A Historic Step in China and GCC Digital Cooperation Under the Green Channel of the Green Belt and Road
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT
DOHA, QATAR, April 24, 2026. In a ceremony held today in Doha, Licorne Gulf Holding and Beijing Thunisoft Information Technology Corporation Limited (Shenzhen Stock Exchange: 300271) formally signed a Strategic Cooperation Agreement, marking a pivotal milestone in China and GCC technology partnership. The agreement operationalises, at enterprise level, the “Green Channel for Chinese Sci‑Tech Enterprises to Land in Qatar”, the flagship mechanism jointly established on 31 March 2026 in Beijing by the ZGC‑GCC Innovation Partners Program and Licorne Gulf Holding, under the broader Green Belt and Road framework of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
CONTEXT • THE GREEN CHANNEL OF THE GREEN BELT AND ROAD
The Green Channel is a structured institutional corridor launched by the ZGC‑GCC Innovation Partners Program, a programme established by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China in August 2025. Under the direction of Mr. Zhang Kai, the programme connects Zhongguancun (ZGC) high‑tech enterprises, representing China’s foremost innovation cluster, with GCC markets through a coordinated pipeline of government, industry, and capital resources. It advances the Digital Silk Road pillar of the Belt and Road Initiative and aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, and Bahrain Economic Vision 2030.
The mechanism moves beyond one‑off matchmaking to a full pipeline model of resource integration, strategic gatekeeping, and localisation support. In this architecture, Qatar is positioned not as a destination but as a departure point: a sovereign, well‑capitalised hub from which Chinese technology can scale systematically across the Gulf and onward into MENA, Africa, South Asia, and Europe.
Thunisoft stands among the first cohort of anchor enterprises selected through this framework, having participated as a core AI industry partner at the ZGC‑Gulf Conference for AI Industry in Beijing on 31 March 2026, alongside Tencent Cloud, Mininglamp, Aibee, and SoundAI. Today’s agreement between Thunisoft and Licorne Gulf Holding constitutes the first bilateral enterprise cooperation document concluded under the Green Channel, operationalising the mechanism across legal tech, digital government, and enterprise data governance.
THE AGREEMENT • SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES
The cooperation agreement establishes a comprehensive strategic alliance across four pillars:
| 1 | Legal Tech and Digital Justice Deployment of Thunisoft’s court and procuratorate AI platforms, smart case management systems, and legal large language models (LLMs) across GCC judiciary and regulatory bodies, leveraging Licorne Gulf’s sovereign and institutional relationships. |
| 2 | Digital Government and Smart Infrastructure Joint go‑to‑market for Thunisoft’s digital government stack, encompassing smart law enforcement, one‑network collaboration, and market supervision, across Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, co‑structured through Licorne Gulf’s joint venture and industrial localisation frameworks. |
| 3 | Enterprise Digital Intelligence and Data Governance Co‑delivery of AI‑powered enterprise compliance, data asset management, and AIGC‑enhanced operational platforms for GCC corporates, state‑owned enterprises, and family offices pursuing digital and intelligent transformation. |
| 4 | Capital and Co‑Investment Licorne Gulf will provide strategic capital facilitation, co‑investment syndication, and post‑listing financing support for Thunisoft’s GCC expansion and potential listing activities on Nasdaq or Euronext, aligned with Licorne Gulf’s 2025 technology deployment of over USD 600 million. |
“This agreement with Thunisoft is the embodiment of our mission to bridge the best of global innovation with the vast opportunities of the GCC. China’s leadership in Legal Tech and Digital Government is unmatched, and through the Green Channel of the Green Belt and Road, we are proud to channel that excellence into the Gulf’s most ambitious transformation agendas.”
