March 4, 2020 20:14 UTC - Doha, Qatar--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Qatar Free Zones Authority (QFZA) today announced that Google Cloud has signed its first strategic collaboration agreement in the Middle East with QFZA to launch a new cloud region in Doha. The region will be available for Google Cloud customers globally.

His Excellency Ahmad bin Mohamed Al-Sayed, Minister of State and Chairman of the Qatar Free Zones Authority, said, “We are pleased to welcome Google Cloud as a partner to the Free Zones to further develop our leading technology ecosystem. As we advance our strategy to promote investment to the country, the Google Cloud region will be a major and invaluable part of our expanding offering, serving a wide range of businesses both locally and internationally.”

He added, “We are proud that Google Cloud has chosen Qatar and is joining the growing number of major international companies in various fields which have registered an interest in setting up in the zones. This move reflects the confidence investors have in Qatar, as it moves steadily towards achieving its National Vision 2030, which is aimed at creating a knowledge-based economy.”

QFZA is closely collaborating with the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) to provide opportunities for cloud computing to businesses in Qatar and promote other digital initiatives through the TASMU program.

Since its establishment in October 2018, Qatar Free Zones Authority has approved projects worth a total of more than three billion Qatari Riyals (approximately one billion USD) from a wide range of leading local and global companies focused on the new economy, internet of things, sustainability, IT, big data, communications, transport, logistics, medical services, aviation, cybersecurity, and agritech.