MUSCAT: Oman is seeking new digital innovation partnerships to support its digital economy roadmap as a three-day meeting of the International Telecommunication Union’s Digital Innovation Board opened in Muscat on Sunday.
The fourth meeting of the board, part of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development under the ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, will review the alliance’s strategic direction and progress on its initiatives and programmes.
Dr Ali bin Amer al Shidhani, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology, said Oman had embarked on developing its own digital economy roadmap.
Addressing the meeting, he expressed hope that discussions would identify new opportunities for digital innovation and partnerships, paving the way for projects serving stakeholders across the digital economy.
Eng Omar bin Hamdan al Ismaili, Chief Executive Officer of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), said hosting the meeting reflected Oman’s commitment to contributing to international discussions on innovation and digital transformation.
The event also provides an opportunity to showcase national initiatives and expand cooperation with international partners in developing innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems, supporting the digital economy and Oman Vision 2040, he said.
Al Ismaili described digital transformation as a key pillar of Oman Vision 2040 and said it aligned with the TRA’s efforts to support economic diversification. The authority continued to invest in telecommunications, digital infrastructure, emerging technologies and national capacity building, he added.
Dr Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of the ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, said the board’s meetings focused on bridging the digital divide, addressing gaps in digital skills and accelerating digital transformation, with innovation underpinning all three areas.
Participants will assess the alliance’s priorities for its next phase and review the results of ITU acceleration centres, contributions from its expert network and strategic foresight studies.
Panel discussions and specialist working groups will examine priorities for innovation, entrepreneurship and future alliance programmes.
The agenda also includes field visits to explore Oman’s experience in telecommunications and digital technology. An exhibition held alongside the meeting showcases Omani telecommunications and information technology companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises specialising in digital innovation. — ONA
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