GCC Statistics meeting reviews exchange of data, information

Meeting provided a platform for exchange of ideas and proposals

Dec 27: A Science and Technology Centre was opened in Nizwa on Tuesday. It has been established by the Ministry of Education with support from many institutions in the oil and energy sector.

The aim is to help society understand and appreciate science and motivate it through interactive activities.

The event was presided over by Ambassador Dr Ali bin Abdullah al Alawi, Head of Communications Department at the Foreign Ministry. He opened five halls at the centre and toured the premises to learn about its activities.

Those who supported the project as well as the participating schools were honoured.

The centre aims to simplify scientific ideas and make it interesting for everyone. It plans to “expand the perceptions of students” about principles of science and technology with the help of different tools.

It plans to provide scientific literature on modern developments in science and technology. It will create groups for competing locally and globally in science and technology and extend technical support for scientific innovations and initiatives in the governorate.

The centre also has a robot laboratory. The Zspace Lab Hall, for instance, was set up with support from Daleel Petroleum LLC. It is a virtual platform that enables users to interact directly in a three-dimensional (3D) simulation.

The centre has a science and technology laboratory which help explore facts, theories and scientific knowledge.

The fifth hall deals with nanotechnology, which is used in light and heavy industries. It helps in finding less expensive solutions such as lighting units with electricity powered by LED. This technology is also present in television screens and smartphones.

There is a plan to add two more halls for 7D educational cinema and educational studio. MUSCAT: The GCC Statistics Centre (GCCStat) on Tuesday held its 1st meeting of the GCC institutions to discuss statistical outputs and a statistical work programme at the Centre’s HQs in Muscat.

The meeting reviewed the GCC-Stat plans and programmes, its role in providing statistical data and indicators at the GCC countries level, familiarising with the relationship between the GCC-Stat on one hand and the national statistics centres on the other hand, as well as with the institutions of the Secretariat General as a key user of data.

The meeting reviewed requirements of the Secretariat’s General institutions of data and information and any other requirements within the framework of the GCC-Stat.

It also discussed areas of work development and support for joint cooperation between the GCC-Stat and the institutions of the Secretariat.

Sabir bin Said al Harbi, GCC-Stat Director General, said that the first meeting of the GCC institutions discussed statistical subjects stemming from the belief of the GCC-Stat staff that the fundamentals of good statistical work is based on the principle of effective partnership among all institutions and organisations under the umbrella of the GCC.

He added that the centre provides significance to this direct meeting between its representatives to open new broader avenues for exchange of ideas, proposals and future visions, which will enable the centre to serve the Gulf organisations and institutions in a wider way.

Dr Abdul Hamid Mohammed Abdu Ghani, Assistant Secretary-General for Information Affairs, pointed out in a statement that the meeting includes 14 Gulf Organizations of the GCC countries, the first of its kind, aims to integrate the statistical work in the GCC system and strengthen the role of these institutions in the implementation of plans and programs by providing them with information and statistics on the GCC countries.

He added that the meeting discussed the data available to these institutions from the GCC states, and the process of merging and integration of this work in terms of the collection and dissemination of data on GCC member states.

Dr Asma Ali Aba Hussein, Deputy Dean for Technological Studies and a professor of Earth Sciences and Environment in the Graduate School/ Arabian Gulf University said that the first meeting of statistical organizations in the GCC states aims at reviewing experience of the GCC-Stat in the data collection, plans for the next period and ways that the GCC organisations take advantage of the experience of the centre.

The meeting was attended by representatives from the GCC Secretariat General, the Federation of GCC Chambers, representatives of the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States, the Executive Office of the Council of Ministers of Labour and the Council of Ministers for Social Affairs in the GCC countries and representatives from the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting and the GCC monetary Council, Advisory Board of GCC Supreme Council.