India and Oman have agreed to enhance their bilateral cooperation in the field of Information Technology. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two countries on December 15, 2023.
Objectives of the MoU
The MoU intends to promote comprehensive cooperation between India and Oman through mutual support, sharing of technologies, information and investments in the field of Information Technology. The MoU shall come into effect from the date of signature of the parties and shall remain in force for a period of three years.
The MoU covers areas such as e-governance, cyber security, digital health, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, blockchain, smart cities, Internet of Things and capacity building. The MoU also envisages improved collaboration leading to employment opportunities in the field of IT.
Benefits of the MoU
The MoU is expected to enhance both government-to-government (G2G) and business-to-business (B2B) cooperation in the field of Information Technology. The MoU is in consonance with the various initiatives taken by the Government of India such as Digital India, Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India to transform the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
The MoU will also facilitate the exchange of best practices, experiences and knowledge between India and Oman. The MoU will also enable joint research and development activities, innovation and entrepreneurship in the field of IT. The MoU will also foster mutual trust and cooperation between the two countries in the digital domain.
Background of the MoU
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has been mandated to promote international cooperation in emerging and frontier areas of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) under bilateral and regional frameworks of cooperation. MeitY has been collaborating with a number of countries and multilateral agencies for fostering bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the ICT domain.
Over the period, MeitY has entered into MoUs/Agreements with its counterpart organizations/agencies from various countries to promote cooperation and exchange of information in the ICT domain. This is one such MoU signed with Oman, which is a strategic partner of India in the Gulf region.