Muscat – The National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) on Tuesday organised a workshop on the National Data Strategy (NDS), its objectives and its significance to units of the state’s administrative apparatus.

Held at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, the event gathered representatives from several governmental departments for a discussion on the objective of the NDS so as to construct a unified regulatory framework.

‘Such a structure aims to facilitate data exchange, augment the efficiency of the state’s administrative units, and enhance the productivity of public legal entities and government-affiliated companies,’ officials stated.

One of the key messages conveyed was the strategy’s potential to harness data more effectively across various sectors. Not only does it focus on increasing data reliability, but it also emphasises the quality and all-encompassing nature of the information collected. These enhancements are envisioned to pave the way for well-informed decision-making processes.

A presentation by the NCSI shed light on the multifaceted advantages of the NDS. The strategy’s role in honing performance, simplifying protocols, and reducing overhead costs was underscored. Moreover, it illuminated the strategy’s capacity to minimise inaccuracies and support the evolving concept of smart cities.

The economic, social, cultural, and developmental boons brought by the NDS were notably emphasised. The strategy ensures that data, pivotal for government decision-making, is not just available but is reliable, high-quality, and comprehensive.

This data infrastructure is crucial for fostering an environment conducive to smart solutions, efficient public services, and the development of smart cities, benefiting citizens, expatriates, and the business sector alike.

Emphasising the open-data aspect, the presentation revealed how the NDS champions a knowledge-driven society and underpins the pillars of the digital economy. It laid paramount importance on safeguarding information for the protection of confidentiality and individual data privacy.

The workshop identified entities responsible for the NDS’s rollout and they are – the state’s administrative units, public legal entities, government companies with a minimum of 25% of government capital, and firms overseeing public utilities. This clarity delineates the path forward for implementing a transformative data-centric vision for the nation.