Muscat – The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT) has awarded contracts worth over RO41mn to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the transportation, communications and IT sectors.

According to Turki bin Sulaiman al Hasani, Director of Tenders and Procurement at MTCIT, the transport sector SME contracts are worth about RO40mn, accounting for half of all tenders awarded between 2022 and 2023. Direct contracts with SMEs in the communications and IT sector were worth RO1.45mn, comprising 95% of all tenders in the sector in the first half of 2023.

In cooperation with the Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises Development (ASMED), the ministry has generated opportunities for SMEs as suppliers or main contractors across various sectors. These include port, road and bridge contracting, IT services, and supply of road infrastructure items, among others.

Hasani stressed MTCIT’s commitment to boosting local value by granting high-value contracts to SMEs across the transport, communications and IT sectors. The ministry also ensures their performance in assigned projects is duly monitored.

To further support SMEs, MTCIT has initiated several projects, including an initiative to facilitate the use of technical products in government agencies, another called the Business Development and Commercial Expansion to connect tech companies with potential investors, and a consultation programme providing advice to tech companies.

MTCIT has also launched a competition called Hackathon SAS 48 to transform tech ideas into practical projects, and a programme called Nomou to support tech companies in their growth stage aiming to expand their reach and tackle challenges they encounter.

In line with these efforts, the ministry has introduced the in-country value initiative for the communications and IT sector. This aims to localise industries and services, Omanise jobs, and identify opportunities for SMEs within the sector.