Muscat: In the implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in November 2021, the two sides today signed two executive programmes: one on digital transformation and the other on the training of personnel in the same field.

The two programmes aim to make optimum use of digital technologies, notably in business areas, besides initiatives related to the technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution and training the personnel concerned in the fields of leadership, development and management.

The first executive programme was signed by Eng. Ahmed Mohammed Al Suwaiyan, Governor of Digital Government Authority in the KSA, and Dr Ali Amer Al Shithani, Communications and Information Technology Undersecretary at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology.

The programme covers cooperation in e-government practices, feasibility studies on new digital solutions serving e-government strategies and research in the respective areas.
The second executive programme was signed by Dr Amer Al Shidhani and Eng. Faris Saleh Al-Saqabi, Deputy Minister for Future Jobs & Capabilities at the KSA Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

The programme reflects the two sides’ keenness in training nationals and integrating efforts towards the preparation of human resources to keep pace with updates in the field of modern technologies and their applications.

Omani-Saudi relations are making progress in the fields of e-economy and e-government. To this effect, the two sides signed a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding, among them the Omani-Saudi E-Skills Initiative, which seeks to exchange the best practices in developing skills to meet labour market requirements in the sector of communications and information technology.

As many as 120 Omanis received training as part of the first phase of a programme in the field of cybersecurity, the internet of things and programming. Following an agreement, the programme seeks to augment competitiveness for contesting advanced jobs in the digital labour market.

The second phase of the programme, scheduled to begin later this month, provides for training 240 Omanis in areas of self-learning, e-games, cybersecurity, network protection and the internet of things.

The two sides signed three agreements in the field of enhancing partnership and expertise among Omani and Saudi technology firms. Seven more agreements will be signed shortly by companies from the two countries.