Oman launches National Digital Economy Program

Muscat: The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, the Central Bank of Oman and the Office of the Governor of South Al Sharqiyah, today organized an introductory tour of the National Digital Economy Program and its most important executive programs, including government digital transformation, e-commerce, financial technologies and digital infrastructure.

The introductory tour started from South Al Sharqiyah Governorate and will continue to the rest of the governorates of the Sultanate of Oman, with the aim of introducing government trends and projects in the field of digital economy.

The programme included several presentations and an open discussion session in its first stop. It began with a presentation on the National Digital Economy Programme, its objectives and indicators.

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion reviewed a working paper on the executive program for e-commerce, where the achievements of the national plan and future visions were presented to enhance trust between consumers and merchants, which contributes to building a reliable e-commerce environment.

The Central Bank of Oman reviewed its executive program for financial technologies, where a working paper was presented on the bank’s role in promoting innovation in this field, and the mechanisms for activating the program’s objectives in line with the Sultanate of Oman’s vision in the field of financial technologies, in addition to discussing initiatives supporting emerging financial technology companies.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority also reviewed a working paper on the executive programme for digital infrastructure, and initiatives aimed at improving communications networks, including optical fibres, fourth and fifth generation technologies, submarine cables and data centres, to enhance the Sultanate of Oman’s competitive position in the field of global digital transformation.

Regarding the National Program for Digital Economy, Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Balushi, Head of Programs and Projects Department at the Technology Programs Office at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, said: The program includes three main axes: digital government, digital society, and business digitization, which have a positive role and impact on society by simplifying e-government services procedures and qualifying national cadres in modern technologies, to provide income-generating opportunities and increase the percentage of Omanization in jobs related to the communications and information technology sector in the public and private sectors, and other targets based on reducing costs, improving operations, business growth and innovation, and improving the quality of services and products.

He explained that the National Digital Economy Program, which aims to provide a secure and advanced digital infrastructure that contributes to achieving Oman Vision 2040, consists of 8 executive programs: government digital transformation (Transformation), digital industry, e-commerce, artificial intelligence and advanced digital technologies, space, cybersecurity industry (Modernity), financial technologies, and digital infrastructure.

Regarding the National E-Commerce Plan, Azza bint Ibrahim Al Kindi, Director of the Department of Commercial Affairs and E-Commerce at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, said: The plan was approved by the Council of Ministers in 2021 and extends until 2027. It includes 30 initiatives distributed over 8 main axes that aim to transform the Sultanate of Oman into a regional center in the field of e-commerce, in addition to diversifying the national economy and enhancing the growth of the e-commerce sector.

She pointed out that e-commerce is not just a means of shopping, but rather a platform that allows for expanding the horizons of the national economy and providing new opportunities for small and medium enterprises, adding that the plan seeks to increase consumer awareness of the benefits of e-commerce and update the laws regulating this sector. She added that the “Maroof Oman” platform, which launched its services to customers starting from the first quarter of this year, aims to document licensed online stores, stressing the importance of this platform in raising the level of reliability and enhancing consumer confidence.