BUSINESS REPORTER
MUSCAT, OCT 25
In line with the Sultanate of Oman’s ongoing efforts to develop a modern, competitive industrial sector based on technology and knowledge, and to strengthen the ability of Omani factories to adopt advanced technologies, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP) continues to implement a range of programmes and initiatives supporting digital transformation and smart manufacturing, in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 and the Industrial Strategy 2040.
The Industrial Strategy 2040 aims to develop a modern and more competitive manufacturing base, advance national industries towards the adoption of modern and advanced technologies, increase productivity and efficiency, and promote industrial innovation, contributing to greater added value and diversification of the national economy.
In line with these goals, Oman’s participation in the Gulf Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (GOIC4IR) builds on existing national efforts and initiatives in industrial transformation, strengthening integration between national programmes and the Gulf framework supporting the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies.
GOIC4IR and its digital platform were officially launched during the 57th meeting of the Industrial Cooperation Committee of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), held in Bahrain on October 6, 2026. The initiative aims to support the transition towards advanced industries, improve the digital maturity of Gulf factories and strengthen their ability to benefit from modern technologies.
BUILDING ON OMAN’S SMART MANUFACTURING EXPERIENCE
Oman’s participation in the GOIC4IR complements its experience with the Smart Manufacturing Factories Project, implemented by the MoCIIP to help industrial establishments assess their digital readiness and develop practical pathways towards smart manufacturing.
Previous phases of the project included raising awareness of advanced industrial technologies, preparing a guide for smart manufacturing factories, conducting awareness programmes and workshops, assessing several Omani factories and developing transformation plans. The project also focused on building national capabilities and training Omani assessors in evaluating factories’ digital maturity.
The GOIC4IR represents an additional phase in supporting these efforts by providing a joint regional platform connecting factories, national centres, assessors, solution and technology providers, training programmes and industrial expertise across GCC countries.
DIRECT SERVICES FOR OMANI FACTORIES
The MoCIIP affirmed that the Centre provides Omani factories with access to a comprehensive range of services to help them progress from assessing their readiness to implementing industrial transformation projects.
These services include assessing digital and industrial maturity, developing transformation roadmaps, accessing specialised assessors, identifying industrial technology and solution providers, participating in training programmes and benefiting from practical experiences and success stories from factories across GCC countries.
The Centre’s digital platform also provides wider opportunities for Omani companies operating in technology, automation, artificial intelligence, digital transformation and industrial services to showcase their capabilities and solutions to a broader network of factories across GCC countries. This is expected to strengthen opportunities for partnerships, knowledge exchange and the development of an integrated network of industrial solution providers.
ACCELERATING THE ADOPTION OF MODERN TECHNOLOGIES
Eng Khalid bin Salim al Qasabi, Director General of Industry at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, said that Oman attaches great importance to accelerating the industrial sector’s transition towards modern and advanced technologies, recognising their role as key drivers of productivity, competitiveness and operational efficiency.
He explained that these efforts align with the objectives of the Industrial Strategy 2040, which seeks to establish a modern industrial sector based on technology, knowledge and innovation.
Al Qasabi added that the Ministry has developed several practical initiatives in recent years, particularly the Smart Manufacturing Factories Project, which has contributed to raising awareness among factories, assessing their readiness and developing specialised national capabilities.
He noted that the GOIC4IR provides an opportunity to strengthen these efforts by connecting Omani factories with a wider Gulf network of industrial expertise, solutions and experiences.
The Centre also contributes to strengthening the role of qualified Omani professionals in factory assessments and industrial transformation by connecting them with the Gulf network of assessors and experts, while building on the expertise Oman has developed through the Smart Manufacturing Factories Project.
Eng Idris bin Hassan al Sinan, Director of the Industrial Development Department, affirmed that the next phase will place greater emphasis on translating factory assessment results into practical, implementable projects.
He explained that the objective is not merely to introduce factories to modern technologies, but also to help them identify their current position, determine their priorities and select technologies that can deliver the greatest impact on productivity, quality, efficiency and sustainability.
Al Sinan said that the Gulf Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution provides an additional channel for connecting factories with assessors, solution providers, training programmes and industrial success stories.
He added that this supports the Ministry’s efforts to develop a more integrated industrial ecosystem and enables Omani factories to benefit from the expertise and solutions available across GCC countries.
The Director of the Industrial Development Department also highlighted that the availability of qualified Omani professionals and assessors specialising in industrial transformation provides an important foundation for the next phase, alongside encouraging Omani technology companies to develop solutions tailored to the needs of the industrial sector.
SUPPORTING NATIONAL PROGRAMMES
Dr Mohammed bin Abdullah al Breiki, Head of the Industrial Studies and Policies Department at the Gulf Organisation for Industrial Consulting (GOIC), explained that the Sultanate of Oman has gained valuable experience in smart manufacturing, particularly in factory assessments, developing transformation pathways and strengthening national capabilities.
He noted that the Gulf Centre builds on these efforts and expands their benefits, emphasising that its approach focuses on supporting national programmes, drawing on the accumulated experiences of GCC countries and facilitating knowledge transfer between countries and factories.
Dr Al Breiki said, “Our objective is to ensure that Omani factories have a clear pathway towards transformation, beginning with an assessment of their readiness, followed by the development of a roadmap, access to suitable assessors or solution providers, and opportunities to benefit from training programmes and successful experiences.
“At the same time, we aim to provide Omani companies and professionals with greater opportunities to access factories and industrial markets across other GCC countries.”
He affirmed that one of the Centre’s main objectives is to translate knowledge of the Fourth Industrial Revolution into practical applications within factories, contributing to improvements in productivity, efficiency, quality and the competitiveness of the Gulf industrial sector.
GULF PLATFORM SUPPORTING NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION
The Gulf Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution operates through a model based on integration between Gulf-level cooperation and national implementation, connecting government entities, national centres, factories, assessors, solution providers and experts.
Its main services include assessing factories’ readiness for industrial transformation, developing roadmaps, connecting industrial establishments with solution and technology providers, offering training programmes and capacity-building opportunities, and sharing practical experiences, success stories, guides and information related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Integration between Oman’s national initiatives and the Gulf Centre is expected to accelerate the adoption of advanced industrial technologies, develop national capabilities, strengthen the presence of Omani technology solution providers and enhance the competitiveness of Omani factories at regional and international levels.
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