Doha, Qatar: Director of the Government Communications Office (GCO) and Chairman of the Permanent Web Summit Qatar Organising Committee H E Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al-Thani met with members of the German delegation taking part in the third edition of the region’s fastest-growing technology event, at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center, as part of efforts to expand international partnerships in technology and the digital economy.
The German delegation included H E Steffen Schutz, State Minister of Digital Affairs and Infrastructure, Free State of Thuringia; H E Jutta Bieringer, State Secretary and Authorized Representative of the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to the Federal Government; Nizar Marouf, Regional Director of German Mittelstand GCC Office; H E Felix Neugart, CEO of NRW.Global Business - Trade and Investment Agency of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia; H E Oliver Owcza, German Ambassador to Qatar; Christoph Ahlhaus, President of BVMW; and Gordon Pelz, Vice President of BVMW.
Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in technology, the digital economy, and entrepreneurship, and advancing partnerships between Qatar’s and Germany’s innovation ecosystems to support startups and unlock new investment opportunities.
The strong German presence at this year’s Web Summit Qatar follows an MoU signed last year between the GCO and the German Mittelstand GCC Office, aimed at expanding German companies’ participation in the summit and integrating them into Qatar’s startup and investment ecosystem. This year’s Web Summit Qatar features over 200 German companies, nearly double last year’s participation, in addition to investors, entrepreneurs, and innovators, highlighting the increasing interest of German firms in Qatar’s technology market and the summit’s role as a global platform that connects ideas with opportunities and transforms partnerships into future-focused initiatives.
Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al-Thani said: “The strong presence of German companies at Web Summit Qatar reflects the depth of Qatar-Germany relations and the effectiveness of institutional agreements in turning strategic partnerships into real and influential participation on the global stage.”
He added: “The MoU with the German Mittelstand GCC Office creates a practical pathway to deepen German companies’ engagement and unlock new cooperation in innovation and technology, reinforcing entrepreneurship ecosystems and long-term partnerships between the two countries.” Nizar Maarouf said: “Web Summit Qatar serves as a practical gateway for German companies to connect with regional partners and investors and explore growth opportunities in Qatar, especially in advanced technologies and digital innovation.”
He added: “The MoU signed with the GCO is designed to turn growing German participation into actionable partnerships, allowing German SMEs to build long-term cooperation with Qatar’s innovation ecosystem.”
