Google Cloud Summit Doha Marks Two Years, Showcases AI and Qatar's Digital Growth
The Google Cloud Summit Doha showcased the vibrant tech ecosystem in Qatar and Google Cloud's commitment to it. Attendees experienced keynotes from Google Cloud executives and Qatari leaders, gained insights into transformative AI technologies like Gemini, AI Agents, and NotebookLM, heard compelling customer success stories, and participated in deep-dive sessions on data management and cybersecurity. This ongoing partnership with Qatar is poised to play a vital role in building a resilient, secure, and digitally advanced ecosystem in the nation.
Mr. Sami Al Shammari, Assistant Undersecretary for Infrastructure and Operations Affairs at MCIT, stated: "Our collaboration with Google Cloud has served as a key enabler in Qatar's journey toward a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy. Since the launch of the Doha cloud region two years ago, this collaboration has yielded tangible outcomes that directly support the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030, particularly in enhancing digital infrastructure, delivering scalable and secure government services, and building a future-ready digital workforce."
Mr. Sami added that "by providing access to cutting-edge cloud technologies, Google Cloud is empowering entities alike to innovate, improve service delivery, and accelerate progress across key sectors. Their contributions in areas such as artificial intelligence and data analytics are also playing a pivotal role in developing local digital talent and equipping our workforce with the skills needed for tomorrow's challenges. We are eager to continue this productive partnership, further solidifying Qatar's digital future and working in tandem to realize the ambitious goals of the Digital Agenda 2030 and Qatar National Vision 2030."
Ghassan Kosta, Regional General Manager, Google Cloud Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and Iraq, said: "Today's Google Cloud Summit in Doha marks a truly pivotal moment in our Qatari journey, celebrating two years of our local cloud region and our strong partnerships. We are deeply honored by the continued collaboration with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and their trust in Google Cloud. This success is a shared achievement, magnified by the crucial contributions of all our partners and the inspiring innovation of our customers who join us in celebrating today. Together, by providing our advanced AI, data analytics, and secure cloud infrastructure through our local Doha region, we are committed to accelerating Qatar's digital transformation, empowering its public services, and energizing its dynamic digital economy."
The Summit also highlighted how a diverse range of leading Qatari organizations are leveraging Google Cloud for their transformation journeys. These include Al Jazeera Media Network (AJMN), Aspire, beIN MEDIA GROUP, Media City Qatar, Ministry of Endowment & Islamic Affairs (Awqaf), Ministry of Labour, Ooredoo Group, Ooredoo Qatar, Qatar Airways, Qatar Foundation Pre-University Education, Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA), Qatar Insurance Company (QIC), Snoonu, University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) among many others who are driving innovation across various sectors.
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Al Jazeera
5 hours ago
- Al Jazeera
As Trump splits from India, is the US abandoning its pivot to Asia?
New Delhi, India – When United States President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin meet in Alaska on Friday, their summit will be followed closely not only in both those countries, Europe and Ukraine – but also more than 10,000km (6,200 miles) away, in New Delhi. Since the end of the Cold War, India has juggled a historically strong relationship with Russia and rapidly blossoming ties with the US. New Delhi's relations with Washington grew particularly strong under the presidencies of George W Bush and Barack Obama, and remained that way during Trump's first term and under Joe Biden. At the heart of that US warmth towards India, say analysts, was its bet on New Delhi as a balancing force against Beijing, as China's economic, military and strategic heft in the Asia Pacific region grew. With Soviet communism history, and China, the US's biggest strategic rival, Washington increased its focus on Asia – including through the Quad, a grouping also including fellow democracies India, Australia and Japan. But a decade after Obama famously described the US and India as 'best partners', they appear to be anything but. Trump has imposed a 50 percent tariff on Indian imports, among the highest on any country's products. Half of that penalty is for India's purchases of Russian oil during its ongoing war with Ukraine – something that the Biden administration encouraged India to do to keep global crude prices under control. Meanwhile, China – which buys even more Russian