Digital economy accounts for 2% of Oman’s GDP

MUSCAT, OCT 10

The digital economy of the Sultanate of Oman accounted for 2 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021, according to Dr Ali bin Amer al Shidhani, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology. He said this during his presentation on the official session of talks between Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology and Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

Dr Al Shadhani said that there are 4,502 companies operating in the digital economy sector, employing about 30,000 in which 18 per cent are university graduates with degrees related to the field.

The talks, held at W Muscat Hotel, was headed by Eng Saeed bin Hamoud al Maawali, Minister of Transport,Communications and Information Technology, Abdullah bin Amer al Swaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology in Saudi Arabia.

Based on the memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology in the Sultanate of Oman and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that was signed in November of 2021, an executive programme was signed to create a joint working environment between the two countries and enhance cooperation in the field of digital transformation.

An executive programme in the field of skills qualification was also signed with the aim to implement initiatives in the field of building national digital capabilities in the areas of modern technologies related to the technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and to keep pace with the requirements of digital transformation.

As part of the agreement, the first batch of 120 Omanis completed their training programme in specialized courses in the fields of cybersecurity, the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and programming, which included programs to develop technical skills and enhance competitiveness for advanced technical jobs in the digital labour market.

The second batch of 240 Omani trainees will start their programme this October and it includes courses on networking, electronic games development, cybersecurity, network development and protection, the Internet of Things (IoT) and business analysis.

It may be noted that three agreements were signed between Omani and Saudi companies and seven more partnerships will be signed during the coming period. During the meeting, the two sides stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation and accelerating the implementation of joint projects and initiatives in light of the distinguished relations that bring together the two brotherly countries at various levels.