Strengthening Global Ties: Licorne Gulf and the ZGC-GCC Innovation Partners Programme
- Irina Duisimbekova
- Apr 6
- 3 min read
Updated: May 4
A New Era for AI Industry Collaboration
The "ZhongGuanCun-Gulf Cooperation Council States Innovation Incubation Service” (ZGC-GCC Innovation Partners Programme) recently organised the ZGC-Gulf Conference for the AI industry in Beijing. During this significant event, the ZGC-GCC Innovation Partners Programme signed a cooperation agreement with Licorne Gulf Holding Ltd. This partnership aims to establish a "green channel" for Chinese sci-tech enterprises, particularly those represented by ZGC high-tech companies, to conduct business in Qatar. This milestone directly advances the Belt and Road Initiative’s (BRI) Digital Silk Road pillar, which seeks to connect Chinese innovation capacity with partner economies through shared infrastructure, co-development, and technology standards.
Qatar's Strategic Vision
At the same time, this initiative aligns with Qatar’s strategic imperatives. The Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV2030) calls for a knowledge-intensive and diversified economy that reduces dependence on hydrocarbon revenues. The structured arrival of Chinese sci-tech enterprises offers the applied technology, talent transfer, and sector diversification that this vision requires.
Engaging with Industry Leaders
Representatives from upstream and downstream enterprises in the AI industry in Beijing, including Tencent Cloud, Mininglamp, Aibee, Thunisoft, and SoundAI, were invited to attend the conference. They engaged in in-depth exchanges with Licorne Gulf Holding and other Qatari partners. Together, they explored cooperation models for jointly developing AI technology application scenarios in Qatar.
Building Cooperative Intentions
Multiple cooperative intentions were reached at the conference. These exchanges reflect Qatar’s growing recognition as a strategic node in global technology diffusion. Qatar is not merely a regional endpoint; it serves as a bridge between Chinese technological depth and a wider network of markets spanning Africa, South Asia, and the broader MENA region. For Chinese sci-tech enterprises, landing in Qatar means more than entering a single market. It provides a globally connected platform supported by sovereign wealth capacity, world-class logistics infrastructure, and bilateral trade ties extending across three continents.
Formalising the Agreement
Witnessed by all attending enterprise representatives, Zhang Kai, director of the ZGC-GCC Innovation Partners Programme, and Alexandre Katrangi, chairman of Licorne Gulf Holding, formally signed the "Cooperation Agreement on Jointly Establishing the Green Channel for Chinese Sci-Tech Enterprises to Land in Qatar.” This agreement marks a significant step forward in fostering international collaboration.
Future Prospects
In the future, the signing parties will utilise this mechanism to assist Chinese sci-tech enterprises, especially ZGC high-tech companies, in quickly establishing offices or branches in Qatar. This initiative will fully connect them with local partners, industry experts, investment institutions, potential clients, and other resources needed for enterprise development.
Experience Officers for the Green Channel
The Beijing enterprises participating in this conference simultaneously became the first batch of "experience officers" for the "green channel." Beyond commercial connectivity, this mechanism carries a dimension of strategic resilience. In an era of intensifying technological competition, export controls, and shifting geopolitical alignments, a Qatar-based operational foothold provides Chinese technology firms with a diversified, lower-risk global base. This strategic positioning is crucial for navigating the complexities of international markets.
Conclusion: A Path Forward
The collaboration between Licorne Gulf and the ZGC-GCC Innovation Partners Programme represents a significant opportunity for growth and innovation. By fostering connections between Chinese sci-tech enterprises and the Qatari market, we are paving the way for sustainable expansion and profitability. This partnership not only enhances the technological landscape in Qatar but also strengthens global ties, ensuring that we remain at the forefront of innovation.
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