Tuesday 20 / May / 2025
Muscat: The Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technology, in partnership with the Ministry of Labour, signed a collaboration programme with Indian company “Kaynes Semicon” to establish a company to design very-large-scale integrated (VLSI) circuits in the Sultanate of Oman.
The move aims to enhance the position of the Sultanate of Oman as a regional centre for advanced technologies,
The company's activities will focus on promoting semiconductor design innovation and developing national cadres. According to the collaboration programme, Kaynes Semicon will execute a 12-month qualification program funded by the Ministry of Labour for 80 Omani engineers on semiconductor design techniques to qualify them as semiconductor specialists who can keep up with the requirements and updates of the future labour market in this field through the company's commitment under this collaboration to transfer global knowledge and standards in the field of semiconductors to the Sultanate of Oman.
This collaboration is part of the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technology's efforts to implement a digital industry programme under the ‘National Program for Digital Economy.’ The initiative aims to attract international technology projects to the Sultanate of Oman in order to enhance the digital economy's contribution to the GDP. Additionally, it seeks to localise technology, hire qualified Omani personnel, improve the competitiveness of Omani youth in the semiconductor sector, and strengthen the semiconductor system and organisation in Oman.
The program was signed by Dr. Ali Amer Al Shidhani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communication, and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology, Salim Musallam Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour for Human Resources and Raju Panicker, CEO of Kaynes Semicon.
Al Shidhani, said that signing this collaboration program with Kaynes Semicon is a remarkable step to build up an integrated sector in the field of the semiconductor industry, which forms an essential pillar of the international digital economy. This step is part of the strategic inclinations of the Sultanate of Oman to localise advanced technologies, attract qualitative investments that promote national potentials, and increase the quality of Omani cadres. He added that the center will be an axis point for the company operations of designing semiconductor chips on the regional level, while relying on national cadres qualified and trained to handle the latest advanced technologies.
In the context of executing a digital industry program Al-Shidhani said that the Ministry is working on creating an environment that attracts advanced technology investments that goes in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040 towards a diversified and knowledge-based economy that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship.
On his turn, Salim Musallam Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour said that signing this program is part of the ministry’s efforts to qualify national cadres, which undoubtedly will promote the digital economy and market requirements and needs.
He also added that this program is part of the Ministry of Labour’s programs related to the labour market, which represents a fundamental step towards diversification and innovation, given that the Sultanate of Oman has achieved considerable accomplishments in its modern renaissance.
