Muscat – H H Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs, presided over the conclusion of a symposium titled ‘Strengthening national readiness to deal with advanced technologies’ on Monday.

The symposium was organised by the Academy of Strategic and Defence Studies at the Al Shafaq Club of Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF).

The symposium aimed to raise the sultanate’s competitiveness and innovation indicators, assist in initiating employment opportunities in fields of future technologies, enhance environmental sustainability, cut down greenhouse gas emissions, augment the efficiency of related institutions and accelerate digital transition plans.

The symposium, which saw the participation of public and private sector establishments, discussed ways of building flexible government policies and effective systems to realise the sultanate’s objectives.

H H Sayyid Shihab and attendees also toured an exhibition held on the sidelines of the symposium. It showcased models of Omani projects and companies operating in the field of advanced technologies. He was also briefed on the technologies and innovations presented in the exhibition.

The closing ceremony of the symposium was attended by ministers, SAF commanders and other military and security departments, in addition to members of the State Council, top officials of government departments and specialists in the field of modern technology.