Under the patronage of HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, the Business Continuity and Resilience Conference activities commenced on Monday.
The event operates under the slogan “National Resilience and Disaster Recovery,” in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and with the participation of a wide range of stakeholders, local and international figures active in the field.
Chairman of the Business Continuity and Resilience Conference Engineer Abdullatif Al Yafei highlighted that the changes the world is witnessing have compelled decision-makers, whether in government agencies or private sector companies large and small to face major challenges imposed by artificial intelligence and security stakes.
These challenges have forced everyone, without exception, to act flexibly, innovate, and maintain a high level of vigilance with the aim of ensuring the continuation of public and private work.
Al Yafei added that the State of Qatar, cognizant of the importance of changes, launched initiatives considering these developments, which emerged during its organization of the 2022 World Cup. Risk management, business continuity, and crisis management systems were applied in many large and medium-sized companies and institutions in various fields. The country is continuing to consolidate these gains in accordance with its national vision for the year 2030.
Qatari Business Association (QBA) Chairman HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al-Thani, stressed out the importance of the Business Continuity and Resilience Conference in Qatar, especially after the country’s great successes in recent years and the achievement of many legislative and infrastructure goals that serve local and foreign investors, as Qatar demonstrated its full readiness during its success in organizing the 2022 World Cup, which accelerated the achievement of Qatar Vision 2030 goals, where the private sector also played a prominent role through partnerships with government entities.
In the same context, QBA Deputy Chairman HE Dr. Sheikh Khalid bin Thani Al-Thani, said that the Business Continuity and Resilience Conference comes at a special time to confirm that Qatar is an attractive investment destination for investors, as it offers tax concessions, economic and industrial zones, and logistical zones in addition to the availability of banking facilities to support projects, he also added that at the same time, Qatar has largely achieved the goals of Qatar Vision 2030, which makes it ready to diversify its investments.
In turn, CEO, and member of the Board of Directors of the United Development Company (UDC) Ibrahim Jassim Al Othman pointed out that the Company possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience in these fields. Being the first real estate development company to integrate these programs, the Pearl Island is considered the first residential community in the State of Qatar to implement comprehensive systems and strategies for managing business continuity and flexibility in accordance with International ISO standards. This approach highlights the company’s ability to effectively deal with incidents while maintaining essential functions, demonstrating its firm commitment to safety standards and operational excellence in all aspects of its developmental projects.
The importance of the topics discussed in the conference was emphasized by Ibrahim Jassim Al Othman. “By sponsoring the Business Continuity and Resilience Conference, we at the United Development Company emphasize the importance of incorporating best practices in the field of business continuity, seeking to activate the benefits of this knowledge for all participants and highlight the vital role of flexibility in enhancing trust within the business community,” he stated.
Assistant Undersecretary at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology Khalid Al Hashmi expressed satisfaction in being part of this significant event. He emphasized the event’s focus on business continuity and flexibility as crucial elements in safeguarding the supply chain and ensuring the sustainability of industries, especially in the face of disasters.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Risk Management Organization (IRM) Stephen Sidebottom expressed his pride in partnering with the Business Continuity and Resilience Network in the State of Qatar, developing the vital areas of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and Business Continuity.
He stressed the commitment to promoting a global culture of risk preparedness and the ability to withstand emerging challenges, praising the conference program, which holds tremendous value for local companies.
It provides insights and strategies to enhance their enterprise’s risk management practices and enhance their business continuity management. “Together, we enable organizations to overcome uncertainties and proactively address upcoming challenges, ensuring a strong foundation for sustainable success.”
For her part, President of the Disaster Recovery Organization for the Middle East (DRII) Carol Shea expressed her elation to participate in the conference activities. It is considered a strategic cooperation to enhance and encourage resilience in the State of Qatar. The Business Continuity and Resilience Network in Qatar has distinguished relations and experience in communicating with the industrial and commercial sectors, as well as government institutions. Together they can help these sectors enhance resilience through educational programs and activities.
n the framework of working to stimulate institutional and individual excellence, the conference witnessed awarding a host of companies. In this year’s edition, 6 awards were presented, while 3 awards were withheld, which are the award for the best productive service provider in the field of business continuity and flexibility, and the award for the best and fastest effective recovery, for reasons relating to applications not complying with the award criteria. The remaining awards were received by Engineer Abdullah Saif Al Sulaiti, Head of the Operations Affairs Sector at Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail), who earned the Best Professional Award in the field of business continuity and flexibility from the public sector. Additionally,Aladdin Farhan Al Sukhni, Head of the Health, Safety, and Environment Department at UDC, received the award for the best professional in the field of business continuity and flexibility from the private sector. Lastly,Abdullah Saleh Al Hajri received the award for the best newcomer in the field of business continuity and flexibility.
source: qna.org.qa
