PREPARING FOR AN E-FUTURE
From the development of e-services for Oman's tourism sector to providing e-solutions to African countries, Al Madina Group is updating government services for the 21st century and beyond.
BIOGRAPHY
Sheila H. Jamal's career has had many interesting aspects over time, starting with the Gulf War in 1990. She took over Al Madina Group in 2004 with the goal of creating the most innovative IT and security documents organization in Oman. As a result of her educational background in industrial engineering, she has emerged as one of the most successful businesswomen in the Sultanate of Oman. She is globally recognized in the field of documents security, in addition to having received recognition from the Al Mara Women in Excellence Awards.
What was the driver behind the Ministry Digital Transformation Project agreement signed with the Minister of Tourism, and what are its main implications for the Omani economy?
The project seeks to improve both the scale and quality of tourism in the country. It is part of a comprehensive effort to put Oman on the global tourism map by providing professional high-quality services to diversify our economy and to create jobs by offering the world enriching end-to-end tourism experiences with an Omani personality. E-services for all tourism establishments have now been simplified, and all tourism-related activities will maintain the highest standards of transparency through an executive dashboard. The main development services include over 100 e-services for investors, tourism development, planning and information, and tourism promotion. Essentially, it reduces the degree of bureaucracy and simplifies the experience for all stakeholders.
What are the key priorities to drive concrete innovation across government bodies in Oman, and how will technological innovation define new roles for both the public and private sectors?
The government has been undertaking several initiatives over the last few years aimed at strengthening the Sultanate's digital footprint and infrastructure. A key element of this process is standardization across different authorities and bodies, which has guaranteed interoperability. As such, Oman's policies and regulations are able to address the entire ecosystem in the same way. That being said, the move toward PPPs is a signal for the private sector's role to increase. This is a positive aspect that will keep things moving and will allow companies to lead the way in the innovation sphere. The flexibility and resources of the private sector will undoubtedly spearhead technological breakthroughs and redefine the role of the government on the regulatory side.
How is the current Omani macro-environment impacting your business model and growth strategy, and how do you expect demand for your services to evolve in the medium term?
The country's economy is picking up. Based on Oman's strong economic indicators, we are optimistic for the future; however, the last few years have pushed us to look for opportunities in Asian and African countries. More recently, we signed contracts with the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. These countries entail specific risks, but they also have a true need to digitalize their services and adopt e-solutions. The impact our solutions bring can thus be of the utmost importance, as they ensure transparency of financial transactions in societies affected by high levels of corruption. In the future, we see Africa as a huge untapped market where we can further expand by adopting build-operate-transfer (BOT) or PPP models. Government contracts will probably represent the most attractive commercial perspective for us, but, in terms of opportunities, both B2B and B2C interactions have enormous potential for development.
What will be the challenges in meeting the growing number of connected devices, and what is the best strategy to strengthen security systems in Oman?
The advent of IoT and interconnectivity will definitely pose deep challenges to global societies, not only Oman. It will thus be important to build the appropriate cybersecurity infrastructure and constantly update it, as one of the main aspects of cyber-security is the ability for anyone from anywhere to launch an attack. As such, partnerships between the public and private sectors and local talent able to fend off threats are crucial for the progression of the country. At times, we see former hackers being hired by governments to help them build smart cybersecurity systems. Oman is well-positioned with regards to cybersecurity, as recently showcased by our talented youth's ability to find a loophole in Apple's IOS. Overall, the government is investing capital to develop the IT sector and embrace the digital economy, and so far, the results are tangible.
PREPARING FOR AN E-FUTURE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Focus: Future foreign policy
Friends to all, enemy to none
In championing the late Sultan Qaboos' non-interference foreign policy, the new ruler of Oman, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, is determined to work for friendship and peace, justice and harmony, and coexistence and positive constructive dialogue.
read articleInterview
David Kalife, CEO, Oman Oil Marketing Company (OOMCO)
Despite Oman's fuel market slowing down, OOMCO increased its sales volume of lubricants by 36% in 2019 and is constructing a greenfield bunker terminal at the Port of Duqm. The company has transformed while growing its expertise in Marketing and Digital.
read articleInterview
Azzan Al Busaidi, CEO, Ithraa
Azzan Al Busaidi is an expert in competitiveness and economic growth. He was appointed CEO of Ithraa in 2019 after 17 years spent covering managerial roles in the organization. Al Busaidi was previously Ithraa's director general of planning and studies and is a strong advocate of the potential of digitization. He holds an MBA from the University of Strathclyde and a BSc in Economics from Sultan Qaboos University.
read articleInterview
Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry & Investment Promotion & Former Chairman, Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Private Omani companies will be able to benefit greatly from the Fourth Industrial Revolution by enhancing their local value-added strategies and upskilling the workforce.
read articleInterview
Tahir Bin Salim Bin Abdullah Al Amri, Executive President, Central Bank of Oman (CBO)
The Central Bank of Oman's job is to ensure there is adequate liquidity in the system and that banks remain robust and resilient to meet the credit requirements of all segments without undermining financial stability.
read articleB2B
Capital markets
CMA and MSM are supporting Vision 2040 by providing financing to government companies that intend to go public, financing expansion of existing and new IPOs, and widening the investors base in Oman by enhancing and developing the investment funds and insurance industries.
read articleInterview
Khalid Al Balushi, CEO, Khazaen Economic City
International investors and business owners can benefit from Khazaen Economic City's strategic location and its close proximity to the main gateways of the country to import, process, manufacture, distribute locally, and export their goods and services.
read articleFocus: Port 4.0
Destined for greatness
Investments in world-class infrastructure have generated huge rewards for Oman. The goal now is to leverage technology as a disruptive enabler, build human capacity across the public and private logistics sectors, and drive operational efficiencies to build an integrated logistics business environment that is benchmarked against the world's best.
read articleFocus: Gap in tourism services
All bases covered
An amalgamation of local companies and unique experiences in Oman has created an original flavor that is further differentiating Oman's tourism offering from other countries and in the process attracting scores of tourists from all across the world.
read articleB2B
Engineering design
Renardet Engineering Consultants and Design Unit Engineering are recognized experts in their fields. While the former is an international company strongly committed to excellent engineering consultancy services and environmental practices, the latter is an Oman-based team of architects and engineers that incorporates local culture and traditions.
read articleB2B
Construction materials
Oman's construction sector is facing a host of challenges, but Hempel Paints and Al Maha Ceramics are confident that a mix of forward-thinking business models, unique products, and strong government initiatives will help them through turbulent times and generate positive returns in the long run.
read articleInterview
Salim Razvi, CEO, Oman Academic Accreditation Authority (OAAA)
Focusing on higher education institutional accreditation, program accreditation, and the updating and maintaining of the Oman Qualifications Framework, OAAA is helping further advance higher education in the Sultanate.
read article