He said the symposium “has special significance as it would explain both technological and digital advances and how to take benefit from these innovations which have already transformed the world. He hoped similar development could be achieved in the government departments in Oman.
He said His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said had approved the introduction of e-governance in order to facilitate faster and quality service to the people of Oman.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, Abdullah bin Abbas, president of Muscat Municipality, said the municipality had taken serious steps in respect of e-government. “We have one common goal and desire: to make this vision come true for the betterment of the people and society,” he told the 400-strong audience that packed the auditorium at Al Bustan Palace Hotel.
“We gathered here to find a comprehensive phenomenon. The objective of e-government is to enhance and support the joint objectives of society,” Abdullah Abbas said, calling upon people to reset their priorities in order to achieve the objectives.
Abdullah Al Nuaim, chairman of the board of trustees and president of the Arab Urban Development Institute (AUDI), speaking at the opening ceremony, said information technology had created a deep impact on peoples’ lives.
“It has become a necessity of life, which has created a need to adopt some strategies to further the e-government concept,” he stressed.
A number of top-ranking dignitaries, including Mohammed bin Al Zubair, adviser to His Majesty the Sultan for economic planning; Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, minister responsible for foreign affairs; Dr Yahya bin Mahfoudh Al Mantheri, minister of higher education; Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, minister of commerce and industry, Sheikh Salim bin Hilal bin Ali Al Khalili, minister of agriculture and fisheries; the inspector-general of police and customs, senior government officials, researchers and IT experts attended the function.
A number of mayors and municipal heads of various Arab countries in the region are participating in the symposium, which is being hosted by the Muscat Municipality for the first time.
Dr Mohammed Al Taweel, president of Taweel Consultancy Group, who is also the former director-general of the Institute of Public Administration in Riyadh and Dr John M. Eger, executive director of the California Institute for Smart Communities and president of the World Foundation for Smart Communities, are among the key speakers at the symposium. While Oman has the largest participation — around 200 — Saudi Arabia has sent some 89 delegates to the symposium. Other countries such as Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have also sent delegates.
Quelle: Times of Oman
