MUSCAT : Organised by the Office of the Governor of South Al Batinah, the forum opened under the patronage of His Excellency Dr. Ali Amir Al Shithani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology.

His Excellency Eng. Masoud Said Al Hashmi, Governor of South Al Batinah, affirmed that the forum aims to achieve a set of strategic objectives, foremost among which are enhancing integration between government entities and “Sanad” offices in the areas of digital transformation, unifying efforts toward the digitization of services and improving the user experience for citizens, residents, and the private sector, alongside highlighting current digital initiatives, exploring opportunities for partnerships and technical integration, and raising awareness of regulations, laws, and support pathways related to digital transformation.

He explained that the forum will address a number of key themes, most notably the national framework for digital transformation, including its governance, cybersecurity, and data protection components; the role of “Sanad” offices in accelerating digitization through technical integration with government systems; in addition to showcasing successful experiences, enhancing system and platform integration, discussing challenges related to human resources, and introducing support and funding pathways for small enterprises and “Sanad” offices.

The sessions featured a number of specialised working papers. The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology presented the digital transformation journey and key successful practices. The National Center for Cyber Defence addressed cybersecurity risks in light of the expansion of digital services. The National Records Center of the Royal Oman Police presented an overview of digital services and national data management. Additionally, the “Injaz” system for municipal services was showcased by the South Al Batinah Municipality.

On the theme of governance and integrity, the State Financial and Administrative Audit Institution reviewed the role of technology in enhancing integrity and combating corruption, while the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning highlighted its most notable achievements in the field of digital transformation.

The working papers also addressed advanced applications of modern technologies. The Al Buraimi Governorate showcased the use of geographic information systems (GIS) in measuring well-being indicators. The Ministry of Labour discussed the role of artificial intelligence in service development. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion presented its digital transformation efforts, alongside a presentation by the Tax Authority on its digital services.

On the innovation track, the satellite imagery project and the smart lighting project of South A’Sharqiyah Governorate were presented, in addition to a presentation by the Ministry of Social Development on its digital transformation in service delivery. Furthermore, the Digital Transformation Ambassadors of South Al Batinah Governorate shared an inspiring experience in this field.

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