Under the patronage of HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani, HE Secretary-General of the National Planning Council (NPC), Abdulaziz bin Nasser bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, on Tuesday, inaugurated the Second Doha Data Forum for innovation in sustainable development. Organized by NPC, the event brings together representatives from ministries, government agencies, universities, research centers, UN organizations, and Arab and Islamic organizations, and will run until Wednesday Oct. 23, 2024. Addressing the forum, HE Secretary-General of NPC said the council currently embarks on preparing the National Strategy for Data and Statistics which is slated to be launched during the last quarter of 2024, adding that the strategy comes to meet the pressing needs in the age of digital revolution, due to the pivotal role data and statistics perform in taking carefully learned and sustainable decisions. The strategy is centered on an integrated data management syste m and is not merely a regulatory tool, but rather an overarching vision to lead the agenda of national data and statistics, His Excellency highlighted, adding that it is a new milestone toward achieving integration among a variety of sectors and providing accurate data required to support planning and development processes, in alignment with the Qatar National Vision 2030. NPC looks forward to advancing an infrastructure that offers access to high-quality and safe data, as well as bolstering data governance mechanisms and ensuring privacy and safety, HE Al Khalifa said, underlining that such an initiative is an open invitation to innovation and strives to enable national bodies to provide smart solutions with the utmost utilization of cutting-edge technologies such as AI and advanced analyses. His Excellency announced the establishment of the national training center for data and statistics, affirming that he is pleased to establish this edifice that will position itself as a milestone for constant learning a nd a hub for enhancing skills in data management and analysis, machine learning, advanced analytics, and modern data technologies. He pointed out that, given the rapid evolution in the world of data and technology today, the center comes as another critical component of the system, which is being built, asserting that the center primarily aims to advance national cadres capable of leveraging the strength of data and statistics, in addition to building national capacities in a variety of data areas. HE Secretary-General of NPC declared the Qatar data hackathon, which is an ambitious initiative that aims to encourage innovators, as well as intellectuals in IT and data sector, highlighting that such an initiative is not merely a competition, but rather a platform to enable young talents and spur innovative thinking to explore practical solutions for the challenges facing diverse sectors. In recognition of the significance of innovation in data field, NPC is set to shine a spotlight on smart ideas through this in itiative so as to improve life quality and enhance performance in multiple fields, His Excellency pointed out. HE Al Khalifa highlighted that the forum would discuss an array of topics related to innovation and sustainable development, as well as data and AI, along with their role in optimizing official statistics systems, in addition to leveraging geospatial data in disaster management. Additionally, the event tackles the methods of harnessing data to analyze progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He added that the forum will likewise discuss innovation in official statistics and the future of sustainable development in the GCC states, along with the importance of collecting data to undergird development strategies. In his closing remarks, HE Al Khalifa thanked all partners who operate with NPC to implement this vision, affirming that NPC is grateful to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, underlining that the council is confident in these shared efforts which w ill culminate in paradigm shifts, thus enhancing the quality of national statistics and supporting the future of the State of Qatar as a pioneering country in the area of data and statistics. The forum aims to achieve a multitude of key objectives, foremost among them the exploration of the crucial role of statistics, data analysis, artificial intelligence, and machine learning in addressing global sustainability challenges. By analyzing historical trends, data-driven approaches can now predict future scenarios, identify risks, and craft targeted interventions. The event will be attended by a group of experts in official statistics, data and environment science, and geographic information technology from the State of Qatar, and from specialized UN organizations such as the Statistics Division, UNICEF, UNESCO, ILO, UNDP, WHO, UNFPA, UN Women, ESCWA, UK Office for National Statistics, Statistics Finland and GCC Statistical Center. The forum will also feature a host of academics from Qatar University, Qatar Comp uting Research Institute (QCRI) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Northwestern University in Qatar, and Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, as well as experts from Microsoft, Gartner, PWC, and others Source: Qatar News Agency