Alexandre Katrangi, Chairman and Founder, Licorne Gulf Holding
PARTNER PROFILES
Licorne Gulf Holding is a multicultural, founder‑led Investment Holding Office established in 1999, headquartered across Riyadh, Doha, and Manama, with international hubs in Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Specialising in strategic investments, corporate finance, and cross‑border business development, the firm deployed over USD 600 million into the technology sector in 2025 through direct investment, joint ventures, and post‑IPO financing. Under the joint leadership of President and Founder Irina Duisimbekova, a former Fortune 500 petroleum CEO, and Co‑Founder Alexandre Katrangi, an advisor to GCC Royal Families with over 20 years of international business expertise, Licorne Gulf operates across defence and security, technology and innovation, renewable energy, and healthcare technology. With 27 years of Middle East expertise, the firm has originated, structured, and executed high‑value transactions across private equity, energy, and cross‑border opportunities, cementing its position as one of the GCC’s most active cross‑border investment vehicles.
Beijing Thunisoft Information Technology Corporation Limited (华宇, Shenzhen Stock Exchange: 300271) was founded in 2001 and stands as China’s foremost intelligent information services enterprise. Thunisoft holds the number one market share position in China’s national courts and procuratorates for consecutive years (IDC Report), together with leading positions in data governance (first), education digitalisation (top three), and digital government IT solutions (top five). With a workforce exceeding 4,000 professionals, 10 member enterprises, 4 research institutes, and 8 R&D centres spanning Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and beyond, Thunisoft’s technology middle platform, encompassing Legal Large Models, Intelligent Middle Office, PaaS Cloud, and Data Middle Office, powers over 200 AI application scenarios across more than 30 AI smart modules. Proven deployments include platforms aggregating data from over 3,500 courts, procuratorial big data systems monitoring more than 300 performance indicators, and national market supervision law enforcement infrastructure.
“The GCC represents one of the world’s most dynamic frontiers for digital government and legal technology. Licorne Gulf’s extraordinary depth of regional relationships, institutional trust, and investment architecture provides Thunisoft with the ideal platform to deliver our proven AI‑powered solutions to governments and enterprises across the Gulf. Together, under the Green Channel of the Green Belt and Road, we will help write the next chapter of digital transformation in the region.”
Xu Zhong Nan, Overseas Business Director, Thunisoft
SIGNIFICANCE AND OUTLOOK
The partnership arrives at a defining moment for GCC digitalisation. Qatar’s non‑hydrocarbon sector is forecast to grow by 2.5 to 3 percent through 2025 and 2026, with AI clusters, data centres, and regulated digital assets identified as priority growth vectors. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 industrial localisation mandates create immediate demand for Thunisoft’s dual‑use manufacturing and enterprise compliance platforms, while Bahrain’s open financial ecosystem presents natural opportunities for Thunisoft’s integrated financial dispute resolution and fintech infrastructure.
The Green Channel provides both partners with preferential regulatory pathways, including access to Qatar Financial Centre and Qatar Free Zones structures featuring 20 year tax holidays, 100 percent foreign ownership provisions, and streamlined licensing. These frameworks remove the traditional barriers that have historically slowed Chinese technology market entry into the Gulf.
Thunisoft joins the inaugural cohort of Green Channel “experience officers” designated by the ZGC‑GCC Innovation Partners Program, a distinction shared with the Beijing‑based AI leaders that participated in the March 2026 founding signing. Both organisations have confirmed that today’s agreement is the first in a series of joint initiatives planned under the Green Channel, with specific project mandates expected across Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain in the coming weeks.
In aggregate, this partnership institutionalises a BRI‑aligned, QNV2030‑compatible corridor through which Chinese innovation can flow systematically into Qatar and, from there, into the wider world. As geopolitical pressures continue to reshape global technology flows, Qatar’s role as a resilient bridge between East and West will only deepen in strategic value. The Green Channel of the Green Belt and Road has been built precisely for that moment.
ABOUT THE ORGANISATIONS
Licorne Gulf Holding: www.licorne‑gulf.com • Doha, Riyadh, Manama
Thunisoft: www.thunisoft.com • Beijing, China (Shenzhen Stock Exchange: 300271) • Xu Zhong Nan: xuzhongnan@thunisoft.com
ZGC‑GCC Innovation Partners Program: Zhongguancun Science Park, Beijing, China (established by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China, August 2025; Director: Mr. Zhang Kai).
Licorne Gulf Holding • Thunisoft • ZGC‑GCC Innovation Partners Program
