Qatar, Ukraine seen as ‘powerful combination for global innovation’

“Qatar and Ukraine share a common ambition that makes their partnership more than just a business arrangement, according to Dr Olga Revina, co-founder and chairperson of the Qatar-Ukraine Business Forum (QUBF). “Qatar would like to become a global hub for innovation. Ukraine is recognised as a nation of innovation. The two countries’ intent to lead in innovation is a powerful combination for a partnership that can create significant value for the whole world,” Revina told Gulf Times. Revina lauded the signing ceremony of an investment agreement between GrowthX Capital, a Qatari venture, and Grow Solutions, a Ukrainian-rooted company specialising in innovative educational solutions for children. Qatar Chamber hosted the ceremony at its headquarters in Doha Thursday. The agreement was signed by Hamad Mubarak al-Hajri, chairman of GrowthX Capital, and Maria Shevchenko, president of GRO Solutions. GRO has since chosen Qatar as its headquarters and the launchpad for its upcoming regional expansion, Revina pointed out. The ceremony was attended by Qatar Chamber board member Mohamed bin Ahmed al-Obaidli, Qatar Chamber acting director general Ali Bu Sherbak al-Mansouri, and Qatar Financial Centre CEO Mansour al-Khater. Andrii Kuzmenko, the ambassador of Ukraine to Qatar, was also present. Revina described the occasion as more than a bilateral business milestone, saying: “On behalf of the Qatar-Ukraine Business Forum, I am privileged to be part of this exclusive event: the official signing ceremony for the investment by the Qatari venture GrowthX Capital in the company, GRO Solutions, which has Ukrainian roots, Ukrainian minds, and hearts.” She outlined what she described as the global recognition of Ukraine as a nation of innovation, pointing to five defining traits that have come to characterise the country’s standing in the global tech landscape. Ukraine, Revina noted, has established talent hubs across multiple regions and built one of the world’s most advanced digital government platforms. She said the country has also gained international recognition for rapidly adapting commercial technologies, drones, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital tools for defence purposes, with Ukrainian teams developing innovative battlefield software and electronic warfare solutions “at a speed that surprised the industry.” Beyond defence, Revina stated that Ukraine has fostered a growing startup community across fintech, AI, cybersecurity, health tech, and e-commerce. She also pointed to the country’s record of developing creative solutions in logistics, energy, communications, and public services as evidence of a culture that does not simply absorb disruption but turns it into output. “Ukraine has repeatedly developed creative solutions in logistics, energy, communications, and public services, demonstrating a culture of practical innovation and adaptability,” she stated. QUBF, she noted, has been active in building these connections at the institutional level. The forum annually hosts Ukrainian startups in Qatar for the Web Summit and has established the Qatar-Ukraine Tech and Innovation Committee under the Web Summit umbrella to enable strategic investments and support high-impact startups from Ukraine. For his part, al-Obaidli said the partnership reflects the strength of Qatar’s private sector and its broader economy. He affirmed Qatar Chamber’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurship, encouraging innovation, and building partnerships that contribute to sustainable economic growth. Al-Obaidli also noted that the chamber has recently established a Technology and Innovation Committee, currently in formation, mandated to position Qatar’s private sector as innovation-driven and place the country as a globally connected digital economy hub. The committee, he added, aims to bridge the gap between strategy and execution, accelerate enterprise-level technology adoption, and institutionalise data-driven and AI-enabled operations across businesses. Al-Hajri said the decision by GRO to set up its headquarters in Doha reflects growing international confidence in Qatar’s investment ecosystem, supported by advanced infrastructure and a strong support network. “The initiative serves as a model for combining strategic capital with global talent to reinforce Qatar’s position as a regional hub for innovation-driven enterprises,” he stated. Al-Hajri also revealed that GrowthX Capital has planned a $500mn investment over the coming years, which he said would further cement Qatar’s status as a global technology hub in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030’s goals of economic diversification and knowledge-based growth. Noting the broader significance of the occasion in terms of what the two countries stand to build together, Revina said: “Qatar is building a dynamic, founder-first innovation ecosystem designed to transition into the knowledge-based economy.” She added that QUBF continues to construct what she called “a strong bridge for tech and innovation between Qatar and Ukraine.”

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