oil than India – has received a reprieve from high US tariffs for now, as Washington negotiates a trade deal with New Delhi. That contrast has prompted questions over whether Trump's approach towards China, on the one hand, and traditional friends like India on the other, marks a broader shift away from the US pivot to Asia. Troubles for India, and Modi Since the early 2000s, successive governments in New Delhi have embraced closer ties with Washington, with its stocks rising in the US as an emerging strategic partner in security, trade and technology. Trump made that relationship personal – with Modi. During Trump's first term, he shared the stage twice in public rallies with Modi, as they also exchanged frequent bear hugs and described each other as friends. But none of that could save New Delhi when Trump hit India with tariffs only matched by the levies issued against goods from Brazil. 'The tariff moves have triggered the most serious rupture in the US-India relations in decades,' said Milan Vaishnav, the director of the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. For months after Trump threatened tariffs on Indian imports, New Delhi tried to placate the US president, refusing to get drawn into a war of words. That has now changed, with India accusing the US of hypocrisy – pointing out that it still trades with Russia, and that Washington had previously wanted New Delhi to buy Russian crude. 'One thing is clear: Trust in the United States has eroded sharply in recent days, casting a long shadow over the bilateral relationship,' Vaishnav told Al Jazeera. To Praveen Donthi, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group, the crisis in the relationship also reflects a dramatic turn in the personal equation between Modi and Trump. The state of ties, he said, is 'a result of a clash of personalities between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi'. India has previously faced the threat of US sanctions for its close friendship with Russia, when it decided to buy S-400 missile defence systems from Moscow. But in 2022, under the Biden administration, it secured a waiver from those proposed sanctions. 'Not long ago, India could avoid sanctions despite purchasing S-400 weapon systems from Russia. However, now, India's policy of multi-alignment clashes with President Trump's transactional approach to geopolitics,' said Donthi. To be sure, he pointed out, America's Cold War history of bonhomie with Pakistan has meant that 'a certain distrust of the US is embedded in the Indian strategic firmament'. The Trump administration's recent cosiness with Pakistan, with its army chief visiting the US this year, even getting a rare meeting with the president at the White House, will likely have amplified those concerns in New Delhi. But through ups and downs in India-US ties over the years, a key strategic glue has held them close over the past quarter century: shared worries about the rise of China. 'A certain bipartisan consensus existed in the US regarding India because of its long-term strategic importance, especially in balancing China,' said Donthi. Now, he said, 'the unpredictable Trump presidency disrupted the US's approach of 'strategic altruism' towards India'. It is no longer clear to Asian partners of the US, say experts, whether Washington is as focused on building alliances in their region as it once said it was. Turn from Asia Under the Obama administration in 2011, the US adopted what was known as the 'Rebalance to Asia' policy, aimed at committing more diplomatic, economic and military resources to the Asia Pacific region, increasingly seen as the world's economic and geopolitical centre of gravity. This meant deeper engagement with treaty allies like Japan, South Korea, and Australia, strengthening security ties with emerging partners such as India and Vietnam, and pushing forward trade initiatives like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The idea was to shape a regional order that could balance China's rise. During Trump's first term, the economic leg that gave the pivot its weight hollowed out. The US withdrawal from the TPP in early 2017 removed the signature trade pillar, leaving behind a strategy that leaned heavily on military cooperation and less on binding economic partnerships. Yet, he refrained from the bulldozing negotiations that have shaped his approach to tariffs, even with allies like Japan and South Korea, and from the kind of tariffs Trump has imposed now on India. 'There is currently a period of churn and uncertainty, after which clarity will emerge,' Donthi said. 'There might be some cautious rebalancing in the short term from the Asian powers, who will wait for more clarity.' India, which, unlike Japan and South Korea, has never been a treaty ally to the US – or any other country – might already be taking steps towards that rebalancing. Russia-India-China troika? Faced with Trump's tariff wrath, India has been engaged in hectic diplomacy of its own. Its national security adviser, Ajit Doval, visited Moscow earlier this month and met Putin. