King urges Qatar, Eswatini Science Parks collaboration
DOHA, QATAR - They believe that anything is possible when the best ideas are given opportunities to deliver impact.
It is this belief that led to the creation and forms part of the driving force of the Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP), a fully-fledged platform for conceiving and growing tech enterprises in Qatar, which hosted His Majesty the King, Inkhosikati LaMotsa and members of the Eswatini delegation for a tour yesterday, among whom were Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP) officials.
Tour
The tour took place on the sidelines of the 5th United Nations (UN) Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), which ends tomorrow. According to the QSTP, the facility provides a free zone and technology park that hosts leading global tech companies, mentors and supports a network of start-ups and rising tech ventures, and has a value chain of acceleration, incubation, and funding programmes. The QSTP also plays a key role in developing a technology, innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in Qatar.
The King was shown around the facility by QSTP Planning and Strategic Initiative Director Ahmed S Al-Enazi.
In brief talks, His Majesty praised Qatar for the impressive facility, which has played an integral part in promoting economic growth in the country.
He expressed his wish to see the QSTP develop exchange programmes with the RSTP for the mutual benefit of the two countries.
Notably, His Majesty is very keen to see the RSTP play an effective role in luring investors into the kingdom, through the special economic zones hosted by the facility.
When opening Parliament recently, the King highlighted that special economic zones remained a key catalyst to stimulate economic development.
Objectives
He said that while other countries had different objectives for having established these economic zones, empirical evidence showed that they were a cornerstone for economic development.
He called for a review of the Special Economic Zones Act of 2018 to bring it in line with global requirements, and to fast-track the provision of outstanding infrastructure, such as the one-stop shop service center, to host the relevant service providers.
“This facility should not only serve the beneficiaries of the economic zones but embrace all other investors in Eswatini,” he said.