| 17 Nov 2007 |
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Oman: Major e-services to be up and running by mid-2008
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MUSCAT -- Major e-government services will be up and running by mid-2008, says Mohammed Nasser al Khasibi, Secretary-General, Ministry of National EconomyMinistry of National Economy
, and Chairman of Information Technology Authority (ITA). ITA is moving forward in full gear towards its vision of implementing the eOman strategy to make Oman the hub of ICT activities in the region and an important part of the Sultanate's economic diversification programme.About the progress made so far, Al Khasibi said, major projects such as the Ubar Portal, e-payment gateway, disaster recovery centre, e-legislation and others are already under way. The disaster recovery centre (DRC) will be ready by 2008 for all ministries to host their back-up and disaster recovery systems in DRC at Knowledge Oasis Muscat. Al Khasibi was speaking to the Observer following an interview with Tanguy Merrien, Editor-in-Chief of a forthcoming publication on business opportunities in Oman, entitled The Golden Book of the Sultanate of Oman 37 Years of Development and Prosperity.
The 300-page book featuring many sectors of Oman's economy will be launched in March 2008. Oman's ICT sector and the activities of ITA will be featured in this book. Al Khasibi stressed on ITA's commitment to support ICT-oriented activities in Oman and he shed light on ITA's incessant efforts to take the public sector service delivery to the next level with the e-government infrastructure projects that are currently being executed in the Sultanate. In July this year, the Sultanate opened a new chapter of development as Al Khasibi signed a multi-million dollar deal with GBM and NCS company to develop the Ubar Portal, which is expected to be up and running by mid-2008.
The e-government portal is intended to become the citizen's main entry point for accessing government information and services online. In a move towards a truly digital society, the Ubar Portal will serve as the main service delivery platform that connects the citizens and government of Oman. Upon completion, the citizens and residents will be able to connect and access government information and services online, via the portal itself or via different channels such as other government websites, kiosks and even via mobile phones.
With this service delivery platform in place by 2008, Oman's various government agencies will be able to develop and roll out a wide range of new e-services in a shorter timeframe, reducing service delivery costs to government and enhancing service delivery standards to citizens. In addition, the e-payment gateway is scheduled to be launched this year.
In the context of developing the Sultanate's ICT sector, ITA recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Info-communications Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) aimed at strengthening the bilateral relationship between the two countries, promoting exchange of information and experience on ICT matters and collaborating specifically in the use of ICT in government and various economic sectors such as education, finance, healthcare and tourism.
By Hasan Kamoonpuri
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