Muscat –The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology hosted the Makeen Forum on Monday under the theme ‘From Qualification to Impact’, marking five years since the initiative’s launch, as officials highlighted its growing role in shaping Oman’s digital economy.

Held under the patronage of H E Dr Mahad bin Said Ba’awain, Minister of Labour, the forum brought together senior officials, including H E Saeed bin Hamood Al Mawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, alongside industry partners and stakeholders.

In his opening address, H E Dr Ali bin Amer Al Shidhani, Undersecretary for Communications and Information Technology, described Makeen as a cornerstone in building a competitive digital workforce by equipping Omani talent with advanced skills aligned to market needs. He said sustained investment in human capital is key to developing high-value industries, strengthening digital sovereignty and supporting broader economic diversification goals.

HE Al Shidhani noted that Makeen has helped raise Omanisation in the IT sector to 45.5%, while facilitating employment for 2,790 Omanis. Specialised and technical roles now account for 69% of jobs supported under the programme, with 4,949 Omanis entering the sector underscoring improved workforce readiness.

The impact of Makeen has extended beyond employment, contributing to the growth of emerging technology sectors. The semiconductor field, in particular, has seen notable traction, with more than 150 Omani engineers and five start-ups established. Progress was also highlighted in drones, artificial intelligence and space technologies, including strategic projects such as OmanSat-1 and the Duqm spaceport.

Looking ahead, officials said Makeen will focus on training 10,000 jobseekers over the next five years through labour market readiness and capacity building programmes, alongside specialised tracks in AI agents and quantum computing.

The forum also saw the signing of three memoranda of understanding, covering the Oman Coding Competition, cooperation in professional game development with Unity Technologies and its local partner Al Nahda Institute for Training, and a technology employment initiative with Sohar International.

Since its inception, Makeen has recorded more than 27,000 registrations and delivered 139 programmes across over 30 technology fields. More than 11,000 participants have been trained, with tech bootcamps achieving a 50% employment rate. Makeen has also awarded over 2,425 micro-credentials and engaged more than 12,620 participants in competitions, reinforcing its role as a key driver of Oman’s digital skills ecosystem.