Key agreements signed as 4-day COMEX 2024 opens
Published: 04:05 PM,May 27,2024 | EDITED : 07:05 PM,May 27,2024
HH Sayyid Theyazin presided over the opening of COMEX 2024 on Monday
MUSCAT, MAY 27
The 33rd edition of the COMEX 2024 exhibition launched at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC), under the auspices of His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham bin Tarik al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, on Monday, May 27, 2023. The 4-day event has been organized by Al Dar Al Arabia in partnership with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) with the aim of enhancing digital investment and showcasing the latest advancements in technologies and electronic services.
The exhibition featured an array of local and international players in the technology and digital transformation sectors. Participating entities included the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ), Tax Authority, Ministry of Health, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, Royal Oman Police, Ministry of Information, Dhofar Municipality, Muscat Municipality, Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, Financial Services Authority, Ministry of Finance (MoF), General Secretariat of Tender Board, Supreme Judiciary, Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Central Bank of Oman, and Ministry of Culture, Sports & Youth. Additionally, over 100 local and international technology organizations joined the event, contributing to its diverse and dynamic atmosphere.
Dr Ali bin Amer al Shidhani, Under-secretary of the MTCIT for Communications and Information Technology, emphasized that the Ministry is working, based on the Royal Directives of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, to make digital economy a priority and a pillar of the national economy. This includes implementing the National Digital Economy Programme in collaboration with relevant institutions in both the government and private sectors. The programme aims to increase the contribution of the digital economy to the gross domestic product from 2% to 10% by 2040 and to achieve growth in eight executive programs: digital industry, digital transformation, space, artificial intelligence and advanced technologies, e-commerce, cybersecurity industry, and technical infrastructure.
Dr Al Shidhani emphasized that the volume of investments in the telecommunications and information technology sector since the announcement of the National Digital Economy Programme has exceeded RO 1 billion, with a significant portion of these investments focused on areas such as communication technologies, data storage and processing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, space technology, and semiconductors.
Comprehensive participation
COMEX 2024, he said, features participation from over 282 companies, compared to 216 companies last year, with the value of agreements and projects estimated to be 60% higher than those announced at COMEX 2023, surpassing RO 40 million.
He also highlighted the value of new projects and agreements announced on the opening day, totaling around RO 60 million, encompassing digital fields, the development of core technological infrastructure, projects by the Oman Investment Authority to support the digital economy, and technological investments.
Regarding upcoming projects, Dr Al Shidhani added that the technological revolution presents a great opportunity for those who can capitalize on it. Therefore, the MTCIT is working on projects that will soon come to fruition, including the ‘Omani Linguistic Model,’ which aligns with the generative artificial intelligence revolution such as ChatGPT and Gemini, incorporating Omani identity and culture. Additionally, they are collaborating on the 4th Industrial Revolution Center project with the World Economic Forum, the Unified National Gateway for Government Services project, and the Specialized Technical Zone for Startups project.
He emphasized that several international indicators reflect the level of growth and development in the telecommunications and information technology sector. Oman achieved the 50th position globally in the United Nations 2022 e-Government Development Index and ranked fourth in the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) index for the maturity of electronic and mobile government services for 2023. Additionally, Oman secured the 50th position internationally in the 2023 Global Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index and the 33rd position in the International Telecommunication Union's ICT Development Index (IDI) for 2023.
Dr Al Shidani, affirmed that there are many notable projects in the digital transformation deserving commendation. Among them is the pioneering step in digital transformation for elections implemented by the Ministry of Interior during the Shura Council elections for the tenth term. This represented a comprehensive digital experience for the electoral process.
In the field of digital environment development, Dr Al Shidani added that the government has launched several supportive initiatives and funding sources for the growth of emerging technology companies. The MTCIT, in collaboration with relevant authorities, has worked on organizing and developing the stimulating and accelerating digital environment for the growth of emerging technology companies, considering it a fundamental pillar for digital economy growth and a contributor to enhancing the national economy.
“Today, we see the impact of these initiatives and efforts in the escalating growth and development of Omani technology companies. We were pleased recently with several important indicators, such as the inclusion of Omani company ‘Thawani’ in the list of the top 50 strongest fintech companies in the Middle East in Forbes magazine's 2024 report. Additionally, Omani company ‘Rahal’ was selected as the third fastest-growing company in the Middle East in Deloitte's international report,” he said.
“Moreover, over 100 Omani youth have been trained and employed in the field of semiconductor design and testing through their participation in the first foreign investment for a semiconductor company operating in Oman. Omani youth at this company have successfully designed the first electronic chips named Oman1 and Oman2. This marks a promising start for the Omani semiconductor industry,' he added.
