08 April 2017
Siemens and the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) in Qatar have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to advance tech capabilities among Qatari nationals. 

Under the agreement, Siemens will endeavour to provide mentoring and training to the MoTC’s Innovation Lab, its staff as well as start-ups affiliated with its innovation and incubation programmes, according to a press statement. 

The collaboration will focus on knowledge transfer and building skills that support Qatar’s national Information and Communications Technology (ICT) strategies and policies. The MoU was announced at Qitcom Exhibition and Conference, the country’s biggest digital event held last month.

“This agreement comes shortly after we released our ‘Business to Society’ report for Qatar, where we quantified our contribution to society through sustainable business. We are delighted to continue supporting local talent development in line with Qatar National Vision 2030,” said Adrian Wood, CEO of Siemens in Qatar. “Our collaboration with a strong local partner such as the ministry will help promote ICT development and adoption in Qatar for vital segments of society such as the youth, entrepreneurs, start-ups and small- and medium-sized enterprises.”

Siemens agreed to provide mentoring and guidance in areas relevant to its expertise, including manufacturing, automation, intelligent traffic solutions, smart cities, efficient and integrated mobility solutions and digitalisation, the statement noted. At the same time, the MoTC will share its expertise in public policy and regulation in areas linked to its mandates in the transportation and ICT sectors. The parties will also seek to support pilot projects of relevance to national ICT initiatives and with positive economic or social impact on Qatari society.

Siemens has been operating in Qatar for more than four decades, with a current workforce of almost 500 employees. “The company redistributes 60% of its profit to local shareholders in Qatar. It also contributes to transmitting and distributing more than 60% of the power generated in the country,” the statement added.

© Gulf Times 2017