Qtel group chairman and CEO hold talks with Palestinian President and Prime Ministers of Turkey and Tunisia at World Economic Forum event in Turkey

Qtel Group operations across the globe enrich the lives of customers and make a distinct contribution to sustainable, inclusive growth, the company’s Chairman and CEO shared with private sector and government leaders at the World Economic Forum event which took place in Istanbul, Turkey this past week.

At this year's World Economic Forum on the Middle East, North Africa and Eurasia, Qtel Group Chairman, H.E. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al-Thani and Qtel Group CEO, Dr. Nasser Marafih held private bilateral talks with key regional statesmen: Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, and, separately, Tunisian Prime Minister, Hamadi Jebali and Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Erdogan.

Qtel Group, the world’s fastest growing telecom operator in terms of revenue over the last five years, successfully operates Wataniya Mobile Palestine and Tunisiana, and has plans to see those companies fully optimized over the coming months and years, through increased focus on the customer experience while simultaneously leveraging the many benefits that size and scale offer a group-sized operation.

Wataniya Mobile Palestine launched its service in November 2009 as a partnership between the Wataniya Group (headquartered in Kuwait and majority owned by Qatar Telecom (Qtel) Q.S.C.) and the Palestine Investment Fund (PIF) with ownership stakes of 57 percent and 43 percent respectively.

Qtel Group acquired a 75 percent stake in Tunisiana through its subsidiary Wataniya in January 2011, with a local partner taking the remaining 25 percent of the company. In May 2012, Tunisiana won 3G and fixed line licenses in a USD 132 million deal.

Qtel Group at the World Economic Forum:

The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas.

The Qtel Group CEO was invited to speak to delegates from more than 100 countries, and an audience composed of some to the most influential personalities from across the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia.

Dr. Nasser Marafih participated in a panel session entitled ‘Digital Pathways to Inclusive Growth’ and addressed many topical issues, including how the explosion in demand for data is changing the role of operators and regulators. In order to support a sustainable ecosystem, new agreements are required between Internet players, content and applications providers and the companies that build and support the networks, and the regulatory environment will need to adapt accordingly.

The Qtel Group has taken on increased global prominence in recent years, with a presence in 17 countries and a strong focus on the Middle East, North Africa and Asia. In particular, it has contributed to a number of important CSR and educational initiatives for students and young entrepreneurs. Executives at Qtel Group aim to raise the profile of this work, and forge new strategic connections, through its agreement with the World Economic Forum.

Of particular importance to Qtel Group is the ‘business’ segment in many of the markets in which it operates, and the company is committed to providing the infrastructure and services needed to allow businesses of all sizes to fully capitalize on the benefits afforded by participation in the new knowledge economy, chiefly entrepreneurship and job creation.

Qtel Group’s agreement to work actively with the World Economic Forum organization was announced at the GSMA Mobile World Congress which took place in Barcelona from 27 February to 1 March 2012, and was signed by Dr. Nasser Marafih, CEO, Qtel Group and witnessed by His Excellency Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al-Thani, Chairman of Qtel, and the Deputy Chairman Ali Shareef Al Emadi.

Representatives of Qtel Group will also participate in the Forum´s prestigious annual global event in Davos, Switzerland in early 2013.