Qatar-based IT services and solutions provider Meeza and Qatar MICE Development Institute (QMDI) won a major award for their ground breaking work on the first ‘green’ United Nations Environmental Protection  (UNEP) conference in Qatar.

The duo won the 'Best Green Product or Service Award' for their collaboration on the eco-friendly UNEP Ozone Conference held in November 2008 which was hosted by the Qatar Ministry of Environment.

QMDI, the appointed event management company for the UNEP Ozone Conference provided turnkey event management and special project management to meet the goal of reducing paper usage by 80 per cent at the event.

Meeza developed a paperless conference solution which enabled the 700 delegates and UNEP Secretariat to directly contribute to policies and documentation through a ‘virtual environment’.

Thanks to Meeza’s successful IT solution, the use of paper was reduced by 86 per cent for the overall event – the equivalent of a saving of 9,000km of paper, or just over 31 trees, said CEO of Meeza, James Fanella.

“Meeza is honoured to receive the 'Qatar Today Green Award' and to have played a key role in helping the Ministry of Environment to successfully deliver the first global paperless UNEP conference in Qatar. This is an example of how IT can make a significant contribution to the protection of our environment," he noted.

"We are pleased to have been able to contribute to a Greener Qatar and also a greener world by setting a “greener best practice” for UN meetings held across the globe, Fanella added.

QMDI deputy CEO Mohammed Al Naama thanked the Ministry of Environment, Qatar, the UN Multilateral Fund Secretariat and Ozone Secretariat for providing the opportunity to work on the UNEP Ozone Protection Meetings in Doha last November.

This prestigious award is not only a win for QMDI, but also gives Qatar significant recognition within the event industry as a leader in driving forward ‘green meetings’ initiatives,” he added.

The 'Qatar Today Green Awards' was created in 2008 to awaken the eco-consciousness in every Qatari citizen and resident.-TradeArabia News Service