Seminar focuses on e-governance via cloud services
MUSCAT: The Information Technology Authority (ITA), in partnership with Microsoft Oman, hosted an exclusive session under the theme of “Empowering Digital Government” on Wednesday in Muscat.
More than 100 IT professionals and decision makers from 45 government entities and Microsoft officials took part in the session.
The workshop aimed at discussing the role of cloud connected services that can empower and optimise government operations and efficiency.
The session introduced government decision makers and professionals to Microsoft’s latest tools and solutions, which aim to advance government priorities, driving good governance and promoting cost efficiencies.
Dr Yaqoob Dur al Balushi, Deputy CEO for Infrastructure and e-Services at ITA, and Shaikh Saif Hilal al Hosni, Microsoft Gulf Public Sector SMSP lead, delivered the opening addresses, followed by presentations on digital transformation success stories from the government.
“The Sultanate of Oman has been on a journey towards digital transformation for over a decade now by implementing e.oman Strategy which ITA is responsible for implementing in cooperation with the government and private sectors, spurred by the realisation that technology can have a profound effect on all aspects of the society. We at ITA believe that digital and innovative solutions can help in transforming the country into a knowledge-based economy, leveraging technology as a key enabler, and as a means for economic diversification and sustained development.,” said Dr Al Balushi.
The Microsoft ‘Empowering Digital Government’ event underscored the company’s commitment to deliver trusted cloud and innovative productivity, as well as mobility solutions based on a citizen centric approach that provide a strong foundation for digital governments, and empower public sector employees to achieve more for the institutions, businesses and citizens they serve.
“Technology has continually served as a catalyst for change, progress and growth within many nations. To keep pace, government institutions of all sizes are transforming operations to embrace a changing society, a mobile-first culture, and a data driven economy,” said Sherif Tawfik, Country General Manager of Microsoft Bahrain and Oman.
With a primary focus on how technology can optimise governments, transform services, empower employees and engage citizens, the event agenda also included informative sessions on how government institutions can optimise their cost and operating efficiency with flexible and trusted cloud services and solutions; that allow them to harness the power of the cloud on their own terms.
Microsoft speakers and subject matter experts held engaging discussions on key transformation challenges that governments face from security, mobility, data analytics and IoT, to the cloud infrastructure, and how governments can use Microsoft’s secured enterprise-grade, hybrid cloud platform for improved operations, smarter government actions, more connected collaboration amongst citizens and agencies, and deliver improved citizen outcomes.