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled to travel to the Russian capital later this month. Also in August, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected to visit New Delhi. And at the end of the month, Modi will travel to China for a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, his first trip to the country in seven years. India has also indicated that it is open to considering the revival of a Russia-India-China (RIC) trilateral mechanism, after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov proposed the platform's resurrection. The concept of trilateral cooperation was first proposed in the 1990s and formally institutionalised in 2002, an idea Lavrov credited to the late Yevgeny Primakov, former chair of the Russian International Affairs Council. Although the RIC met regularly in the years following its creation, there has been a gap in recent times, with the last meeting of RIC leaders in 2019, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan. India's Modi faces some 'very difficult choices', said Michael Kugelman, a senior fellow at the Asia Pacific Foundation. 'Clearly, India is not going to turn on Russia, a very special partner. And India does not turn on its friends.' But doubling down on its strategic independence from the US – or multi-alignment, as India describes it – could come with its costs, if Trump decides to add on even more tariffs or sanctions. 'The best outcome for India immediately is the Russians and Ukrainians agree to a ceasefire,' said Kugelman, 'because at the end of the day, Trump is pressuring India as a means of pressuring Russia.' Even as questions rise over Washington's pivot to Asia under Trump, such a rebalance will not be easy for countries like India, say experts. Ultimately, they say, the US will find its longtime partners willing to return to the fold if it decides to reinvest in those relationships. The cost of a rebalance An RIC troika would ultimately be 'more symbolic than substantive', Kugelman said. That's because one of the sides of that triangle is 'quite small and fragile: India-China ties'. While there have been 'notable easing of tensions' in recent months, 'India and China remain strategic competitors,' added Kugelman. After four years of an eyeball-to-eyeball standoff along their Himalayan border, they finally agreed to withdraw troops last year, with Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping meeting in Kazan. But 'they continue to have a long disputed border', Kugelman said, and trust between the Asian giants remains low. Vaishnav of the Carnegie Endowment agreed. 'There may be opportunistic venues and moments where the countries' interests converge. But I think, beyond defence and energy, Russia has little to offer India,' he said. 'With China, while we may see a thaw in economic relations, it's difficult to see a path to resolving broader security and geostrategic disputes.' Jon Danilowicz, a retired diplomat who worked in the US State Department, said that a total breakdown of the US-India partnership is in neither's interest. 'The cooperation in other areas will continue, perhaps with less open enthusiasm than had been the case in recent years,' he said. Meanwhile, the Trump tariffs could help Modi domestically. 'Trump's hardball tactics could bolster Modi's domestic standing. They highlight Washington's unreliability, allowing Modi to frame himself as standing firm in the face of the US pressure,' said Vaishnav. Modi had been facing pressure from the opposition over the ceasefire with Pakistan after four days of military hostilities in May, after 26 civilians were killed in an attack by gunmen in Kashmir in April. The opposition has accused Modi of not going harder and longer at Pakistan because of pressure from Trump, who has claimed repeatedly that he brokered the ceasefire between New Delhi and Islamabad – a claim India has denied. 'Any further appearance of yielding – this time to the US – could be politically costly. Resisting Trump reinforces Modi's image as a defender of national pride,' added Vaishnav. Many analysts have said they see Trump's tariffs also as the outcome of as-yet unsuccessful India-US trade talks, with New Delhi reluctant to open up the country's agriculture and dairy sectors that are politically sensitive for the Indian government. Almost half of India's population depends on farming for its livelihood. Modi has in recent days said that he won't let the interests of Indian farmers suffer, 'even though I know I will have to pay a personal cost'. 'He is demonstrating defiance to the domestic electorate,' said Donthi, of the International Crisis Group. Ultimately, though, he said, both India and the US would benefit if they strike a compromise that allows them to stop the slide in ties. 'But the warmth and friendliness won't be present, and this will be evident for some time,' Donthi said.
