The Qatar Science and Technology Park (QSTP) has lined up a series of events leading to its official opening, which will take place in the presence of the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and H H Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned on March 16. The QSTP said it is expecting around 1,200 prominent guests to attend the event, which will be covered by more than 100 members of the local and international media. On March 15, QSTP will hold a session on Qatar’s National Vision 2030 for international journalists with Dr Ibrahim Ibrahim, Secretary-General, and Sheikh Hamad bin Jabor Al Thani, Director General. Media round-table sessions will also be held on the same day and will be divided into several topics: Health Sciences, chaired by Dr Eulian Roberts; Energy, chaired by Dr Tidu Maini; Environment, chaired by Hamad Al Kuwari and Mohammed Abdisalam; and Technology/ICT, chaired by Salvino Salvaggio. The QSTP opening ceremony, which will be followed by a banquet, will take place the next day. The official opening of QSTP is a milestone in the development of Qatar as a thriving knowledge and research hub. The QSTP is an integral part of Qatar’s National Vision 2030 which aims, through sustainable development, to transform Qatar into one of the world’s most advanced countries within two decades. More than $800m has been invested by Qatar Foundation and its 21 partner organisations in QSTP. International guests invited to the ceremony include some of the big names in the energy, environment, health and ICT industries, like Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin; Jeffrey R Immelt, Chief Executive of GE; Linda Cook, Executive Director, Gas and Power, Shell; Stefen M Cassiani, President of ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company; Syamal Gupta, Chairman of Tata; Sir Martin Evans, Nobel Laureate in Medicine, Cardiff University; and Professor Ian Leslie, Pro Vice Chancellor for Research, Cambridge University. http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local%5FNews&subsection=Qatar+News&month=March2009&file=Local_News200903126284.xml

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