Remarks of

Dr. Hessa Al Jaber, ictQATAR Secretary General

at the IDA/ictQATAR luncheon
The Diplomatic Club – Al Safeer Hall

Good Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen. I’m delighted

you are here to help us celebrate the ties between
ictQATAR and IDA of Singapore.

I remember well a spring morning more than a year

ago, ictQATAR was only a handful of employees
sitting around a table pondering which international
bodies should guide us in the creation of a world class
organization. Even then our goals were ambitious. We
needed to learn from the best and boldest there was.

That is why we decided to explore Singapore’s

experience.

Singapore’s model is recognized throughout the world

as a hub of ICT development. The government’s recent
initiative to turn the country into a seamless wireless
region… is truly unprecedented.

That kind of innovative thinking is what will drive us at

ictQATAR as we connect people to the technologies
that will enrich their lives and spur economic
development.
Singapore is a model for bridging the digital divide and
embracing the digital economy. We share this vision
and we are working smoothly towards it.

Today we celebrate the opening of an IDA office in

Doha – a moment for celebration. We started our
collaborative journey a year ago when we signed a
mutual agreement. That agreement fostered a series of
innovative projects that will benefit our citizens in
education, commerce and government services.

I take this opportunity to applaud every member of the

iDA team for the diligence, and expertise they have
demonstrated through our work together.

And as we approach the end of 2006, I am proud to say

that the ictQATAR team has enjoyed an exciting and
productive year.

In March we hosted the World Telecom Conference.

189 countries sent more than 1200 delegates to
exchange ideas and discuss directions in the global
telecommunications industry.

Our e-education team is connecting our school

community through Knowledge Net and global
gateway. We recently piloted, for the first time in the
Middle East, e-schoolbag – a creative project to help
our kids enjoy learning and treasure knowledge.

Our i-Gov team is implementing Qatar’s “next

generation” e-Gov strategy that is designed to be
customer focused government wide

Recently His Highness the Emir issued Qatar’s new

telecom law – sweeping legislation to open our telecom
sector to competition. We are all excited to watch how
new telecom providers will provide consumers with
innovative ICT products at competitive prices.

At the beginning of next year, we look forward to

becoming a regional model when we provide the health
care sector with a ground-breaking national e-health
strategy.

We’re particularly excited about giving people who live

and work in Qatar free wireless internet access in three
major public parks in Doha.

For the first time in the Gulf, Q-CERT – our

information security program – has been given
authority to establish standards for all GCC countries.
That means people throughout the Gulf who use the
Internet for personal or professional reasons will be
more secure.
Our work, is only a small first step in a long and
always surprising march towards progress, inspired
by learning, discoveries, and young talented mind
at ictQATAR.

We are excited by the journey, motivated by the

destination, and confident of the result.

Again thank you for attending and I say to IDA –

WELCOME TO DOHA.