MUSCAT : Held in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, the forum was inaugurated under the patronage of Eng. Omar bin Hamdan Al Ismaili, Chairman of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority.

The forum brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from government institutions, private sector entities, and e-commerce specialists, to discuss the evolving landscape of digital trade in Oman. Topics covered included consumer rights, supplier obligations, e-commerce legislation, commercial and digital fraud, and the regulatory frameworks supporting online transactions.

Mazna bint Rashid Al Maamari, Director of the Communications and Media Department at CPA, described the forum as a platform for open dialogue between consumers, suppliers, and regulators. She emphasized that such discussions are essential to building a trusted digital economy and align with ongoing national efforts to safeguard consumer rights amid a growing online marketplace.

Highlighting the importance of awareness, she noted that the forum supports the CPA’s broader initiative to educate the public on safe e-shopping and complements the ongoing national awareness campaign under the slogan “Safe Shopping.” This campaign forms part of Oman’s Vision 2040 goals to create a robust, knowledge-based digital economy.

The forum featured an introductory visual presentation, followed by a talk titled “The e-shopping campaign: A vision built through achievement,” delivered by Dr. Munira Al-Fikry. An accompanying exhibition showcased CPA’s latest electronic systems and digital tools, concluding with an opinion poll to assess public awareness levels.

The event also featured two detailed discussion sessions. In the first, the Ministry of Commerce presented a paper on e-commerce regulation in Oman, followed by CPA’s paper on safe shopping, and a presentation by the Central Bank of Oman addressing financial consumer protection.

The second session included a behavioral analysis of digital fraud from the Ministry of Economy, alongside presentations by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and the Ministry of Transport and Communications on postal regulations and sector policies tied to e-commerce services.

The sessions concluded with a dynamic open discussion, reinforcing the forum’s aim to foster collaboration across sectors and strengthen the framework of digital trust in Oman’s marketplace.

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