Major agreements
The event witnessed the signing of several agreements with specialized technology companies. An agreement was inked between the MTCIT and ITHCA Group and Nortal, aimed at developing and designing the unified national electronic government services portal.
Additionally, another agreement was signed between the MTCIT and Diyar United Company for Trading and Contracting to upgrade the infrastructure for electronic authentication, intending to enhance the integrated electronic authentication system and provide solutions for identity verification, electronic signatures, time stamps, electronic seals, and various certificate issuance systems.
Furthermore, a project implementation agreement for digital transformation was signed between the Consumer Protection Authority and ITHCA Group. Moreover, the General Secretariat of the Tender Board and Bahwan Cybertech signed a contract for the design, supply, installation, implementation, and maintenance of the National Integrated Government Projects and Procurement Management System (Takamul), serving an electronic project benefiting all government entities under the General Secretariat of the Tender Board (digital transformation).
Oman Data Park also signed an agreement to establish the largest national backup data center in the country with Middle East Information Systems LLC. This investment amounts to around $25 million for the first phase.
Additionally, a strategic partnership was signed between Omantel and Google to establish the first edge cloud computing center in the region (Middle East, Africa, and Asia) to provide AI-generated intelligence services and data analysis solutions worth RO 2 million.
Another strategic partnership was inked between OmanTel and Amazon Web Services for sovereign cloud services to establish an integrated e-commerce platform in the Sultanate, alongside the establishment of a cloud excellence center and the provision of AI-generated intelligence solutions worth RO 24 million.
Far-reaching financial systems
In an interview with the Observer, Khalid al Busaidi, Director of Media and Communication at the Ministry of Finance, said the Ministry is showcasing the systems, programmes, and technological applications utilized within the MoF, serving the broader governmental framework.
Al-Busaidi outlined the inclusion of approximately six systems, notably the primary financial system, alongside the government asset registry system, the unified treasury account system, the public debt management system, electronic salary transfers or digital payments, and a beneficiary system tailored for MoF operations. While discussing the range of systems, he referenced the importance of the national registry of government assets, indicating an approximate count of six, potentially seven or five, emphasizing their integration within the broader governmental financial infrastructure.
Al-Busaidi reiterated the pivotal role of the unified government financial system in collating revenue and expenditure data, facilitating interconnectivity with various government departments, including human resources systems within the Ministry of Labour, all aimed at ensuring effective governance and oversight.
The 33rd edition of the COMEX 2024 exhibition launched at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC), under the auspices of His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham bin Tarik al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, on Monday, May 27, 2023. The 4-day event has been organized by Al Dar Al Arabia in partnership with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) with the aim of enhancing digital investment and showcasing the latest advancements in technologies and electronic services.
The exhibition featured an array of local and international players in the technology and digital transformation sectors. Participating entities included the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ), Tax Authority, Ministry of Health, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, Royal Oman Police, Ministry of Information, Dhofar Municipality, Muscat Municipality, Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, Financial Services Authority, Ministry of Finance (MoF), General Secretariat of Tender Board, Supreme Judiciary, Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Central Bank of Oman, and Ministry of Culture, Sports & Youth. Additionally, over 100 local and international technology organizations joined the event, contributing to its diverse and dynamic atmosphere.
Dr Ali bin Amer al Shidhani, Under-secretary of the MTCIT for Communications and Information Technology, emphasized that the Ministry is working, based on the Royal Directives of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, to make digital economy a priority and a pillar of the national economy. This includes implementing the National Digital Economy Programme in collaboration with relevant institutions in both the government and private sectors. The programme aims to increase the contribution of the digital economy to the gross domestic product from 2% to 10% by 2040 and to achieve growth in eight executive programs: digital industry, digital transformation, space, artificial intelligence and advanced technologies, e-commerce, cybersecurity industry, and technical infrastructure.
Dr Al Shidhani emphasized that the volume of investments in the telecommunications and information technology sector since the announcement of the National Digital Economy Programme has exceeded RO 1 billion, with a significant portion of these investments focused on areas such as communication technologies, data storage and processing, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, space technology, and semiconductors.
Comprehensive participation
COMEX 2024, he said, features participation from over 282 companies, compared to 216 companies last year, with the value of agreements and projects estimated to be 60% higher than those announced at COMEX 2023, surpassing RO 40 million.
He also highlighted the value of new projects and agreements announced on the opening day, totaling around RO 60 million, encompassing digital fields, the development of core technological infrastructure, projects by the Oman Investment Authority to support the digital economy, and technological investments.
