Oman, a nation known for its rich cultural heritage and strategic geographic location, is embarking on a transformative journey to modernize its economy through significant investments in digital transformation. This strategic shift aims to diversify the economy, enhance public services, and position Oman as a competitive player in the global digital landscape.
The Omani government has taken a proactive stance in driving digital transformation. Key to this effort is the Oman Vision 2040, which outlines the strategic framework for economic diversification and technological advancement. Under this vision, the government has launched several initiatives to foster innovation, enhance digital infrastructure, and improve the digital literacy of its citizens.
One of the cornerstone initiatives is the e.oman strategy, which focuses on developing a robust ICT infrastructure, promoting e-government services, and enhancing cybersecurity measures. The strategy is designed to facilitate the integration of digital technologies across various sectors, including healthcare, education, and commerce.
The overall performance of the ‘Tahwaul’ government digital transformation programme reached 53% in 2023. Government Entities achieved an average performance of 72% in digital transformation during the same period. Additionally, the governorates attained an average performance of 54% out of 56 Government Entities, and the governorates participated in evaluating excellence in government digital transformation for 2023.
The report elaborated that 48% of Government Entities achieved above-average performance out of the total number assessed for excellence in government digital transformation. The Entities that excelled in digital transformation performance include the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, Muscat Governorate, Royal Oman Police, Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, National Centre for Statistics and Information, General Authority for Social Insurance, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Labour.
Furthermore, the government, in collaboration with private sector partners, is investing heavily in expanding the country’s telecommunications network, including the rollout of 5G technology. This advancement is expected to significantly enhance internet speed and reliability, providing a critical foundation for the deployment of advanced digital services.
His Excellency Dr Ali bin Amer Al-Shidhani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology (for Communications and Information Technology) and Chairman of the Technical Committee for the Government Digital Transformation Programme 2021-2025, explained the significant factors driving Oman’s strategic shift towards digital transformation. He pointed to improved governance, policy development, national guidance frameworks, and dedicated controls and standards for digital transformation. He emphasised the readiness of targeted Government Entities to embrace digital environments, leadership awareness of the importance of digital transformation and institutional change management, and the Ministry’s role in providing oversight, support, and guidance across various areas such as planning, tendering processes, empowerment for digital transformation project management and implementation, and financial support to accelerate project delivery.
The year 2024 marks a pivotal period in Oman’s journey towards digital transformation, as the government sets ambitious targets to accelerate its Vision 2040 objectives. Central to these targets is the enhancement of digital infrastructure, focusing on expanding high-speed internet access nationwide through the continued rollout of 5G technology. This will provide a critical backbone for the deployment of advanced digital services and facilitate broader adoption of digital tools across various sectors.
A significant emphasis is placed on the integration of digital technologies in public services. The Omani government aims to digitize a substantial portion of its administrative processes, making them more efficient, transparent, and accessible to citizens. This includes the implementation of e-government services, which will streamline interactions between the government and the public, reducing bureaucratic hurdles and improving service delivery
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Source: News