Doha, Qatar — The flagship forum The Qatar Investment and Innovation Conference: Investing in the Future gathered investors, game-changing visionaries, representatives of the business world, and governments from the GCC who discussed the path to reimagining growth and innovation in the region.
The event was organized by The Business Year (TBY), a global media group that has been providing investors, businesses, and governments with first-hand insights into the world’s most dynamic markets for over 15 years, in partnership with Msheireb Properties. The event was held at Barahat Msheireb in the heart of Doha.
Julien Hawari, Founder & CEO of Million, highlighted the GCC’s evolving digital economy and the region’s next big opportunity— building its soft infrastructure to lead the global creator economy.
Hawari was a speaker in a panel The Role of Technology in Infrastructure and Private Investment’s Impact on Regional Connectivity in the GCC.
“The GCC stands as a global powerhouse, boasting unrivaled physical infrastructure. Now, the region faces a transformative challenge and opportunity: cultivating its soft infrastructure. The burgeoning creator economy presents an unprecedented chance for the GCC to outpace global cities and establish itself as the epicenter of next-generation content. Million is at the forefront of this revolution, pioneering a comprehensive monetization platform that will propel the region onto the world stage, empowering creators and redefining the digital landscape,” Hawari added.
With a focus on exploring both upcoming challenges and opportunities that are increasingly available for multiple industries to leverage, attendees and panelists delved into comprehensive discussions that paved the way for an evening of cross-border knowledge sharing.
Among the participants at the forum was Dr. Khalid Bin Klefeekh Al Hajri, Board Member of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In his welcome remarks Al Hajri said, “The State of Qatar has successfully built a world-class technological infrastructure by dedicating efforts to developing the ICT sector, recognizing its critical impact on other economic sectors. This has attracted major technology companies such as Google, Microsoft, and others to the Qatari market.”
During his welcome address, Eng. Ali Al Kuwari, CEO of Msheireb Properties, said, “Msheireb Properties, the developer behind Msheireb Downtown Doha, is proud to co-host this conference with The Business Year. This conference is a key platform for promoting regional cooperation and innovation and unlocking immense potential for growth. By uniting policymakers, thought leaders, and innovators globally, we are shaping a future full of opportunities. I remain confident in our region’s resilience and capacity to adapt.”
Badr Al-Madhadi, Senior Associate – Investment Development at Qatar Free Zones Authority, who participated on the first panel The Future of Economic Zones, Innovation and Opportunities noted:“We are honored to join the Qatar Investment and Innovation Conference, organized by The Business Year and Msheireb Properties, to discuss the significant investment opportunities within Qatar. QFZ has played a long-standing and pivotal role in driving innovation and sustainability through partnerships with global leaders, bringing advanced technologies, green energy solutions, and manufacturing expertise to Qatar.”
“By fostering regional collaboration across the GCC, we create mutually beneficial opportunities and a central hub for growth through world-class infrastructure, competitive incentives, and a thriving ecosystem aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030.”
Other notable participants included Sami Zaitoon, Managing Partner of Moore Qatar; Irene Vidal, CEO of FMM; Fahad Al-Sharekh, Vice Chairman of KAMCO INVEST; and CEO of Sirius Lab, all of whom were part of the second panel, “The Role of Technology in Infrastructure and Private Investment’s Impact on Regional Connectivity in the GCC.”
Fahad Al-Sharekh, Vice Chairman of KAMCO INVEST, remarked, “The region has done remarkably well—just look at Qatar and their success with the recent football World Cup. To sustain this trajectory, we must attract smart money, smart people, and smart investments, because opportunity will favor the prepared, and we are prepared.”
“Technology is revolutionizing infrastructure, driving regional connectivity, and opening doors to unprecedented opportunities across the GCC.” Moreover, Vidal sustained that, “Qatar is bolstering economic growth through technology and innovation by attracting private investment and FDI and diversifying and engaging with citizens by promoting implementation on new technologies in areas like edtech, fintech, or healthcare and creating tech-hubs and centers of research putting academia, industry, and government together”
As well as panel discussions, the Qatar Investment and Innovation Conference saw the launch of Special Report: Doha Bank, a collaborative effort between TBY and Doha Bank that showcases the advances made in line with its Himma Transformation and how the initiative has paved the way for the bank to adapt to an ever-changing financial sector.
Dimitrios Kokosioulis, Deputy CEO of Doha Bank, said, “We recognize that the modern banking experience is defined by ease of doing business, which is why we launched the Himma transformation program—a comprehensive initiative to re-evaluate our processes and align with industry best practices.”