The Omani government’s Digital Transformation Programme will culminate in the establishment of a unified electronic portal serving as a one-stop shop for the delivery of services encompassing different government ministries and entities.
According to a key official of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT), the Government Digital Transformation Programme (2021 – 2025) calls for the reengineering and automation of government services to enhance the “digital experience” of users. This is sought to be achieved by integrating the systems of different government entities, while providing government services through a unified e-portal.
“The vision of the programme starts from the principle of enabling the public sector to achieve outstanding innovative performance and provide smart services, proactive procedures, and a rewarding digital experience. It strives for excellence in Government performance, open-source data, and e-Community participation, all of which will contribute effectively to boost the business sector in Oman and attract an increased and wider spread of investments across different fields,” said Ahmed al Bulushi of the Ministry’s Digital Competitiveness Team.
Writing in the latest newsletter of the Oman British Business Council (OBBC), an affiliate of The Anglo-Omani Society, Al Bulushi noted that the Digital Transformation Programme is also key to securing a coveted place for the Sultanate of Oman among the Top 10 countries in the UN eGovernment Development Index – a key objective of Oman’s Vision 2040 strategy.
“The programme is expected to empower startups and SMEs to provide innovative solutions to help develop a government work environment, enable agility, planning and predictability of future plans to enhance the performance of the state’s administrative apparatus whilst ensuring transparency, accountability, and community engagement,” the author stated in the article titled: ‘Oman’s Tech Ecosystem: Why is the Sultanate becoming a technology destination of choice?’
The Government Digital Transformation programme, Ahmed explained, is one of several pillars that together constitute the National Digital Economy initiatives, which was approved by the Omani government recently. Other pillars include E-Commerce, Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technologies, Space and Digital industry, he said.
In particular, significant emphasis is being given to the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Advanced Technologies, he said, noting that early adopters are likely to gain global leadership positions in all future industries.
“The Sultanate of Oman is working to lay the essential pillars of AI applications in order to create a sustainable economy whilst also benefiting in its daily operations. These can be achieved through enhancing the productivity in sectors targeted for economic diversification through a coordinated application of smart technologies that develop the existing human talents and capabilities in this domain,” he added.
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