Qatar Participates in ITU-UNESCO Regional Digital Inclusion Week for Arab States

Doha, October 26 (QNA) - The State of Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Transport and Communications, is participating in the events of the 4th edition of the ITU-UNESCO Regional Digital Inclusion Week for the Arab States running from Oct. 25 to Oct. 31 under the theme: "Serving the underserved in times of crisis: No one left behind". Adopting a multi-stakeholder approach, the Week brings together Governments, other UN and intergovernmental bodies, civil society, academia, healthcare professionals, the private sector and citizens in advancing digital inclusion efforts. The Regional Digital Inclusion Week is thus an opportunity to raise awareness, strengthen collaboration amongst stakeholders and advance efforts to combat all forms of exclusion. Marking the Week by MOTC and its relevant programs and initiatives demonstrates Ministry's eagerness to enhance cooperation ties with global organizations by making sure to take part in their events and activities in the light of MOTC programs and initiatives accomplishments in terms of digital inclusion for all segments of society. MOTC leaves no stone unturned to make sure access to ICTs is available for everyone in such a way that contributes to sustainable societal development in Qatar. On this occasion, HE Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim bin Saif Al Sulaiti said, "MOTC is committed to achieving digital inclusion for all, ensuring easy access to information and digital content so as to build an integrated digital society and enhancing people's readiness digitally to be able to contribute to building up a knowledge-based economy in line with QNV2030." "Qatar has made significant progress on this front thanks to a set of legislations and steps and unique programs and initiatives that have been bearing fruits for over a decade. We always targeted a full digital inclusion for all segments of society, easy access to ICTs and making sure people benefit from them. These efforts have a few days ago been crowned with the State of Qatar ranking first worldwide on the Digital Accessibility Rights Evaluation Index 2020 (DARE Index 2020) released by the Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies (G3ict)," he explained. Created as the digital response to the QNV2030 to achieve the aspired-after digital future and shape a smart Qatar, the TASMU Smart Qatar Program under the patronage of MOTC is one of the future-oriented programs in relation to digital inclusion agenda. To ensure the people of Qatar are ready, willing, and able to use digital services and adopt the upcoming digital transformation, TASMU is developing a refreshed national Digital Inclusion strategy, which aims to enhance digital Access, Skills, Motivation and Trust across the population, especially those at risk of digital exclusion. Assistant Undersecretary for Digital Society Development, MOTC, Reem Mohamed Al Mansoori said: "Qatar's sharing other Arab States in marking the Digital Inclusion Week contributes to highlighting several success stories written over the past years as well as future visions and plans and MOTC's continued efforts to further increase digital inclusion levels among all segments of society across the country reaching ultimately to a knowledge-based society in smart Qatar. This is based on a great track record for several years now." She noted that TASMU comes in the heart of efforts that focus on bolstering digital inclusion and ensuring the adoption of smart services in the foreseeable future. "We conducted extensive benchmarking exercises and focus group interviews to ensure our Digital Inclusion strategy and the programs it will create will be implemented in line with best global practices." These efforts will build upon current successful programs launched by MOTC and which helped increase digital inclusion significantly; the "Better Connections" Program for the digital inclusion of expatriate workers, the "Wasla" intergenerational ICT learning program for the elderly and the "Cyber Safety" Program that highlights and affirms a culture of cyber safety and security to empower people to have a safer cyberspace and being responsible online. The program works in collaboration with various partners and cyber safety experts to deliver cyber safety educational programs and workshops such as "Akhalqi Qatar", which aims to increase ethical responsibility in the digital world. The program also includes the SafeSpace online platform (safespace.qa), cyber safety awareness campaigns (online and offline), cyber safety ambassador program, a cyber safety digital library, among other projects. MOTC's "Better Connections" has been a unique digital inclusion program that helped bridge the digital divide for the expatriate workers segment in Qatar by encouraging them to take advantage of access to technology and opportunities for skills development. The program is one of the largest private-public partnerships. To date, it has equipped 1,921 ICT facilities in the expatriate workers' domestic residences and provided ICT access to over 1.5 million workers. TASMU aims to transform Qatar into a knowledge-based economy and society capable of achieving sustainable development. Driving sustainable economic diversification, TASMU produces tangible outputs that will improve the quality of life for citizens, residents, and visitors of Qatar. To prepare the country for this digital transformation and to drive the adoption of these smart solutions, TASMU will continue to enhance its digital inclusion efforts. (QNA)