Qatar Tribune
10 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
QSE index surges 2.51% in weekly rally as Baladna leads gains
Tribune News Network Doha The Qatar Stock Exchange (QSE) witnessed a strong performance this week, rallying by 285.10 points or 2.51 percent to close at 11,648.81 points, driven by robust activity in financial and industrial stocks. QSE's market capitalisation rose 2.45 percent to QR692.8 billion, up from QR 676.3 billion at the end of the previous trading week, reflecting renewed investor confidence and heightened liquidity in the market. Of the 53 companies traded, 35 advanced during the week while 18 declined. Baladna emerged as the best performing stock, surging 16.4 percent, whereas Mannai recorded the steepest decline, falling by 2 percent. Leading the index gains were the major banking stocks, with Qatar Islamic Bank adding 67.69 points, QNB Group contributing 62.04 points, and Commercial Bank of Qatar providing 29.21 points. Together, these three financial powerhouses accounted for a significant portion of the weekly index surge, highlighting the central role of the banking sector in driving market performance. Trading activity was notably higher compared with the previous week, with the total traded value rising 30.5 percent to QR2,912.9 million from QR2,232.7 million. Traded volume increased 38.5 percent to 1,443.2 million shares, while the number of transactions edged up by 1.5 percent to 116,920. Baladna was both the top value-traded and volume-traded stock, with a total traded value of QR 548.3 million and a traded volume of 336.5 million shares, reflecting strong investor interest. Investor sentiment remained mixed. Foreign institutions maintained a bullish stance, registering net purchases of QR166.4 million, although slightly lower than the net buying of QR256.1 million recorded the previous week. Qatari institutions remained on the selling side, with net disposals of QR88.5 million compared with QR28 million previously. Retail investors also showed varied activity, with foreign retail investors recording net sales of QR7.3 million, down from QR13.5 million, while Qatari retail investors reduced their net selling to QR70.7 million from QR214.6 million. Year-to-date, global foreign institutions have accumulated $219.0 million in Qatari equities, while GCC institutions hold a net long position of $11.2 million, signaling continued confidence from both regional and international investors. Financial market analyst Youssef Bouhlaiqa told Qatar News Agency that the QSE is on an upward trajectory and could soon challenge the 12,000-point barrier, driven by encouraging corporate earnings and supportive global indices. He noted that listed companies have reported a net profit increase of 2.11 percent that combined with positive global developments, reinforces investor optimism. Bouhlaiqa also pointed to the likelihood of US Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, which would enhance liquidity flows into markets, including Qatar, and increase the attractiveness of Qatari equities. He further highlighted the potential easing of geopolitical tensions, particularly the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as an additional positive factor for global investment sentiment. Bouhlaiqa advised investors to focus on leading stocks in sectors such as industrials, insurance, and telecommunications, which are expected to be the main drivers of investment decisions in the near term. According to him, the third quarter of 2025 is anticipated to witness strong market performance underpinned by rising corporate results. This week's rally in the QSE underscores the combination of strong institutional support, robust financial sector performance, and heightened investor confidence. With key stocks like Baladna leading the gains and major banks underpinning index growth, the market has demonstrated resilience amid ongoing global and regional developments. Observers remain optimistic that, supported by favorable liquidity conditions and continued corporate earnings growth, the QSE could sustain its momentum and achieve new milestones in the coming weeks.
Qatar Tribune
21 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar ranks 12th globally in 2024 in FDI Performance Index
DOHA: The State of Qatar has achieved a significant leap in the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Performance Index report issued in 2025, ranking 12th globally in 2024, advancing 21 positions compared to the previous year. This confirms the country's growing competitiveness, its favorable regulatory environment for business, and its increasing openness to international partnerships. According to the FDI report recently published by fDi Intelligence, in terms of project growth, the number of foreign direct investment projects nearly doubled in 2024 compared to the previous year. Qatar also scored 4.70 on the index, indicating that its share of global greenfield FDI projects in 2024 far exceeded its share of global GDP. Sector trends highlighted in the report showed that the business services and technology sectors maintained the lead, with notable growth in FDI projects in consumer products and textiles. According to data from the FDI Projects Observatory under the Investment Promotion Agency Qatar, the first half of 2025 witnessed strong performance, with Qatar recording a significant increase in total capital expenditure, along with a year-on-year rise in both the number of projects and new job opportunities. The number of projects increased by 44.5% year-on-year, while job opportunities rose by 75%, reflecting continued investor interest in the country and their confidence in the Qatari market. In his remarks on the report, CEO of the Investment Promotion Agency Qatar Sheikh Ali bin Waleed Al Thani said that Qatar's significant advancement in the Global Foreign Direct Investment Performance Index strengthens its position as a leading investment destination. It reaffirms the country's appeal in attracting high-value strategic investments that contribute to economic diversification and sustainable growth. The Investment Promotion Agency remains firmly committed to supporting investments across various sectors and invites global partners to join us in shaping Qatarâ€s prosperous future. Meanwhile, the Qatar Free Zones Authority highlighted that Qatar recorded a notable increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into new projects during 2024, with the volume of incoming investments nearly doubling compared to the previous year, according to the recent FDI report by fDi Intelligence. In a post on its X account, the authority noted that the number of inbound investment projects in Qatar grew significantly in 2024, nearly doubling from the previous year. This surge contributed to the country's 21-place jump in the global ranking, placing Qatar among the top 15 countries in terms of FDI performance improvement.
