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Dr. Hessa’s remarks

First Singapore-Qatar e-Government Forum

The Four Seasons Hotel, Doha

Thursday November 8, 2007

Good morning. It is an honor to be with you for the

first Singapore-Qatar e-government forum. Thank
you, Your Excellency, Dr. Lee Boon Yang, for inviting
me to give these welcoming remarks. Though I could
speak for hours about the fruits of our partnership
with Singapore, I promise to be brief.

Since ictQATAR began collaborating with IDA one-

and-a-half years ago, I have thought often about how
much our two countries have in common. We are
both small, so we can be agile. The success of
Singapore’s and Qatar’s economies lures talented
people from all over the world to join our ever-
growing labor force.

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With neighbors that are among the most ancient
nations on earth, we are among the world’s newest
nations. We haven’t had time to even think about
growing complacent.

Quite the opposite! Singapore and Qatar are infused

with a sense of urgency and excitement that translates
into boldness. In different and similar ways, we are
showing the world that anything is possible. Both our
nations refuse to be limited by geographic borders.

What we share helps cement our collaboration. Just

last week His Highness the Heir Apparent, Sheikh
Tamim led a delegation to Singapore to talk about our
countries’ cooperation on a wide range of issues, from
security and the environment to finance.

Today, of course, we are here to talk about our close

partnership on ICT.

Singapore was a technology pioneer. It was among

the first nations to understand that a vibrant,
innovative ICT sector drives economic growth and

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global competitiveness while benefiting citizens in
countless ways.

Similar foresight was later demonstrated here in

Qatar. When Qatar’s leadership established
ictQATAR in 2004, a clear decision was made about
the future. The Emir determined Qatar would stand
for something more lasting and vital than the barrels
of oil or cubic feet of natural gas we produce – that
ultimately broad-based knowledge must fuel Qatar’s
economy and provide meaning to our people.

What our future looks like – our competitiveness, our

democracy, our education system’s excellence –
depends on our ability to use ICT.

Thanks in part to our collaboration with Singapore,

that future looks bright indeed.

IDA has collaborated with us on exciting programs

that deepen and broaden how both children and
adults learn. I know IDA focuses on ensuring that the
benefits of ICT reach people of all ages, education,

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and income levels. That same important goal drives
our efforts at ictQATAR. Three of our public parks
are wireless and free to all. And as the Government
Information Officers here know, we are very close to
publicly launching Hukoomi – a new national
government portal that will involve citizens, residents,
and businesses more closely in the government that
serves them.

Many of the CIOs in the audience are part of these

exciting efforts. I thank you for bringing your talent
and ideas to programs that truly make a difference.

With the signing of our third Memorandum of

Understanding, we look forward to working with IDA
to continue our constructive partnership and develop
new programs that will help businesses of all sizes.

A wonderful thing about partnerships in life and work

is that they go both ways. We intend to be every bit as
supportive and helpful as Singapore has been to
Qatar. Of course, you make it easy because you do so
much so well, whether you are educating children, or

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conducting biotechnology research, or competing in
the international marketplace. I hope the Qatari
Government Information Officers in the room today
are able to use this forum as an opportunity to
discuss trends in e-Government practices with their
Singaporean counterparts.

I promised not to talk for hours, and so I will close by

saying thank you. Thank you, Your Excellency and
officials from MICA and IDA for lending your
experience and friendship. We look forward to
working with you over the coming years to enrich the
lives of people in both our countries.