e.Oman Society Capacity Building

Initiatives

Presented by: Hassan Al-LawatiTeam Leader – Projects

Information Technology AuthoritySultanate of Oman

May, 2013

Sultanate of Oman

• AREA: 309,500 sq. km.

• POPULATION: (3.6 m) mid 2012

• CAPITAL: Muscat

• LIFE EXPECTANCY ( 2012 ): 75.4

• POPULATION DENSITY: 11.6

• The SULTANATE IS DIVIDED INTO 11 MAIN

ADMINISTRATIVE Governorates

• GDP per capita ( 2011 ) : US $ 21,236

• GNI per capita ( 2011 ): US $ 20,025

• CURRENCY: 1 OMR = US $ 2.58

• TIME DIFFERENCE: GMT + 4 hours2

* Source : National Center of Information & Statistics - Oman

• H.M. Speech: “We have always emphasized the importance of learning and knowledge and we have always been open to the adoption of new developments in this field.

Information technology and communications have now become the main elements that move forward the development process in this third millennium; therefore, we have accorded our attention to finding a national strategy to develop the skills and abilities of citizens in this domain with the aim of further developing e-government services.

We are closely following the important steps that we have made in this regard. We call upon all government institutions to speedily enhance their performance, and to facilitate their services, by applying digital technology in order to usher the Sultanate into the constantly evolving spheres for applying knowledge.”

Sultan Qaboos bin SaidAnnual Session of the Council of Oman –Nov 2008

His Majesty Vision

Information Technology Authority (ITA)

Vision:

Information Technology Authority (ITA) is a government entity that works with a vision to transform the

Sultanate of Oman into a sustainable Knowledge Society by leveraging Information and Communication

Technologies to enhance government services, enrich businesses and empower individuals.

Mission:

ITA is pioneering the implementation of e.Oman strategy. The e.Oman strategy comprises of a wide range

of initiatives and services that are designed and created to improve the efficiency of government services,

enhance the activities of businesses and empower individuals with skills and knowledge, to meet society’s

needs and expectations and to direct Oman towards becoming a sustainable Knowledge-based Economy.

Royal Decree 52/2006 - 31st of May 2006

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e.Oman Strategy

6

e.Oman Strategic Pillars

Why Enabling Society is Important ??

Fast Moving Technology Affordability of People

Tools, applications, devices, etc. Different ages, income level, statuses

THE ISSUE:

• Life style gaps.

• eSkills gaps.

• Social exclusion.

• Need for eSkilling nations.

Role of ITA in Enabling the Society

ITA – Infrastructure Projects

ITA – Enabling Society Projects

Return-on-Investment

To ensure that Omani society competencies 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.

e.Oman 1st Pillar: Society Capacity Building

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1. Community IT Training Program (CITT).2. Specialized IT Training Project (SITT).3. Incubation Program for IT SMEs (Sas).4. Free Open Source Software Initiative (FOSS).5. Gov. IT Training & Certification Program (GITTC)6. National PC Initiative (NPC).

Society Capacity Building Initiatives

Community IT Training Program(CITT)

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Community IT Training Program

Aim

Deliver digital literacy training to the community (citizens of Oman) through the use of Community Knowledge Centers established in some high populated governorates and local various regions to:

• Enable continuous learning among all segments of society.

• Develop their skills in dealing with digital technology, and interact with eServices.

Community IT Training ProgramCommunity Knowledge Centers (CKCs /W-CKCs)

Training Curriculum Content

> Basics computer uses.> World Wide Web (Internet).> Production Programs (Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.)> Awareness on benefits of digital life style.> Introduction to eGovernment services.

1. Community Knowledge Centers (CKC) – 10 CKCs.2. Women Community Knowledge Centers (WCKC) – 9 CKCs

Equipped training LABs with:

computers, accessories, Internet

services, curriculum.

> Same as CKCs but established as special centers for Omani women to get them trained in private atmosphere.

> enhancing their skills and level of performance in the field of information technology (IT) .

> Qualify them for participating in Oman’s Digital Society.

Community IT Training ProgramWomen Community Knowledge Centers (WCKCs)

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So far trained > 32,000 trainees.

Homemaker are able to: > Communicate online with the school

through the education Portal on their children progress.

On the Parenting side are able to:> Monitor their children in using Internet.> Participate in Social Media (e.g.

Facebook, tweeter…etc) with her family to know her children's friends etc.

On Business aspects are: > able to start their own business online.

Disabilities citizens were also part of this training

Community IT Training ProgramStatistics /Achievements

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"Educate a man and you educate an individual. Educate a woman and you educate a family."

Agnes Cripps

A Success Stories – Ms. Samira

“Now I can surf websites on women fashion design; new trends, materials, colours etc…. clothes, my favourite area of business”

“ After the training now I can work on computer programs e.g. Word and Excel. This has been very helpful to me in my work”

Samira – Homemaker -WCKC

Community IT Training ProgramAfter training

Specialized IT Training Program(SITT)

AimTo targets Omani individuals in the IT field in order to develop them to higher professional levels (Specialization) to:

Specialized IT Training Project

• Provide IT training and certification opportunities.

• Increase number of certified IT individuals in different IT

areas.

• Fulfill future critical ICT needs.

• Assists the provision of the local necessary skills required.

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IT Domain No. of TraineesApplication Security 22

Application/Web Development 334Database Administration 109

FOSS End User 80Graphic Design 203

Internet Security 80Mobile Development 41

Network Administration 142

Network Security 44

Physical Security 25

Security Administration 172

Storage Security 20

IT Management 68System Administration 652

Total Trained 1,995

Specialized IT Training ProjectStatistics

Incubation Program for IT SMEs(Sas)

AimTo encourage, support, and develop the creation of SMEs specialized in ICT field

– by entrepreneurs, graduates, etc.– to contribute to the provision of new technologies, solutions, and innovative services– through an implemented entrepreneurship atmosphere - shaped as Sas Center of ITA.

