Sunday 22 / September / 2024
Muscat: The Sultanate of Oman has launched the "National Programme for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Advanced Digital Technologies".
The launch of the new programme fits with Oman Vision 2040, which seeks to make information and communications technologies a basis in stimulating sectors of the national economy.
The programme extends, which covers the period from 2024 to 2026, features various initiatives and projects that keep pace with global developments in the field of artificial intelligence.
The programme envisages the establishment of the following: A national platform for open data to support entrepreneurs, investors and decision-makers; A national centre for research and development in artificial intelligence to support researchers and academics; A "studio" for artificial intelligence to be a meeting place for IT specialists, companies and institutions looking for technical solutions; An Omani language model that will be made well-versed in Omani cultural, historical, artistic and scientific content using generative AI; A centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and in partnership with the World Economic Forum.
This is in addition to the implementation of computing initiatives to spread awareness, enhance research and adopt computing applications.
Eng. Said Hamoud Al Ma'awali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, said that the programme is an upgrade on the Executive Programme for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Technologies that was launched in 2022.
Al Ma'awali told Oman News Agency (ONA) that his Ministry is embarked on establishing solid grounds for the implementation of AI applications and advanced digital technologies in the Sultanate of Oman. The overall aim is to build a digital economy that is capable of maintaining sustainable development.
The programme lays special emphasis on introducing AI applications in economic and development sectors with the aim of localizing advanced digital technologies, achieving good governance therein and making progress in Oman’s global indices, to place the country among the top 50 countries in the Government AI Readiness Index.
The National AI Programme reflects the Sultanate of Oman’s commitment to apply the latest digital technologies to its national economy and realize Oman Vision 2040.
Initiatives to support emerging AI technology companies and to bolster investments are expected to contribute to the establishment of new AI data centres.
The initiatives are also expected to augment the contribution of digital economy in Oman’s GDP to 10 percent by 2040, compared to 2 percent in 2021.
