Muscat: A plan to launch a satellite development programme has been unveiled in the Sultanate of Oman.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) will cooperate with the State General Reserve Fund (SGRF) to establish a space communication company, Oman Observer reported.
A company has been commissioned to carry out studies and draw up a strategic implementation plan.
Minister of Transport and Communications Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Futaisi said that the study would be likely completed by second quarter of this year.
The ministry has already announced the establishment of the Omani Information Technology and Communications Group, an entity owned by SGRF.
The group consists of Oman Broadband Company, Oman Towers Company, Blockchain Company, Space Communication Technologies Company, and other information technology and communication firms that may be established by the government in partnership with the private sector.
Dr Al Futaisi said the group aims at creating an investment arm for the government in partnership with the private sector to implement the Fourth Industrial Revolution initiatives. The group, he said, will provide a strategic and financial subsidy.
The ministry has also established Oman Global Logistic Group (Asyad) and Oman Aviation Group. Each sector has a group that includes all companies in the sector in which the government has a holding.