Incubation Program

“Sas” Arabic-Omani colloquial refers to ‘a solid foundation’

Sas Center:

Environment /work space for hosting potential entrepreneurs to turn their innovative IT related ideas to real projects and business opportunities on the ground.

> Engaging ICT SME’s with potential business opportunities.

> Capacity development programs for entrepreneurs (ex: training initiatives, mentoring support, etc.).

> To attract foreign and local investment in the ICT sector to act as a catalyst for job creation.

Incubation ProgramFacilities

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HRH Prince Charles Visit to

Sas Center on

19/March/2013

> Hosted twelve (12) incubated businesses in the ICT field – till date.

> Owned and managed by (42) young men and women.

> Incubated businesses are specialized in several areas: > geographic information systems. > software development.> graphic design and multimedia programs.> film-making.

> provided a series of services in various aspects: > physical space> marketing> project management > legal advise, etc.

> Omani entrepreneurs to participated in national\international related events.

Incubation ProgramAchievements

Free Open Source Software

FOSS

Aim

Free Open Source Software

• Raise awareness of free & open source software (FOSS) and its various applications.

• Encourage research & development, and innovation in FOSS best practices, development and deployment.

• Provide the technical support /advise required for the development and deployment of FOSS solutions in the public & private sector.

• Encouraging the public to use FOSS to reduce/eliminate the use of pirated software.

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Free Open Source SoftwareAchievements

• MOU signed with 4 colleges – implementation support.

• 3 FOSS training LABs.

• > 50 FOSS local awareness workshops.

• Hosted FOSS awareness conference in 2013.

• Held FOSS specialized training courses.

• Facilitate easy accessing to FOSS – free DVDs:

– Contain many software applications.– More than 36,000 free DVDs.

Government IT Training & Certification Program

GITTC

Gov. IT Training & CertificationAim

To provide internationally recognized digital literacy certification:

• to all civil service employees

• to enable them to provide eServices efficiently and with greater transparency.

Gov. IT Training & CertificationBenefits /Achievements

Benefits

• Improves the skills and performance of civil servants.

• Empowers civil servants with required ICT knowledge and skills to

enable delivery of public sector e-services

• Equal chance of training for all civil servants.

• Business opportunities for SMEs working in the IT training field.

Achievements

Total Trained Total Certified

65,514 48,378

National PC Initiative

(NPC)

Objectives“A PC in every home in Oman” > Increase number of PC users.> Increase number of Internet users.> Encourage use of e-Services as part of life style.

Targeting various segments 1. Social Welfare Beneficiaries.2. Higher Education Students.3. School Teachers.

National PC InitiativeBackground

Project ValueGrant worth of 20 Million OMR ≈ (USD 52 million).

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S/N. Achievements Details

1.

Delivered over 98,000 PCs till date More than 50%: Households with PCs

Source: Global IT Report, World Economic

Forum, 2013

2.

Delivered over 72,000 internet modems

More than 70%: Internet Users

Source: Telecommunications Regulatory Authority

Report, 2013

3. Over 6,000 families of Social Welfare Beneficiary trained on computer literacy training program.

Through local contracted training

institutes (SMEs)

National PC Initiative Impact on Society

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S/N. Achievements Details

4.The Readiness sub-index rank jumped 31 points

From (87) in 2010 to (56) in 2013 - Global IT Reports, WEF

5.Reported increase in % of Households with PC in Oman ( from 45% to 58%)

NRI’s sub-index (2013 vs. 2012)- Global IT Report 2013, WEF

6.Additional data usage reported by the internet service operators

>9 TB /month - Due to additional new internet accounts.

7. Additional mobile recharge transactions >59K /month - Due to additional 3G internet usage

8.Better price competition among local PC retailers

Frequent PC market promotional offers by non-NPC retailers

9.Better response on government IT Training & Certification Programs

More ICDL and IC3 certified citizens(>36K) in 2012 vs. (18K) in 2010

Cont. National PC Initiative Impact on Society

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National PC Initiative Impact on SMEs/ Industries

S/N. Business Type Classification Impact Details

1. Local Training Institutions SMEs > 30 training institutions contracted

2. Taxi /Bus Drivers Individual /Sole Traders

Contracted through training institutes to provide shuttle transportation service

3. Sanad Offices (Gov.-backed - individual projects)

SMEs 14 offices contracted for NPC retailing

4. Post Offices Local SAOC 11 offices contracted for NPC retailing

5. Computer selling shops SMEs 21 retail shops contracted for NPC retailing in different regions

6. Banks Local SAOG 15 Bank Muscat branches contracted as NPC retail points (in 1st year).

7. Local telecom operators Local SAOG >72K new accounts through NPC internet offers

8. Major shopping places Retail Markets 15 major hypermarket outlets contracted locally through suppliers

International ICT Reports - Oman Ranking

International ICT Reports – Oman Ranking

2011 2012 2013

53 53

Government Online Services Index

29

Government Usage

35

21

E-Participation Index

74 73 36

Source: Global IT Report, World Economic Forum, 2013.

International ICT Reports – Oman Ranking

55 55

Households w/Personal Computer

40

Individuals Using Internet

47

37

82

Affordability

34

42

2011 2012 2013

Source: Global IT Report, World Economic Forum, 2013.

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Business Opportunities - Oman

Case study /business case to consider Oman as:

• Potential regional outsourcing hub for ICT SMEs and call centers business.

• Investing platform for PC Manufacturers.

• Electronic devices logistics hub.

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Thank You

hassan.allawati@ita.gov.om | www.ita.gov.om