Regarding upcoming projects, Dr Al Shidhani added that the technological revolution presents a great opportunity for those who can capitalize on it. Therefore, the MTCIT is working on projects that will soon come to fruition, including the ‘Omani Linguistic Model,’ which aligns with the generative artificial intelligence revolution such as ChatGPT and Gemini, incorporating Omani identity and culture. Additionally, they are collaborating on the 4th Industrial Revolution Center project with the World Economic Forum, the Unified National Gateway for Government Services project, and the Specialized Technical Zone for Startups project.
He emphasized that several international indicators reflect the level of growth and development in the telecommunications and information technology sector. Oman achieved the 50th position globally in the United Nations 2022 e-Government Development Index and ranked fourth in the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) index for the maturity of electronic and mobile government services for 2023. Additionally, Oman secured the 50th position internationally in the 2023 Global Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index and the 33rd position in the International Telecommunication Union's ICT Development Index (IDI) for 2023.
Dr Al Shidani, affirmed that there are many notable projects in the digital transformation deserving commendation. Among them is the pioneering step in digital transformation for elections implemented by the Ministry of Interior during the Shura Council elections for the tenth term. This represented a comprehensive digital experience for the electoral process.
In the field of digital environment development, Dr Al Shidani added that the government has launched several supportive initiatives and funding sources for the growth of emerging technology companies. The MTCIT, in collaboration with relevant authorities, has worked on organizing and developing the stimulating and accelerating digital environment for the growth of emerging technology companies, considering it a fundamental pillar for digital economy growth and a contributor to enhancing the national economy.
“Today, we see the impact of these initiatives and efforts in the escalating growth and development of Omani technology companies. We were pleased recently with several important indicators, such as the inclusion of Omani company ‘Thawani’ in the list of the top 50 strongest fintech companies in the Middle East in Forbes magazine's 2024 report. Additionally, Omani company ‘Rahal’ was selected as the third fastest-growing company in the Middle East in Deloitte's international report,” he said.
“Moreover, over 100 Omani youth have been trained and employed in the field of semiconductor design and testing through their participation in the first foreign investment for a semiconductor company operating in Oman. Omani youth at this company have successfully designed the first electronic chips named Oman1 and Oman2. This marks a promising start for the Omani semiconductor industry,' he added.
Major agreements
The event witnessed the signing of several agreements with specialized technology companies. An agreement was inked between the MTCIT and ITHCA Group and Nortal, aimed at developing and designing the unified national electronic government services portal.
Additionally, another agreement was signed between the MTCIT and Diyar United Company for Trading and Contracting to upgrade the infrastructure for electronic authentication, intending to enhance the integrated electronic authentication system and provide solutions for identity verification, electronic signatures, time stamps, electronic seals, and various certificate issuance systems.
Furthermore, a project implementation agreement for digital transformation was signed between the Consumer Protection Authority and ITHCA Group. Moreover, the General Secretariat of the Tender Board and Bahwan Cybertech signed a contract for the design, supply, installation, implementation, and maintenance of the National Integrated Government Projects and Procurement Management System (Takamul), serving an electronic project benefiting all government entities under the General Secretariat of the Tender Board (digital transformation).
Oman Data Park also signed an agreement to establish the largest national backup data center in the country with Middle East Information Systems LLC. This investment amounts to around $25 million for the first phase.
Additionally, a strategic partnership was signed between Omantel and Google to establish the first edge cloud computing center in the region (Middle East, Africa, and Asia) to provide AI-generated intelligence services and data analysis solutions worth RO 2 million.
Another strategic partnership was inked between OmanTel and Amazon Web Services for sovereign cloud services to establish an integrated e-commerce platform in the Sultanate, alongside the establishment of a cloud excellence center and the provision of AI-generated intelligence solutions worth RO 24 million.
Far-reaching financial systems
In an interview with the Observer, Khalid al Busaidi, Director of Media and Communication at the Ministry of Finance, said the Ministry is showcasing the systems, programmes, and technological applications utilized within the MoF, serving the broader governmental framework.
Al-Busaidi outlined the inclusion of approximately six systems, notably the primary financial system, alongside the government asset registry system, the unified treasury account system, the public debt management system, electronic salary transfers or digital payments, and a beneficiary system tailored for MoF operations. While discussing the range of systems, he referenced the importance of the national registry of government assets, indicating an approximate count of six, potentially seven or five, emphasizing their integration within the broader governmental financial infrastructure.
Al-Busaidi reiterated the pivotal role of the unified government financial system in collating revenue and expenditure data, facilitating interconnectivity with various government departments, including human resources systems within the Ministry of Labour, all aimed at ensuring effective governance and oversight.