2 days ago
NPC launches revamped Qatar Open Data Portal
Tribune News Network
Doha
In a move aimed at strengthening data governance and fostering institutional integration in the management of government information, the National Statistics Centre (NSC) at the National Planning Council (NPC) on Thursday organised a forum themed 'Toward Integrated National Data Governance: Achievements, Partnerships, and Sustainable Support'.
The event serves as a strategic initiative by the Council to engage directly with planning, quality, and IT departments across ministries and government agencies, under the broader umbrella of the National Data and Statistics Strategy.
Secretary-General of the National Planning Council His Excellency Dr Abdulaziz bin Nasser bin Mubarak Al Khalifa inaugurated the forum.
In his speech, he said, 'The National Data Programme — a key component of the National Strategy for Data and Statistics — has achieved significant milestones in recent periods, in alignment with the objectives of the Third National Development Strategy. Among the most notable achievements is the issuance of the National Data Policy, approved by the National Planning Council. This policy has laid the foundation for principles of governance, integration, and shared responsibility in the management and governance of data.'
He also announced the launch of the newly revamped Qatar Open Data Portal, saying: 'We are pleased to announce the launch of the Qatar Open Data Platform in its new form, now featuring more than 1,100 datasets covering a wide range of sectors.
'Open data has become a decisive factor in attracting foreign investment and facilitating informed economic decision-making, which directly contributes to achieving the targets of economic growth and diversification.'
Through this regularly convened forum, the NSC seeks to share updates on the National Data Governance Programme and foster inter-agency cooperation mechanisms designed to activate effective data governance and management practices, and showcase projects related to national data governance platforms.
In addition, the Centre is using the forum to respond to government entities' inquiries, clarify their roles and responsibilities in implementing the National Data Governance Programme, and highlight the technical and training support it offers to ensure that institutional efforts align with national data policies.
The forum marks a continuation of the National Planning Council's broader efforts, following the launch of the National Data and Statistics Strategy last May, under the patronage of Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, and chair of the National Planning Council.
The strategy has since served as a springboard for a series of ambitious national initiatives aimed at modernising the country's data ecosystem.
The forum placed particular focus on the progress made in developing tools under the National Data Governance Programme, particularly the Open Data Platform.
A visual presentation showcased the platform's technical architecture and operational objectives, outlining how to advance transparency by making government data publicly accessible in line with international best practices. Such efforts are expected to foster innovation and build trust with the public.
On the regulatory front, the NPC team delivered a detailed presentation on the national policies, standards, and regulations governing data.
The presentation included an overview of compliance mechanisms and internal procedures for managing data within government agencies. This segment was led by Maha Rashid Al Mutawa, director of the National Data Affairs Department at the National Statistics Centre, who elaborated on the institutional and legislative frameworks underpinning these efforts.
In the area of capacity building, Maha Abdullah Al Sherif, statistical researcher at the Statistical and Data Training Centre, announced the launch of a series of specialised training programmes and workshops.
Designed to be delivered both in-person and online, these sessions will combine theoretical instruction with practical application.
Scheduled throughout the year, the training aims to bolster the competencies of government departments in data management, analysis, and governance — boosting institutional readiness and enhance their optimal use of data in government work.
The forum also explored the institutional partnerships critical to the success of the National Data Programme — chief among them is the strategic cooperation with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and the Cybersecurity Agency.
These partnerships aim to ensure the readiness of digital infrastructure and the integration of national technical and regulatory frameworks.
The forum highlighted effective technology partnerships with leading digital solution providers such as Microsoft and Informatica, both of which delivered advanced presentations on tools for governance, integration, and data quality. Microsoft showcased its intelligent data management ecosystem through Azure and Microsoft Fabric technologies, emphasising their role in supporting interoperability and real-time data analysis.
Informatica, for its part, presented its advanced vision via the Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC) platform — a solution designed to build a unified national data index and a transparent, referential data management system. Together, these technologies promise to enhance the quality and usability of government data in public policy development.
The forum concluded with an open dialogue that brought together representatives of government agencies and technology solution providers.
The discussion aimed to align technical needs with strategic objectives, while encouraging the exchange of experiences and best practices in building and operating national data platforms, including the National Data Index, the National Data Marketplace, and government database platforms.
