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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

China’s Alibaba to invest in cloud computing centre in Oman

Omani firms Datamount and International Emerging Technology Company join hands with Alibaba Cloud to offer cloud computing technologies and services in the Sultanate
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Chinese IT technology and e-commerce giant Alibaba Group has signed an agreement with the partnership of Datamount and International Emerging Technology Company (ETCO), both Oman-based IT services providers, for the establishment of a cloud computing centre in the Sultanate. The initiative is backed by Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT).


Under the pact, Datamount and ETCO will manage, operate and market cloud computing services of Alibaba Cloud in the region – a move that will strengthen Oman's position as a regional gateway for cloud computing services and technologies. All three parties will provide data processing services and cloud hosting, while also training Omanis in the use of Alibaba Cloud software, thus enhancing the cloud computing market in the Sultanate and the wider region. A significant number of direct and indirect jobs will be created in Oman as a result.


The agreement was signed in the presence of Dr Ali bin Amer al Shaidhani, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications, Information


Technology for Communications and Information Technology; Asila bint Salem al Samsamiya, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion for Investment Promotion; Selina Yuan, Vice President of Alibaba Cloud Company; Abdul Hakim bin Amer al Salhi, CEO of Datamount; and Abdul Aziz Jaafar, CEO of ETCO.


Dr Al Shaidhani said the agreement reflects the ministry's efforts in promoting Oman as a cloud services centre, encouraging foreign technical investments, supporting Omani companies working in the ICT sector to develop their services and products to compete in local and international markets, contribute to advancing development and the national economy and providing training and employment opportunities for Omani youth in the modern technology sectors.


He stressed that the ministry supports the joint agreements between international companies working in the telecommunications and information technology sector and their counterparts from local companies because this represents a clear indication of the confidence of major companies such as Alibaba in the importance of Oman as a cloud services centre.


Selina Yuna, Vice President, Alibaba, said: "Through this partnership, we aim to provide secure and reliable cloud services and technologies to organizations in Oman in particular and the region in general. Under the partnership, Alibaba Cloud will provide cloud computing services and related technologies, while Datamount, in collaboration with ETCO, will manage and operate the data centre, cloud hosting services and manage and market Alibaba Cloud software.


A subsidiary of Alibaba Group, Alibaba Cloud is the fastest growing business of the Chinese e-commerce powerhouse. Alibaba Cloud provides cloud computing services to online businesses and Alibaba's own e-commerce ecosystem. Its international operations are registered and headquartered in Singapore.


Muscat-headquartered Datamount operates a multi-location datacenter and currently serves customers from two locations in the Sultanate: Al Dakhiliya Governorate and Al Jabal al Akhdar.


International Emerging Technology Company (ETCO) operates in the advanced technology sector with a focus on attracting innovative projects, providing consulting services, propelling technology transfer locally and internationally. (With inputs from ONA)


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