MUSCAT : Oman is seeking to accelerate the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies through a Gulf regional centre that will help factories assess their digital readiness, develop transformation plans and connect with technology providers, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion said.

The initiative builds on Oman’s Smart Production Factories project and supports its Industrial Strategy 2040, which aims to develop a more competitive manufacturing sector, raise productivity and expand the contribution of industry to economic diversification.

The Gulf Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its digital platform were formally launched during the 57th meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s Industrial Cooperation Committee in Bahrain. The centre aims to support advanced manufacturing and improve the digital capabilities of factories across the six-country bloc.

For Oman, the next phase will focus on turning factory assessments into projects that can be implemented, said Idris bin Hassan Al Sinan, director of the ministry’s Industrial Development Department.

The objective is to help manufacturers identify their current capabilities, determine investment priorities and select technologies with the greatest potential to improve productivity, quality, efficiency and sustainability, he said.

The regional centre will provide an additional channel linking factories with specialist assessors, technology suppliers, training programmes and examples of successful industrial transformation.

Building on national programmes

Oman’s Smart Production Factories project has already included awareness programmes on advanced industrial technologies, the preparation of a smart manufacturing guide, introductory workshops and assessments of participating factories.

The ministry has also developed transformation plans for factories and trained Omani assessors to evaluate industrial digital maturity.

Khalid bin Salim Al Qasabi, the ministry’s director general of industry, said adopting modern technologies was a key driver of higher productivity, stronger competitiveness and more efficient industrial operations.

The Gulf centre would build on Oman’s existing initiatives by connecting domestic manufacturers with a wider regional network of expertise, solutions and industrial experience, he said.

It would also allow qualified Omani assessors and industrial transformation specialists to participate in the broader Gulf network, drawing on capabilities developed through the national smart factories programme.

The ministry said factories would be able to access services spanning digital and industrial maturity assessments, transformation road maps, specialist assessors and industrial technology providers.

Training programmes and practical examples from other Gulf manufacturers would also be available to help companies move from assessing their needs to implementing projects.

Opportunities for technology suppliers

The platform will also give Omani companies working in technology, automation, artificial intelligence, digital transformation and industrial services an opportunity to present their products and expertise to manufacturers across the GCC.

The ministry said that wider access could support partnerships, the exchange of expertise and the development of a more integrated network of industrial solution providers.

Al Sinan said Oman’s pool of trained assessors and industrial transformation specialists provided a foundation for the next phase. The ministry would also encourage domestic technology companies to develop solutions tailored to manufacturers’ needs.

Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Buraiki, head of industrial studies and policies at the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting, said Oman’s experience in factory assessments, transformation planning and skills development would help support the regional initiative.

The centre was designed to reinforce national programmes and share experience between Gulf countries and factories, he said.

The aim was to give Omani manufacturers a clear route from an initial readiness assessment to a transformation road map, followed by access to suitable assessors, technology suppliers, training and successful industrial examples.

At the same time, the platform would give Omani companies and specialists greater access to factories and industrial markets elsewhere in the GCC, Al Buraiki said.

A central objective was to translate knowledge of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies into practical factory applications that improve productivity, efficiency, quality and competitiveness, he added.

The centre combines regional coordination with national implementation, linking government agencies, national centres, manufacturers, assessors, technology suppliers and industrial experts.

Its principal services include factory readiness assessments, transformation planning, connections to technology providers, training and skills development, alongside the publication of practical case studies, guides and industry information.

The ministry said closer integration between Oman’s national programmes and the Gulf centre was expected to accelerate technology adoption, develop local expertise and strengthen the regional and international competitiveness of Omani factories, in line with Oman Vision 2040 and the Industrial Strategy 2040.

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