MUSCAT -- Stemming from its role in developing an information technology sector in the Sultanate, and the desire to establish a national programme for business ICT incubators in the Sultanate, the ITA will today officially launch the Sas Programme and Centre at its premises located on the 4th Floor in the KOM4 building, at the Knowledge Oasis Muscat.
The Sas Programme is an ICT business development initiative designed to help promote SMEs to build a robust ICT sector in Oman. The launch ceremony will be held under the patronage of Dr Ali bin Masoud al Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Chairman of the Information Technology Authority (ITA), in the presence of Dr Salim Sultan al Ruzaiqi, ITA's CEO, along with current incubatees of the Sas Centre.
'Asas' is an Arabic concept that refers to any solid foundation. Hence, the 'Sas Programme' has been designed to provide the foundation for creating a new and vibrant ICT industry, thereby fostering an entrepreneurial spirit in the ICT sector in Oman. Targeting small and medium ICT businesses, students, and jobseekers of any age interested in starting their business, the Sas Programme seeks to develop an internationally competitive ICT industry in Oman, attract more foreign and local investment in the ICT sector, encourage and support innovation by contributing to the introduction of new technologies to create innovative products, solutions and services and encourage young graduates to create their own businesses through the development and implementation of entrepreneurship culture-building activities.
Agreement for the Sas Programme was signed in the summer of 2011, with the United Kingdom Business Incubation (UKBI), and already the centre has 12 projects; 9 of which are being fully incubated and 3 projects in the pre-incubation phase.
The fields of IT specialisation for the incubated projects vary but include geographic information systems and software development, graphic design and multimedia programmes and also website design.
© Oman Daily Observer 2013
