The Sultanate of Oman has taken a significant step toward strengthening its position in the global digital economy with the signing of a cooperation programme to establish a large-scale integrated circuit (IC) design company in the country.
The agreement was inked on Sunday, May 18 by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology (MoTCIT) and the Ministry of Labour with Indian technology firm Kinesis Semicon. The initiative aims to boost innovation in semiconductor design while nurturing local engineering talent.
As part of the programme, 80 Omani engineers will undergo a 12-month intensive training in semiconductor design, funded by the Ministry of Labour. The initiative is aligned with efforts to build a skilled national workforce capable of contributing to Oman’s digital transformation.
“This cooperation is a milestone in building a robust semiconductor industry in Oman,” said Dr Ali bin Amer al Shidhani, Under-Secretary for Communications and Information Technology at MoTCIT . “The new company will serve as a regional hub for chip design and will be powered by trained Omani professionals,” he added.
Kinesis Semicon, a global player in semiconductor design and manufacturing, is committed to transferring advanced technological expertise to Oman, supporting the localisation of high-tech industries.
The partnership is a cornerstone of the Digital Industry Program, a key component of the National Digital Economy Programme, which seeks to increase the digital sector’s contribution to GDP, attract strategic investments, and enhance youth competitiveness in emerging technologies.
Sayyid Salim bin Musallam al Busaidi, Undersecretary for for Human Resources Development at the Ministry of Labour, emphasised that the programme supports national objectives to build a future-ready workforce.
“This partnership reflects our commitment to equipping Omani talent with skills aligned to global market needs,” he said. “It’s a major step toward realizing Oman Vision 2040, positioning the Sultanate of Oman as an innovation-driven, knowledge-based economy.”
The memorandum was signed by Dr Al Shidhani for MoTCIT, Sayyid al Busaidi for the Ministry of Labour, and Raju Panicker, CEO of Kinesis Semicon. — ONA
