Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani inaugurating an exhibition at the Second World Congress of Engineering and Technology yesterday.
Doha: Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani yesterday inaugurated the Second World Congress of Engineering and Technology (the Second International Conference on Civil Infrastructure and Construction, and the 15th International Conference on Vibration Problems) organised by Qatar University (QU) in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipality, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC), and Public Works Authority (Ashghal).
The opening session of the conference discussed several topics related to the most important global developments in infrastructure, vibration problems, and the exchange of technical information. It linked these developments to the most prominent challenges for ministries and institutions in this field, and future visions regarding digital transformation and technological development, especially in the engineering, logistical and construction fields that support Qatar National Vision 2030.
After the opening session, the PM inaugurated the exhibition where he was briefed on the latest products, technical services and technology used globally in this field provided by participating local and international companies and institutions. The opening ceremony was attended by a number of ministers and senior officials from the participating ministries and agencies.
In his speech, QU President Dr. Hassan Rashid Al Derham said, “Qatar made unprecedented progress in developing infrastructure and construction to meet the country’s vision for the year 2030, and the whole world witnessed this great development during the 2022 World Cup. This Second World Congress is being organised at the perfect time to discuss these developments and advances in the fields of infrastructure and construction, along with related developments to ensure sustainability and good practices to reduce environmental impacts.
“At Qatar University, we pay great attention to developing the education process, conducting studies and research related to local and regional challenges, advancing knowledge, and contributing positively to achieving the needs and aspirations of society. This is part of the university’s mission, which we are working to achieve by involving academics and other employees in professional services and community service.”
Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani touring the Second World Congress of Engineering and Technology.
President of Ashghal, Dr. Eng. Saad bin Ahmed Al Muhannadi, said, “In light of the Qatar Vision 2030 and its main pillars, Ashghal is making continuous efforts to cooperate with local suppliers, whether it is contractors, manufacturers or consultants. We are also looking forward to working on various initiatives that enhance the use of modern technology in construction and sustainability, to enhance productivity in the construction sector. “Currently, Ashghal is adopting with its partners, contractors, and consultants, new and advanced sustainability strategies that reflect positively on improving work conditions and reducing waste in construction resources through the use of the latest solutions and new systems. We constantly aim to include sustainability in everything we do and follow an integrated approach for a better future.”
In his comments, QU College of Engineering (CENG) Dean Dr. Khalid Kamal Naji said, “The congress includes plenary sessions and keynote lectures on various topics related to vibrations, infrastructure, and construction. We expect that the congress will provide a forum for exchanging technical information, disseminating high-quality research results, and presenting new policies and scientific progress in this area.”
He added, “Delegates of more than 40 nationalities are participating in the congress, with over 300 research and technical papers to be discussed in the congress”.
The Ministry of Municipality said its participation in the congress comes within the framework of the continuous partnership and cooperation with Qatar University in various fields of common interest, to find solutions to various engineering challenges, as the Ministry is keen to benefit from the academic expertise, studies, and scientific and research experiences of QU, while the university is the academic and scientific tributary of the Ministry.
H E the Prime Minister with Minister of Municipality H E Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie (fourth right), Minister of Environment and Climate Change H E Sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani (second right) and Ashghal President Dr. Eng. Saad bin Ahmed Al Muhannadi (first right) and other dignitaries attending the event.
Eng. Ibrahim Abbas, Director of the Infrastructure Planning Department at the Urban Planning Sector at the Ministry, said that during the WCET, the most prominent efforts and projects of the Ministry in the field of urban planning and infrastructure, the current challenges represented in providing an integrated infrastructure that contributes to achieving development requirements at the national level and enhancing the food security sector, the ongoing procedures of transforming the country’s cities into smart cities, and the efforts to increase the efficiency of digital transformation and automate procedures between the Ministry’s sectors and the relevant authorities will be presented.
Eng. Abbas also mentioned the contribution of the Ministry in the completion of many projects and technical studies related to urban planning, including: the comprehensive urban plan for Qatar, urban centres, geological maps of Qatar (Phase I), flash floods and sinkholes studies and the coastal zone management project.
In his comment, Dr. Eng. Mohammed bin Saif Al Kuwari, an environmental expert and Engineering Consultant at MoECC, said the Ministry pays great attention to green and sustainable infrastructure and construction of buildings, which take into account the safety of the environment from pollution and degradation. The conference has a number of professional partners from engineering societies inside and outside Qatar, including the Qatar Society of Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Lean Construction Institute – Qatar, Earthna, Engineers Australia, Chartered Institute of Building, and the American Concrete Institute (ACI) – Qatar Chapter.
The conference will have world-class keynote speakers from top international engineering organisations and societies besides key executive members of the infrastructure and construction sector in Qatar.
