[oman-l] Oman's economic future

[Kevin Brown - NetComm]

Hi,

Sadly, I believe that economic success ( with the emergence of the Internet ) will
be based upon speed of reaction, coupled with desire to succeed, as well as hard
work.

I have lived in Dubai, and been to Oman .....

>From the perspective of the Internet, where the capital costs are quite low, Oman
scores much lower than Dubai or even any other Arab country except perhaps Iraq.

Look at registered local Domain Names  ( ie .ae and .om ) and Web Sites.

Oman gas very few locally registered domain names. It seems that the Internet and IT
related industries are a good way top bolster the economy. Can the Omani government
see that? It is not too late. The UAE sees the Internet as value, but still does NOT
understand the proper way to USE the Internet.

The US growth is really powered by IT and Services and the Internet.

The attraction of Internet related business is that it CAN be done locally for a
Global Market, and can allow retention of local values.  Where is the access for
every school child to the Internet in Oman? Where is the plan? Where are the Arabic
Web sites? Where are the Omani Web Sites?

Tourism should be a growing business in Oman ( I certainly liked going to Oman, and
desire to go again ) but there is no Global push to attract visitors to Oman. The
fact is that there is a huge asset in the simple "niceness" of the Omanis, relative
to the abrupt culture of , say Kuwait. Who promotes and sells this "asset"? We did
the Dubai Promotion board site 2.5 years ago (www.dctpb.gov.ae). Does Oman have a
Promotion site that is doing the same thing? Dubai gets about a thousand net
visitors a day from this site, and there are many other popular UAE Web sites, so I
would say that whatever you need to find re Dubai is in the Net now, somewhere.

Also we have seen that Dubai has been successful because of the forward thinking of
their organisations. For example when people arrive  at www.uae-pages.com, they were
searching for Emirates Airline. This and the word "Dubai" are the most popular
search string that this site has. Oman? Nothing......Emirates Airlines ( Airline of
the Year ) The Victory team, the Hobie world sailing Championship, etc etc.
Promotion.

The fact is that Dubai knows it needs the Net, but can't quite "get it" is enough to
leave a window for Omani people who care to grasp the opportunity. I think there is
18 months before the battle lines are too firm to breach.

Oil? Forget it, they need to build some other way to economic growth.

Look at Ireland, where again I have lived. Their growth is based upon using the
assets of their people and education to attract other companies to gain a toe hold
in the European market. Dubai understands this. ( Jebel Ali etc )

Education is not enough, Oman needs the RIGHT education.

Is there anyone from the Omani government on this list? Any input from their
perspective?

What  do the Omani people want. After all, since I work with the Internet, I see the
Internet as a solution to many things, but I admit my bias.

Industry need large Capital, and cheap and steady labor force. The Net needs smart
and savvy people who are nice and "get it"




Kevin


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