ITA delegation visits Microsoft, CISCO and Google in US

The Chairman of ITA, H.E. Mohammed Nasser Al Khasibi headed the delegation comprising of Vice Chairman H.E. Sheikh Alfadhel Mohamed Al-Harthy, Dr. Salim Al Ruzaiqi, CEO of ITA, Eng. Nashiah bint Saud Al Kharousiyah of TRA, Dr. Hammed Salim Rashid Al Rawahi, and selected ITA staff.

The delegations visited Microsoft in Seattle, Washington and attended a series of workshops and presentations at the executive briefing center. Several discussions took place when the team met with Gerry Elliot, Microsoft's Corporate Vice President for U.S. Enterprise and Worldwide Industry Solutions.

The tour included a visit to the Information and Testing center, simulation center and the house of future at the Microsoft campus.

The main outcome of this visit is activation of partnership between ITA and Microsoft to nurture creativity and innovation in IT through the Innovation and Support Centers that have been established in Oman.

Through the various discussions that took place, Microsoft shared its strategy for its engagement programs with governments, education and training sectors. Official of Microsoft affirmed their support to all education and capacity building initiatives undertaken by ITA in the Sultanate.

A workshop held in association regarding the EMEA citizenship programs of the public sector resulted in the company confirming that it will support promoting Oman as a destination to host regional seminars and forums in the field of technology.

The delegation subsequently visited Cisco office in the Silicon Valley of California and met with John Chambers, its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

The team from ITA was briefed on Cisco's strategy for the upcoming markets of the region. As outcomes of several talks between the two parties, Cisco agreed to explore opportunities to partnership with ITA and map such projects in alignment with ITA's visions.

E-learning, new generation e-Government and capacity building are certain areas where both parties agreed to work in close cooperation. ITA delegation visited Cisco data center and toured their security infrastructure to gain better understanding for Oman's IT deployment.
Both parties agreed to jointly focus on projects such as education - use of teleconferencing facilities, health and connected schools.

In the last leg of the US tour, ITA team visited the premises of Google where they were briefed about the strategy Google in the specialized areas of language translation and cooperative research partnerships with governments.

Touring the working of Google premises helped the delegation understand the facilities that helped its staff to engage creatively and enhance overall organizational productivity.

In all the tour to the IT giants of the US helped the ITA delegation understand the direction of these corporate houses and the visit was very successful in forging useful cooperation and viable partnership for the country IT projects and initiatives.