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Satyendra Pathak
Doha
Qatar will be the first country in the region to issue a guide to secure marine e-assets used extensively in operating ports and ships, Minister of Transport and Communications HE Jassim bin Saif al Sulaiti has said.
“The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) has taken advanced steps to issue a guide to enhance the use of the latest protection methods for marine electronic assets and all information,” Sulaiti said at the first edition of Qatar Maritime and Logistics Summit in Doha on Tuesday.
“The region and the world at large are entering a new era that is different and full of challenges and cyber threat is one of them. The maritime transport sector has become closely dependent on new technologies linked to the Internet and modern applications in managing its assets, so it has become necessary to prepare to face these threats,” he said.
The minister said the guide will be instrumental in protecting marine e-assets and all information about ships and goods from cyber risks.
Talking to Qatar Tribune on the sidelines of the summit, the minister said the guide will play a vital role in securing the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup from cyber threats.
With an annual transshipment growth of about 30 percent in 2019, the minister said, Hamad Port has emerged as the regional hub for re-export and transshipment management.
Hamad Port currently accounts for 27 percent of marine trade in the region, he said, adding that agreements have been signed with world’s major shipping companies to further enhance its growth.
Before the end of this year, he said, Hamad Port will introduce an integrated electrical system to become the first port in the world to have environment-friendly charging and electricity system.
While state-of-the-art infrastructure and modern technologies contributed in attracting a number of international shipping companies to Hamad Port, Sulaiti said Ruwais and Doha ports are also playing major roles in boosting trade and tourism in the country.
“Ruwais Port is vital in stimulating trade exchange with neighbouring countries and it has managed to maintain steady growth. Doha Port is also playing a vital role in promoting cruise tourism in the country,” he said.
Highlighting Qatar’s maiden foray into a managing port in foreign country, the minister said, “QTerminals has taken its first step to expand its operations into a foreign country by investing in Ukraine’s Port of Olvia.”
“QTerminals won concession to develop, manage and operate Olvia port. It might be the first but not the last. We will continue to look for exceptional opportunities to develop and operating world ports,” the minister said.
The minister said the large international presence in summit indicates the strong position of Qatari ports in the region.
He expressed hope that the summit would come out with important recommendations on issues of concern to ports, maritime transport, logistics and their sustainability.
He said the summit was an ideal platform for Mwani Qatar, Milaha and QTerminals to forging partnerships with international firms.
Held under the patronage of the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz al Thani, the two-day Qatar Maritime and Logistics Summit brings together more than 450 experts, decision-makers and specialists in the fields of ports, maritime and logistics sectors.
The summit focuses on industry-wide, long-term challenges and opportunities as well as a number of important topics such as trade, global trends, port development, financing, technology, digital security, cybersecurity, safety, security and sustainability and many other topics related to shipping, port and logistics sectors.
The high-level event reinforces efforts to enhance Qatar’s role at the level of the global maritime transport map, in addition to supporting strategic plan to transform Qatar into a vibrant regional commercial and logistical hub.
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19/02/2020
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