out that QNA has halls that are fully equipped with the latest media and journalistic training equipment and devices, indicating that this comes in line with the agency's vision to develop its media cadres. This can also be used to train QU's media students and media cadres, equipping them with the necessary media and journalistic skills and preparing them to enter the job market, he continued. In a related context, he pointed out QNA's continued keenness to highlight the university's activities, its various faculties, and its scientific achievements as Qatar's "mother national university," commending the remarkable scientific and academic development the university is witnessing, which has enabled it to occupy advanced positions in the world's university rankings. HE Director-General of QNA concluded his statements by expressing QNA's belief that the promising future of media is built on solid foundations of science and knowledge, indicating that Qatar University is a key partner in shaping this future. This cooperation is the first step toward broader and deeper partnerships that will place Qatar at the forefront of media and academia, he added.