Muscat – In a significant move to enhance technological capabilities, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MTCIT), supported by Ministry of Economy, signed a cooperation agreement with World Economic Forum (WEF) on Monday to establish a centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies in Oman.

The centre will be the sixth of its kind in the Middle East and the 22nd globally aimed at advancing technological innovations that benefit the development and production sectors. The centre is expected to begin operations in the first quarter of 2025.

The agreement was signed by H E Dr Ali bin Amer al Shidhani, Undersecretary for Communications and Information Technology at MTCIT, and Sebastian Buckup, Head of Network and Partnerships and Member of Executive Committee of WEF.

The agreement aims to accelerate adoption of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) applications in line with international standards and frameworks, while benefiting from the global network of digital experts at WEF. Additionally, the agreement seeks to launch initiatives that bring together stakeholders from various sectors – government, business and academia – to discuss and collaborate on the development of shared policies.

Furthermore, the agreement will help create an environment to test governance principles, and policy and regulatory frameworks, aimed at mitigating risks associated with 4IR technologies. It will also contribute to guiding WEF’s activities in various areas of 4IR technology by actively participating in the forum’s platforms, launching an expertise exchange programme between the two parties, and engaging in the forum’s 4IR community.

H E Shidhani emphasised the significance of the agreement, saying, “This cooperation reflects the sultanate’s commitment to adopting the latest innovations and advanced technologies to drive sustainable development and achieve the goals of Oman Vision 2040. This initiative is also part of our ongoing efforts to transfer knowledge, localise technology, and strengthen Oman’s position as a regional hub for technology and innovation.”

He added that the agreement will open new avenues for cooperation in key areas, with the first phase focusing on enhancing technical innovation. “Through this partnership, we aim to apply AI and advanced technologies in alignment with the initiatives and projects of the National Digital Economy Programme.”

On his part, Buckup said, “We are delighted to establish this centre in Oman. Undoubtedly, the presence of this centre will facilitate close collaboration on numerous projects that promote digital innovation and sustainable digital solutions to address existing challenges across various fields.”