Doha, Qatar: Significant advancements across Qatar's business and economic landscapes are taking center stage as organizations forge partnerships aimed at driving innovation and education. One notable collaboration is between Teach For Qatar and ExxonMobil Qatar, which recently announced ExxonMobil’s sponsorship of the newly launched digital platform, Diwan Al-Taaleem.
Diwan Al-Taaleem is aimed at providing teachers with high-quality educational resources, instructional support, and innovative lesson-planning tools. “We’re proud to partner with ExxonMobil Qatar, a long-standing supporter of our vision and mission. Their sponsorship of Diwan Al-Taaleem demonstrates a shared commitment to elevators education in Qatar,” said Nasser Yousef Al Jaber, CEO of Teach For Qatar. The initiative reflects both organizations’ dedication to enhancing the quality of education, particularly within the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
This partnership, which began back in 2014, has provided various training opportunities, including participation in the Qatar University ExxonMobil STEM Teacher Academy (QUESTA). ExxonMobil has played an instrumental role in positively impacting thousands of students across Qatar. The collaboration aims not only to provide quality resources but also to align with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education standards.
Meanwhile, at the Web Summit, officials highlighted Qatar's commitment to supporting startups and businesses wanting to establish themselves within the region. A session titled ‘Unlocking Qatar’s Potential: The QFC Advantage for Startups’ discussed invaluable opportunities for entrepreneurs. Explaining the FQC's role, Nour Herzallah, Client Relationship Expert, emphasized the organization’s commitment to enhancing operational connectivity within the ecosystem. “We are going to enhanced our platform operations and connectivity of the ecosystem,” Herzallah noted.
The QFC’s offerings aim to attract and support startups with legal and regulatory frameworks aligned with international best practices. The collaborative initiatives also included partnerships with notable organizations like Ooredoo, Vodafone Qatar, and QNB to provide additional services benefiting startups.
Majed Lababidi, Director of Ecosystem Integration at Alchemist Doha, underscored the incubation services available for startups, which include mentorship and talent acquisition. “We help them with the registration through our partnership with QFC and provide them with free coworking spaces,” Lababidi shared, offering more insight on how the supportive network attracts dynamic innovators to Qatar.
On another front, the Web Summit has proven to be key to Qatar’s aspirations as the national tech hub. Dr. Zhu Shenggao, Vice President of AI at Huawei Cloud, highlighted how pivotal this event is for positioning Qatar on the global tech stage. "Web Summit Qatar serves as a powerful catalyst for connecting local talent with global resources. The summit aligns with Qatar’s national vision to diversify the economy and promote entrepreneurship,” he remarked during his interview.
A $1 billion fund from Qatar Investment Authority has shown substantial backing for this growth initiative, signaling confidence among investors about Qatar's tech capabilities. Huawei's commitment extends to enhancing digital infrastructure through significant collaborations with QDB and QSTP.
Finally, another standout development is the launch of the ADM STF LLC at the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), making ADM the first agro-commodity trader to get the green light there. Olivier Boujol, Vice President at ADM, called the establishment of this entity, “an important milestone” as it allows for greater capability to meet nutritional needs across the Gulf region. “By establishing a foothold in this thriving economic hub, we are more equipped to support the global food supply system,” Boujol stated.
The Senior Executive Vice President - QNB Group Corporate and Institutional Banking, Khalid Ahmed Al-Sada, expressed pride over their relationship with ADM and emphasized the growth potential for businesses within Qatar. “The move not only reinforces QNB’s role as trusted financial partners but also signals the potential for international companies to thrive here,” he noted.
Yousuf Mohamed Al-Jaida, CEO of QFC, affirmed the positive momentum within Qatar's agriculture and commodities markets. “We are thrilled to welcome ADM as the first agro-commodity trader licensed under the Qatar Financial Centre,” he expressed, reinforcing the country’s global connections.
These recent developments genuinely reflect Qatar’s ambition to establish itself as a central player on both regional and international stages. They align seamlessly with the national goal of developing human capital and diversifying the economy, promising innovative contributions to the future of businesses and education alike.