I. Background information

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1 e.oman digital strategy: a vision for a country transformation to the new area (Information Technology Authority (ITA) - Oman) Mr. Maged Boulos, DG of Planning I. Background information Realizing His Majesty s grand vision of transforming Oman into a sustainable knowledge based economy began with setting the economic vision for the Sultanate towards the year 2020 to which the Digital Oman Strategy, endorsed in March 2003, contributes in terms of developing the Omani Digital Society and e-government. In His address to Oman Council in November 2008, His Majesty stated: Giving attention to human resources, including the provision of the various tools required to enhance their performance, incentives to develop their capabilities, diversifying their creative talents and to improving their scientific and practical qualifications, is the basis of real development and the cornerstone in its structure which is based on solid foundations. His Majesty also directed the Government to simplify processes, adopt technology in its daily operation, and focus on electronic delivery of its services. The Digital Oman Strategy/e.oman Initiative outlines the blueprint for several key IT initiatives in the Sultanate of Oman which aim to empower the citizens by providing meaningful interaction through eservices. The e.oman strategy addresses egovernment as well as Digital Society issues. It aims to create an effective government-community-citizen infrastructure that provides better public services to its people. Through eservices, the government seeks new and innovative ways to better engage and interact with citizens in the delivery of public service. Using the latest Information Technology solutions, citizens would be able to view information, pay bills, apply for services and monitor application status right in the comfort of their own homes, offices and from their mobile devices. Businesses could also reach out to the global marketplace and compete effectively and efficiently. The eservices would truly transform the way citizens interact and transact with the government II. Goals & timeframe e.oman strategic directions, which have been defined to realize the e.oman vision, have been grouped under six strategic pillars. These pillars summarize the e.oman strategic directions and when translated into initiatives, projects and milestones, would result in a coordinated action towards the move to a knowledge based economy. 1

2 The strategic pillars incorporate a number of focus areas which define the main strategic directions to pursue in order to realize the pillar s goals and objectives. The focus areas are translated into pillar goals that are realized through a number of initiatives and projects each targeted towards implementing specific directions of the strategy. The six strategic pillars are as follows: 1) Society & Human Capital Development 2) Enhance e-government and e-services 3) Enable ICT Industry Development 4) Governance, Standards and Regulations 5) National Infrastructure Development 6) Promotion and Awareness Chronology e.oman Awareness activities and digital literacy programme. Roadshows to the various parts of the Sultanate 2006 Development of National IT Training and Awareness Framework for ICT capacity building Implementation of the NITTA Framework with the commencement of Community IT Training programme and the launch of 4 Community Knowledge Centers to promote community IT learning and digital literacy 2006 Observation of World Information Society Day 2007 Promoting Digital Literacy 2008 e-inclusion programme to include participants with special needs and requirements 2009 Protecting Children in Cyber Space, Cyber security emphasis and the launch of various egovernment services Better City, Better Life with ICTs. ICTs provide solutions to many of the problems facing cities Promoting eculture Campaigns & e-lifestyle III. Project s added value and importance The project aims to ensure that the Omani Society abilities and capabilities with respect to understanding and utilizing digital technologies are upgraded and enhanced given that citizens are the consumers as well as the producers of digital services. It also ensures that Omani IT professionals capabilities and skills are further developed and enhanced to create a local delivery capability to meet industry needs. 2

3 IV. Challenges: These are the key obstacles in reaching out to the community and masses. a. Vastness of the area : Apart from main cities like Muscat and Sohar which housed a third of the population, the remaining of the population is spread throughout the 309,500 sq km. Reaching out to the community to spread e.oman strategy became a real challenge. However, programmes such as the Roadshows in key towns coupled with media coverage of major events and launches, ITA was able to reach out and create awareness among the citizen on the importance to being digitally literacy and how ICT will transform their way of life in the future. With the slew of recent ICT initiatives under the e.oman strategy coupled with liberalization of the telecommunication industry, ITA has successfully bridge the digital divide and enable the citizens, civil servants and private businesses to interact, transact and transform Oman into a knowledge-based economy. In addition, with rapid development of telecommunication infrastructure, today Oman has about 114% mobile penetration rate which indicated that mobile technology such as 3G network and WiMax provide the critical connectivity required for an information society. ITA will be able to transform the life of almost every citizen with the various e.oman initiatives. b. Resistance to change It is indeed a challenge to spread the digital initiatives to the women and senior citizens in the rural area. However with support and emphasis at the highest level, even the women and senior citizens are convinced on the need to embrace information communication technology (ICT) to participate and compete in the new superhighway of a knowledge-based economy. Moreover the Community Knowledge Centers (CKC) in association with the Oman Women Association successfully reach out to the women and provide the essential ICT skills training that they need to participate in the knowledge-based economy. The CKCs in other regions also cater to the training requirements for the Senior Citizens. In addition, children with special needs are also given the necessary skills and support to be included in the digital transformation. V. Relevance of the project to the respective Action Line Upon the inception of the National Strategy for Oman - Oman Digital Society (e.oman) in 2003 and its revision in 2010, Oman has taken concrete steps to fulfill its national and international obligations towards streamlining ICT, transforming communities and integrating societies. In this context, the 3

4 strategy is a vital government project supporting promotion of ICTs for development in collaboration with stakeholders. It supports development of necessary human capacity building and access to information and knowledge. In addition, engagement of related government stakeholders and private sector is a key success of this strategy implementation as well as supporting and promoting the national ICT companies and ICT business especially the SMES. The strategy is the main driver for ICT development and implementation in Oman. VI. Conclusion Citizens have the knowledge, means and tools to interact digitally, access the internet and use eservices efficiently and safely anywhere any time in the Sultanate. In addition they are made aware of offered egovernment Services and prefer to interact with the Government electronically. IT knowledge will be provided at multiple levels to citizens and workers while an evolving curriculum that teaches IT and matches Citizens needs and industry requirements is adopted by educational institutions. Education and learning are delivered in a smart and easy manner with easy access to all the required resources electronically The Omani IT industry is provided with the resources and tools to transform IT business ideas into products and services that address market needs and requirements of the Government to modernize and enhance infrastructure, applications and services. Entrepreneurs are trained and offered a healthy business environment to grow while Omani IT products and services are promoted regionally and internationally and MNCs are attracted to Oman. Industry forums become more active and enable a healthier IT business environment Government services will be transformed and made more efficient, automated and offered online to citizens, businesses, employees and other Government agencies. Communities of Interest eservices shall be fully integrated end-to-end across agencies and offered in a seamless manner online with high level of availability, security and usability. Access to services will be structured and offered through a 4

5 unified and common Government look-and-feel and made available via different channels with focus on mobility and self-service. Government Infrastructure and applications will be modernized and made more compliant to common Government standards published by ITA and will be geared towards achieving service automation, efficiency and the desired level of business continuity while utilizing common components and building blocks. Systems will be linked and integrated via high speed secured Government network and offer a high degree or availability and resilience to disruptive events. Government IT staff will be highly trained and able to operate increasingly complex infrastructures whether run in-house or outsourced through training and skills development programs aligned with the utilized technology and architecture standard 5